RoadVitals

2001 GMC Safari Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
39
Latest Aug 1, 2014
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jun 29, 2001

What this page shows

Our database holds 39 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 GMC Safari. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 39 · page 1 of 2

Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2014

AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. TIME IN BETWEEN ERRANDS 2 HOURS. OUTSIDE TEMP 95. HAD TO WAIT 15 - 30 MINUTES IN HOT VEHICLE TRYING TO START VEHICLE EVERY 20-30 SECONDS. PROBLEM WITH PASSLOCK/PASSKEY SECURITY SYSTEM AS LISTED ON VARIOUS WEB SITES. CHECKED WITH PERSONAL OBD II & CAN SCAN TOOL AND FOUND NO DTC'S. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE CONSTANT AND OCCUPANT SAFETY IS A MAJOR CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10618144
Incident
Jul 31, 2014
Mileage
84,300 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2014

AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. BRAKE & ABS INDICATOR LIT. WAIT 15- 30 MINUTES AND VEHICLE MAY RESTART. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. NOTED: PASSLOCK/PASSKEY SECURITY SYSTEM INTERMITTENT FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10618133
Incident
Jul 2, 2014
Mileage
84,300 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2014

AFTER FUELING, COULD NOT RESTART VEHICLE. DASH LIGHTS. HAD TO WAIT 15 - 30 MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE START VEHICLE. BATTERY 4 MONTHS OLD, INTERMITTENT ONGOING PROBLEM. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH DISCOVERED VIA WEB SEARCH LIST PROBLEM WITH "IGNITION PASSLOCK/PASSKEY SECURITY SYSTEM". THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT MY LOCAL GM DEALER WILL NOT ADDRESS OR FIX. ESTIMATED CONSUMER REPAIR COST OVER $1000,00. *TR

NHTSA ID
10618129
Incident
Jul 29, 2014
Mileage
84,300 mi
Electrical
Filed May 21, 2014

AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNTIL THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED. ALL POWER IS UP, TURN KEY AND NO RESPONSE. DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL AND MOVE SHIFT LEVER FROM P TO D3 MAY CAUSE STARTER TO WORK. TOLD BY AAA DRIVER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593090
Incident
May 19, 2014
Mileage
81,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 17, 2011

AT SLOW SPEEDS THE ABS ACTIVATES AND THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STOP. THE SIERRA VAN USES THE SAME COMPONENTS AS THE TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED BY 05V379000 ON 8/3/05. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME WITH DIRTY SPEED SENSORS. *KB

NHTSA ID
10419790
Incident
Aug 12, 2011
Mileage
84,300 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 25, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATES, BACKFIRES, AND FAILS TO START WHEN COLD. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 03-06-04-041 WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF WHEN THE VEHICLE DID START, IT WOULD RUN ROUGH AND THEN STALL. UPDATED

NHTSA ID
10215966
Incident
Aug 26, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 24, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM SENSORS WERE FAULTY AND ACTIVATED ON DRY PAVEMENT AT A SPEED OF LOWER THAN 8 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNAL TO INDICATE A FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED YET BY THE CONTACT.

NHTSA ID
10163305
Incident
Jun 5, 2006
Mileage
69,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Jul 22, 2006

PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW GOES PART WAY DOWN, WILL NOT GO OUT - INTERMITTENT PROBLEM INCREASED TO PERMANENT PROBLEM. NOW GOES DOWN MAYBE 1/2 INCH, ONLY GOES UP 1/32 INCH AT A TIME. HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 6/03, NOT LONG AFTER THAT, PROBLEM SURFACED IN INCREASING REGULARITY. WHEN I HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED BY DEALER IN 1/04, I WAS TOLD THIS HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. ITEMS REPAIRED / REPLACED, WERE: 1314WSC95 - ELECTRICAL MISC. PO45391 - MOTOR PO45386 - ACTUATOR SEVERAL RIVETS. THE REPAIR FACILITY DESCRIBED THE WINDOW PROBLEM AS "BINDING", AND A ALSO FOUND THAT THE DOOR LOCK WAS NOT ACTIVATING PROPERLY DUE TO A DOOR LOCK MECHANISM PROBLEM (THE ACTUATOR) AS HAVING AN "INTERNAL SHORT". THE REPAIR OF 1/04 WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 14 MONTHS (DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANT WORK), WHEN IN 3/05, THE PROBLEM HAD GRADUALLY RETURNED. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, HE SAID IT WAS NOT. I RECENTLY DECIDED TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AS I AM ABOUT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN, AND SEE THAT THE PASSENGER WINDOWS ON GMC VANS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. I BELIEVE THE MALFUNCTIONING WINDOW IS A HAZARD, AS IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER WHEN DISTRACTED BY A MALFUNCTIONING WINDOW, WHICH IS USED TO PROTECT THE VEHICLES OCCUPANTS FROM WEATHER, SMOKE, DUST AND DIRT, WIND AND EVEN POTENTIAL CRIMINALS. MY ATTENTION HAS BEEN DRAWN AWAY FROM THE NORMAL HAZARDS OF URBAN AND HIGHWAY DRIVING BY THE DISTRACTION OF A MALFUNCTIONING WINDOW. WHY HAS THIS BEEN ALLOWED TO BE A PROLIFIC PROBLEM FOR SO LONG? I WONDER JUST HOW MANY COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE RECEIVED ON THIS ISSUE? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO ACTUALLY DIE BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION? *NM

NHTSA ID
10163169
Incident
Mar 1, 2006
Mileage
84,537 mi
BrakesTires & wheels
Filed Sep 27, 2005

DT: 2001 GM SAFARI. THE CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES WILL NOT WORK FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND VEHICLE COULD SLIDE INTO THE INTERSECTION. WIFE WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CONSUMER WENT TO DIFFERENT DEALERS, THEY TOLD HIM THAT IT MAY BE THAT THE WHEELS NEEDED TO BE REPACKED. . THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TOOK TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THE VEHICLE HAD 58,000 MILES. BRAKE FAILURE STARTED WITHIN MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. BRAKES BECAME WORSE. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT KEEP FRONT TIRES FROM WEARING OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10137882
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
Brakes
Filed May 6, 2005

I HAVE A 2001 GMC SAFARI VAN.APPROX 49000 MILES.I FIRST EXPIERENCED MY ANTILOC BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATING WHEN NOT NEEDED AT SLOW SPEEDS.THINKING THIS WAS A LITTLE ODD AND I THOUGHT I WOULD NEED TO GET IT TO ACT UP MORE IN ORDER TO PROPERLY EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY SERVICE PERSONEL.AND I THOUGHT IT WAS MINOR AS EVEN THO THE ANTILOC SYSTEM ACTIVATED THE BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK FINE.UNTILL ONE DAY WHEN ALL I HEARD WAS THE NOISE ACCUSTOMED WITH THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.AFTER PUSHING AS HARD AS I HAVE EVER PUSHED ON A BRAKE PEDAL THE VAN STOPPED. BEING AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE I GOT IT INTO MY SERVICE DEPT.WHO REPLACED BOTH FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS.

NHTSA ID
10120151
Incident
Mar 10, 2005
Mileage
49,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 25, 2005

THE FUEL PUMP ON MY GMC 2001 SAFARI VAN MAKES A LOUD WHINING NOISE. I AM LOOKING INTO WHY THIS WOULD OCCUR ON A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED OTHER GMC'S AND NOT HEARD OF ANY SUCH PROBLEMS. I FEEL THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND AM LOOKING TO HAVE IT REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITHOUT CHARGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10118417
Incident
Feb 1, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 23, 2005

POWER STEERING FAILED, DRIVE SHAFT IN PUMP BROKE, CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL. NO ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE. VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE AND REPAIRED WITH NEW POWER STEERING PUMP INSTALLED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10118316
Incident
Jan 2, 2005
Mileage
38,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 23, 2005

ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10115714
Incident
Mar 23, 2005
BrakesExterior lightingSeat belts
Filed Mar 18, 2005

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEN, DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10115428
Incident
Dec 29, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 17, 2005

WHENEVER I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE THE HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS ARE ON, THE FUSE BLOWS. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUSE REPEATEDLY AFTER SUCH OCCASIONS, BUT FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10114249
Incident
Oct 22, 2003
Mileage
80,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 3, 2005

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT TWO BRAKE LINES LEADING TO THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER HAVE RUB THROUGH ONE ANOTHER. *JB *AK

NHTSA ID
10109801
Incident
Jan 10, 2005
Mileage
71,384 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 18, 2005

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE OWNER THEY ADDED 3 OUNCES OF BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WORKED FINE UNTIL THE OWNER TRIED TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO BRAKES, AGAIN. BRAKE FLUID WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10107440
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Mileage
9,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 17, 2005

POWER STEERING AND BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING .NO ACCIDENT,VEHICLE WAS STARTING OUT FROM PARKED POSITION, WHEN POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED,WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HAVING TO BE TOWED AND REPAIR BILL OF $ 571 DOLLARS. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN OUT IN TRAFFIC MOVING, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BAD ACCIDENT. THIS WAS WITHOUT ANY KNOWN PREVIOUS INDICATION OR WARNING. NO LIGHTS OR WARNING SIGNAL OF ANY TYPE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10106456
Incident
Jan 3, 2005
Mileage
40,940 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 12, 2005

THE VEHICLE'S ABS MALFUNCTIONED. *NM THE ABS WOULD RELEASE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS APPLIED IN A NORMAL MANNER IF THE CONSUMER HIT A BUMP. *SC THE CONSUMER STATED HE BUMPED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM, BUT DID NOT STATE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10111135
Incident
Dec 20, 2004
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 7, 2004

WAS DRIVING, AT NIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE PROBLEM WOULD BE INTERMITTENTLY. WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT NO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE VISIBLE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS GO OUT. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
10103254
Incident
Aug 12, 2004
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 14, 2004

WHEN BRAKING, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE.*JB....ALSO WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN SWITCHED OFF. ENGINE REVS UP TO 3,000 RPMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10096788
Incident
Sep 13, 2004
Mileage
86,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 11, 2004

OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT RESULTS IN STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS BECOMING INOPERATIVE. CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP AND TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONS ARE NOT AFFECTED. THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND OR IS STOPPED AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THIS DESCRIPTION WAS TAKEN FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 01V364000 AND IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY 2001 GMC SAFARI VAN. THE LOCAL GMC DEALER WANTS ALMOST $500.00 TO REPAIR THIS ITEM. I FEEL GMC SHOULD REPAIR THIS AT NO CHARGE 1ST BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND 2ND THEY HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS ON SEVERAL OTHER MODELS AS PER YOUR CAMPAIGN ID # 01V364000. GMC SAY'S THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE SAFARI VAN SO THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10095545
Incident
Apr 12, 2004
Mileage
48,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsSteering
Filed Jul 22, 2004

REPLACED CARBURETOR, IGNITION COIL AND ROTOR. STEERING FLUID PUMP LEAKS, RUST COMING THROUGH PAINT, DOORS DO NOT LOCK MANUALLYAND CAN NOT OPEN BACK HATCH. *JB

NHTSA ID
10082476
Incident
Jul 19, 2004
Mileage
47,145 mi
Filed Jan 15, 2004

PULLED OVER TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE, FOUND FOUR WAY FLASHERS AND BRAKE LIGHT DO NOT WORK. FORCING THE FLASHER SWITCH LEFT ALLOWS BRAKE LIGHTS TO FUNCTION

NHTSA ID
10069268
Incident
Sep 15, 2003
Mileage
36,500 mi
EngineInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Oct 1, 2003

EVERY WINTER WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME FROZEN AND OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VIEW. ALSO THE ENGINE STALLED AT ANY SPEED. *AK. ALSO THE DASH LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10039772
Incident
Sep 11, 2003

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.

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