Owners filed 61 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 3 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
9
2
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
8
0
0
0
Seat Belts › Rear/Other
3
1
0
4
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Injectors
3
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
2
0
0
0
Steering › Linkages › Arm › Idler and Attachment
2
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
2
0
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
2
0
0
0
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
1
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
1
1
0
5
3 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline06E043000
Filed May 19, 200688,303 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.
Defect. CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.
Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light/Devices01V123000
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Risk. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Steering › Linkages › Arm › Idler and Attachment
Filed Jun 14, 200770,000 milesIA
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Nov 3, 2006110,000 milesNY
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.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 1, 200570,500 milesIL
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 15, 200548,000 milesPA
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
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 4, 200588,700 milesMI
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 N
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 31, 2004TX
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
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 21, 200473,487 milesCA
(1) NOTHING LEADING UP TO EVENT. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE MOVED IN REVERSE ALTHOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS ABLE TO BE PLACED INTO R. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE SMOOTHLY IN ANY FORWARD GEARS. HOWEVER, IT WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND SUBSEQUENTLY ABLE TO BE DRIVEN ONTO A TRANSPORT TRAILER FOR TOWING. (2) FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES WERE INCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LOADED ONTO A U-HAUL VEHICLE TRANSPORT TRAILER AND TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY (OCEAN SIDE TRANSMISSION INCORPORATED LOCATED IN OCEANSIDE, CA). (3) TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED WITH SEVERAL PARTS REPLACED AT THE COST OF ALMOST $2000.00. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THE SHELL WAS CRACKED AND "THIS VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION IS KNOWN FOR HAVING A WEAK SHELL". I HAVE THIS OLD PART AVAILABLE AND IT IS BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES APPEARING TO HAVE SHEARED APART. *JB
Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
Filed Aug 10, 200460,000 milesMI
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.
Power Train › Driveline
Filed Jul 23, 20042,000 milesNM
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
Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Filed Jun 29, 200444,200 milesPA
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
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed May 23, 200487,302 milesCA
DEAR WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, LAST MONDAY(5-17-04) MY CAR WOULD NOT START. PRIOR TO THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, IT HAS BEEN A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. THE F- CONTROL HAD BROKE IN TWO. THE CAR CAN NOT GO INTO GEAR AND/OR CHANGES GEARS WITHOUT NOTICE WHEN THE F CONTROL IS BROKEN. THE CAR WAS TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALER. IT WAS AT THE DEALER UNTIL FRIDAY(052104), DUE TO THE NEED TO ORDER THE F CONTROL PART. THE CAR SEEMS TO BE REPAIRED. I DO HAVE THE OLD PART. I AM NOTIFYING YOU DUE TO THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE IF A VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE F CONTROL BREAKS. I WAS PARKED AT THE TIME MY F CONTOL BROKE. I HAVE NOTIFIED GMC. I WILL ALSO NOTIFY CALIFORNIA SAFETY BOARD. SINCERELY, DANNA WILLIAMS. *AK
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Dec 4, 2003MA
DEALER HAD REPLACED THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL COMPONENT UNIT TWICE, THE CARRIER CASE GEAR KIT AND BEARING AT OWNER EXPENSE OF $ 1,500. DOLLARS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 11, 200340,000 milesVA
I OWN A 1999 GMC SAFARI THAT HAD ITS TRANSMISSION FAIL AT LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. IT FAILED BEFORE ITS FIRST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I WAS OUT OF THE 3/36 WARRANTY PERIOD SO I WAS OUT OF LUCK. *NLM
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 10, 200326,000 milesIN
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
Power Train
Filed Mar 19, 2003TX
THE VEHICLE JERKED INTO SECOND GEAR AND THEN STALLED. *JB
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Mar 12, 2003MD
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK.*JB
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Nov 21, 2002MD
FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND GROOVED TO THE POINT THAT TURNING THEM WOULD HAVE MADE THEM TO THIN FOR SAFE USE. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT THE ROTORS WARPED SO BADLY AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. IN MY OPINION AND MY MECHANICS, GMC IS INSTALLING INFERIOR ROTORS AT A GREAT EXPENSE TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. DT
Seat Belts › Rear/OtherCrash4 injured
Filed Nov 6, 200285,000 milesTN
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
Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Sep 13, 200237,739 milesMO
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Differential Proportional ValveFire
Filed Sep 3, 2002CA
PROPORTIONER VALVE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
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: May 19, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.