1990 GMC Safari

Routine

Owners filed 35 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip12
201
Structure › Body › Door5
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Windshield › Electrical Heating Element2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Abs Warning Light2
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Steering › Linkages › Arm › Idler and Attachment1
000
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seats93V187000
Filed Nov 16, 1993604,207 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.

Risk. IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor93V119000
Filed Aug 2, 1993341,364 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.

Risk. SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage91V164000
Filed Sep 20, 19914,842 vehiclesSherrod Vans, Inc.

Defect. SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.

Risk. VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.

Remedy. REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings90V146000
Filed Aug 13, 199030,640 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. FUEL RETURN HOSES MAY BREAK AT EITHER CRIMPED COUPLING, CAUSING A LEAKAGE OF FUEL.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A FUEL RETURN LINE SEPARATION, A FUELLEAK OCCURRING IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy. INSTALL A PROPERLY CRIMPED FUEL RETURN HOSE.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust
Filed Apr 22, 2002CA

CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER DRIVER SEAT WOULD ROCK BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOO QUICKLY, CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT A MOUNTING BOLT WAS LOOSE, HE THEN TILTED THE SEAT BACK AND INSPECTED THE FRONT MOUNTING BOLT TO THE SEAT PLATFORM CONNECTION AND THE CONSUMER SAW THAT WHEN THE SEAT BACK WAS PUSHED, THE ENTIRE BOLT/NUT COMBO LIFTED OFF OF THE MOUNTING PLATFORM, AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SEAT ROCKING BACK AND FORTH, UPON LIFTING THE SEAT OFF THE PLATFORM ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE PLATFORM HAD BROKEN OFF, THE ADJACENT METAL AROUND THE BOLT HOLES WERE DISFIGURED, FRACTURED AND CRACKED.*JB

Steering › Linkages › Arm › Idler and Attachment
Filed Aug 3, 2001IL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ALONG AND MADE A STOP; THEN, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT MADE A LOUD NOISE, LATER SHE WAS TOLD THAT IDLE ARM HAD FALLEN OFF.*AK VEHICLE ALSO WOULD VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. STEERING COLUMN LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. *SLC

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Sep 20, 2000UN

CONSUMER HAVE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 93V187000 FOR FRONTAL SEATS. REAR SEATS ARE THE SAME TYPE OF SEATS WITH A DIFFERENT PACKAGE. BUT, MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS STATED IN THE RECALL FOR THE REAR SEATS. *AK THE FRONT AND THE REAR SEATS ARE RECLINING SEAT FOR THIS VAN UNLIKE OTHER VANS. *YH

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Apr 11, 2000MO

THE 2 FRONT SAFETY BELTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, IF YOU LEAN FORWARD THE SHOULDER BELT STAY LOOSE AND DON'T COME BACK AGAINST THE PASSENGER, ALSO A REAR LAP BELT WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO RETRACT AND LOCK INTO PLACE AFTER IT IS PULLED ALL THE WAY OUT DOES NOT WORK. I HAD CONTACTED GM A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD MAKE A NOTE OF IT BUT WOULD NOT OFFER TO FIX THEM. I THINK BEINGS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT. THE BELTS HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VAN, IT WAS A USED VEHICLE, WE DIDNT BUY IT NEW. I TRANSPORT CHILDREN, I HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD AND A 3 MONTH OLD, SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, I HAVE TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN ONE OF THE WORKING BELTS. THIS ALSO LEAVES THE DRIVER AT RISK, BEINGS THE DRIVERS BELT DOESNT FUNCTION PROPERLY. I AM UNABLE TO USE ONE OF THE SPOTS IN THE BACK DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE BELT. IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE CONTACT ME @ 314-729-1288 OR EMAIL ME AT [email protected] THANK YOU, MAUREEN WIEHAGE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 4, 2000WI

AFTER A HARD BRAKING INCIDENT, THE ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON. SYSTEM WAS RESET BY MECHANIC, WORKED FOR 4 OR 5 BRAKE APPLICATIONS BUT HAD ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE UNDER HOOD, THEN PROBLEM RETURNED. REGULAR BRAKES WORK PROPERLY, ABS DOES NOT. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP STATED ABS COMPUTER FAILURE. COST TO REPAIR - $450, WORK NOT PERFORMED. PROBLEM PERSISTS. AFTER VIEWING YOUR ONLINE COMPLAINTS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 18, 1999MI

THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS COMES ON, INDICATING THAT THE ABS DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND RESET THE ABS CODE. PROBLEM EXSITS AGAIN. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 1, 1999MT

ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & STAYING. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES (ABS), VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE. VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC RESET COMPUTER FOR BRAKES. THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE HAD A CODE OF 63. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Aug 18, 1999CA

WAS LEANING FORWARD WITH THE SEAT BELT ON. SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP PROPERLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. OWNER FEELS IT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *AK

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Aug 2, 1999CT

TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR SERVICE ON REAR END. WAS HIT. WHEN CONSUMER DROVE AWAY, STEERING WHEEL COLUMN MOVED THE COLUMN INTO THE INNER SLEEVE.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Oct 9, 1998AR

SLIDING DOOR CAME OUT OF THE TRACK, DOOR WAS LOCKED. INCIDENT OCCURRED TWO TIMES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND IS INVESTIGATING PROBLEM. NO WARRANTY. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 30, 1998NJ

WHEN TRAVELING 70 MPH CONSUMER LOST ALL POWER. ALSO, VEHICLE WENT FROM 70 TO 0 IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE MOTOR. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 8, 1998FL

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; DURING NORMAL BRAKING AT LOW SPEED IN NO INCLEMENT WEATHER, MOSTLY WHEN COMING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY(VERY LITTLE HILL), WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND THE TRUCK DOES NOT STOP. AFTER THE TRUCK SITS FOR ONE TO TWO MINUTES AND THE BRAKES ARE NORMAL, DEALER NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROLBEM WITH THE SYSTEM. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Windshield › Electrical Heating Element
Filed Dec 11, 1997ME

THE MOTOR SPEED CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER MELTED INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL/REPLACED SWITCH AND BLOWER MOTOR. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Abs Warning Light
Filed Oct 2, 1997IL

ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 4, 1997IA

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Mar 24, 1997OK

OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES. BRAKES DRAG, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. OWNER HAS HAD VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, AND DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 27, 1997CA

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES IN ICY WEATHER, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP. REPLACED ABS SYSTEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 6, 1997MI

IN DRY WEATHER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, TOOK TO DEALER AND HE REPLACED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, THE PASSENGER'S AND MIDLE BENCH SEAT BELT BUCKLES BROKE ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE ECM FAILED WHEN DRIVING AND THE ELECTRIC LOCK ALSO FAILED. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust
Filed Nov 6, 1996MD

THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE FRONT SEAT BROKE . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Filed Oct 24, 1996MS

AT 26,000 MILES THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BURNT OUT, REPAIRED AND AGAIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BURNT OUT, ALSO THERE'S A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL ON THE DRIVER SIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL. *AK

20 of 35 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20054200Routine
20045200Routine
200318310Routine
200225310Routine
200139320Routine
200068200Routine
199961310Routine
199889510Routine
1997135620Routine
1996139620Routine
1995195641Fatalities reported
1994119220Routine
199361210Routine
199259320Routine
199139430Routine
1990 — this page35400Routine

Compare every Safari year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 16, 1993. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.