1999 GMC Safari Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 GMC Safari, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes1822.0%
- Transmission1417.1%
- Seat belts67.3%
- Engine67.3%
- Fuel system67.3%
- Powertrain (other)67.3%
- Steering33.7%
- Interior & seats33.7%
- Airbags33.7%
- Driver assistance33.7%
- Electrical33.7%
- Body & structure33.7%
- Visibility22.4%
- Suspension22.4%
- Tires & wheels22.4%
- Other / unspecified11.2%
- Exterior lighting11.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ABS SENSOR UNIT FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS SENSOR UNIT THREE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.
DT: ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE PROBLEM BEGAN. WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS ABOUT 5-10 MPH ABS KICKS IN AND A GRINDING SOUND OCCURS. THIS CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. ALL WHEEL DRIVE, ALL WHEEL ANTILOCK TO THE OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ABS SENSOR LOOKED CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE BUT IT SHOWED NO CODES. WHEN THE ABS FUSE IS PULLED THE CAR WORKS FINE BUT HAS NO ABS. THE OWNER HASN'T DISCONNECTED THE ABS FUSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET AND THE PROBLEM HAS REMAINED ABOUT THE SAME. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME DURING LOW SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS.*AK *NM
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
1999 GMC SAFARI TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SEE GM TSB #00-07-30-002 DATED 11/2000. 1ST-2ND LATE SHIFT, REVERSE, 2ND, & 4TH GEAR CAUSED IMMEDIATE FAILURE. ALL REQUIRED TRANSMISSION SERVICE PERFORMED BY DEALER ON THIS VEHICLE. ROOT CAUSE IS THE KNOWN SUN GEAR SHELL FAILURE IN THE GM 4L60E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS 70,511 MILES. FILED GMC CUSTOMER COMPLAINT #1-366073225. *JB
THIS MORNING (5/4/05) WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 GMC SAFARI, I EXPERIENCED A JOLT AND A HIGH RPM REV AND A LONG 1-2 SHIFT. I GOT TO MY DESTINATION (1/4 MILE UP THE ROAD) AND THEN DISCOVERED THAT I HAD NO REVERSE. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALER (A 6-MILE DRIVE). I NOTICED IN ADDITION TO NO REVERSE, THERE WAS ALSO NO OVERDRIVE (4TH GEAR). THE PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER IS A FAILED SUN SHELL ASSEMBLY. THEY (THE DEALER) INDENTIFIES THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM. TO REPAIR IT REQUIRES A MAJOR OVERHAUL A NEARLY $2000.00 REPAIR. I'M A MEMBER OF IATN (INTERNATION AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS' NETWORK) AND I DID A SERACH OF THIS CONCERN AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE. I ALSO LEARNED THAT GM HAS A TSB ON THIS CONCERN (I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OR NATURE OF THE TSB). AT 6-YEARS OF AGE AND 88,000 MILES THIS (IN MY ESTIMATION) IS A PREMATURE FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SERVICED (FLUSHED AND FILTER REPLACEMENT) TWICE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS AND HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED. I DO TOW TWO SNOWMOBILES IN THE WINTER, BUT THE WEIGHT IS BY FAR WITHIN THE PARAMETERS STATED FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED THE GM SERVICE ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THE WOMAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE PATTERN FAILURE, BUT SAID THEIR "POLICY" FOR GOODWILL ASSISTANCE IS CAPPED AT 72,000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAS 88,000 MILES. SHE WAS PREPARED TO OFFER ME SOME KIND OF VOUCHER TO BE USED TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW GM VEHICLE, BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THAT. THERE'S CLEARLY A PRODUCT CONCERN, AND IF GM IS WILLING TO GIVE ME A DEAL ON A NEW CAR, WHY DON'T THEY GIVE ME A "DEAL" ON REPAIRING THIS ONE? ANYWAY, THAT'S MY COMPLAINT.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR DID NOT HOLD THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MR SCC
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 01V123000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PARTS FOR SEAT BELT WARNING MODULE WERE ON BACK ORDER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
EMAIL FM ROBERT CARTER (TX) RE GMC REFUSING TO REPAIR A RECALL ENGINE PART FREE OF CHARGE ON HIS GMC SAFARI VAN SINCE HE MISSED THE RECALL CUT OFF DATE WHILE ON MILITARY DUTY OVERSEAS.*MR *NM
RED ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TRANSMISSION WAS JUMPING INTO GEAR, WITH 26,000 MILES, TOOK TO DEALER THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TOOK TRIP TO FLORIDA RED LIGHT CAME ON TOOK TO AAMCO TRANSMISSION (36,000 MI) FOUND PROBLEM,850$, SAID THIS WAS COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. GMC PAID ME HALF, GOING TO COURT WITH DEALER FOR OTHER HALF. MY WARRANTY WAS OVER DUE TO YEARS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONUSMERS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS OF THE FUEL INJECTORS SIX TIMES. VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED RESULTING IN NECESSARY FLUSHING OF THE INJECTORS. THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR IS LEAKING AND THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE NEEDED REPLACING. *JG
FUEL INJECTOR KEEPS ON BREAKING DOWN. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE INTO DEALER TO GET INJECTOR FIXED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVELINE WAS NOT SYNCHRONIZED WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR WHEN BACKING UP. THE TIRES SEEMED TO BE TRYING TO CATCH UP TO EACH OTHER. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER WAS IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT WAS THE PROBLEM, YET THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SAFARI. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2005, THE STEERING IDLER ARM HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAS LOST STEERING ABILITY. THE CONTACT HAS PUT 30,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE IN TWO YEARS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IDLER ARMS HAVE FAILED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 99,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
IDLER ARM REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 40,000 DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
HAD TO APPLY BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY, SEAT SLID FORWARD AND CAUSED DRIVER TO IMPACT STEERING WHEEL WITH NOSE. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH SEAT,BUT REPLACED SEAT RISER ANYWAY.SEAT STILL DOES NOT ALWAYS LOCK IN POSITION.*AK
VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEMS WITHIN A 12-MONTH PERIOD. FUEL INJECTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS/DRIVER'S POWER LOCK FAILED TO OPERATE/COURTESY LIGHTS AND RADIO WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY/BATTERY SHORTED OUT ON TWO OCCASIONS/SIDE WINDOW STOPPED OPERATING/TAIL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY BLINKED OFF/ON/ODOMETER WOULD FLASH OFF/ON, AND REAR DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK/UNLOCK. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 35 TO 40 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DAMAGED TO FRONT DRIVER SIDE. 1 INJURY, CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE TRYING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AT 20 MPH, AND WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE WENT INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK.*JB
WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC ON AN INCLINE, VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, HITTING VEHICLE IN FRONT, INJURING 3 PEOPLE. WIFE WAS STANDING ON BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS GOING TO BE EXAMINED DURING COMING WEEKS. *AK ANOTHER ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 26-AUG-2001, 2 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, LATER THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS FOUND ON WHEN IT HAD NOT BEEN ACTIVATED, DEALER DISCONNECTED IT AND CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE COIL WIRE TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN THE WIRE FAILS, THE ENGINE CUTS OFF CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAIL TO WORK. THIS CAUSES A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767118
VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEMS WITHIN A 12-MONTH PERIOD. FUEL INJECTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS/DRIVER'S POWER LOCK FAILED TO OPERATE/COURTESY LIGHTS AND RADIO WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY/BATTERY SHORTED OUT ON TWO OCCASIONS/SIDE WINDOW STOPPED OPERATING/TAIL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY BLINKED OFF/ON/ODOMETER WOULD FLASH OFF/ON, AND REAR DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK/UNLOCK. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE VEHICLES FUEL SYSTEM IS FAULTY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO EXHIBIT A NO START OR STALL CONDITION WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL PUMP RELAY, 4 TERMINAL CONNECTORS AT THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER REPLACED ALL SIX INJECTORS. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT WORK. I WAS TOLD BY A GMC MECHANIC THAT THE MOTOR IS BROKE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE COST WOULD BE $120.00 FOR THE MOTOR AND $180.00 FOR LABOR (A SHAKY WAY FOR GMC TO MAKE A PROFIT). THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. I'VE HEARD OF OTHER GMC SAFARI'S WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM (RECALL?). THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.
VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEMS WITHIN A 12-MONTH PERIOD. FUEL INJECTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS/DRIVER'S POWER LOCK FAILED TO OPERATE/COURTESY LIGHTS AND RADIO WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY/BATTERY SHORTED OUT ON TWO OCCASIONS/SIDE WINDOW STOPPED OPERATING/TAIL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY BLINKED OFF/ON/ODOMETER WOULD FLASH OFF/ON, AND REAR DOOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK/UNLOCK. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
SECOND OCCURANCE OF SAME PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM ENGAGING AT LOW SPEEDS FOR NO REASON ON 1999 GMC SAFARI VAN. THE PROBLEM IS A BAD SENSOR IN THE FRONT BRAKES BUT REQUIRES A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY UNIT.
REAREND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 61,000 MILES, AND A PART WITHIN TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: APHFJL1U TIRESIZE: P215/75R15)
THIS IS AN INITIAL REPORT CONCERNING TIRE FAILURE ON TWO SEPERATE VEHICLES. I AM AN ILLINOIS STATE TROOPER. TODAY A FORD EXPLORER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AS A RESULT OF THE TREADS COMING OF THE TWO REAR TIRES. I ALSO HAVE A PERSONAL VEHICLE WITH THE SAME. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75/R1 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON TWO OCCASION WHILE TOWING TRAVEL TRAILER THE CONSUMER REAR AXLE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISE AND THE RING AND PINION GEARS WERE DESTROYED, CONSUMERS SOON FOUND OUT THE THE ACTUAL TOWING CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLE WAS 4500 POUNDS INSTEAD OF 5500 POUNDS WHICH WAS STATED IN BOTH THE WINDOW STICKER AND THE OWNERS MANUAL (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONUSMERS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS OF THE FUEL INJECTORS SIX TIMES. VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED RESULTING IN NECESSARY FLUSHING OF THE INJECTORS. THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR IS LEAKING AND THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE NEEDED REPLACING. *JG
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .