GMC Safari Problems by Year
GMC Safari years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Safari year: 1995, 1996, 1997. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 Safari: 195 complaints, 3 recalls
- 1996 Safari: 139 complaints, 4 recalls
- 1997 Safari: 135 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2005 Safari: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2004 Safari: 5 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2003 Safari: 18 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common GMC Safari problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 185 | 11 | 28 |
| Visibility problems | 121 | 9 | 1 |
| Suspension | 86 | 10 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 68 | 10 | 1 |
| Power Train | 65 | 9 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 63 | 8 | 2 |
| Steering | 58 | 11 | 4 |
| Structure | 47 | 10 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 45 | 7 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 39 | 9 | 29 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 37 | 9 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 32 | 8 | 5 |
| Equipment | 28 | 8 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 19 | 7 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 8 | 2 |
| Seats | 17 | 6 | 2 |
| Tires | 15 | 7 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 11 | 6 | 3 |
| Interior Lighting | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Wheels | 8 | 3 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
GMC Safari problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All GMC Safari model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Safari | 4 | 0 | — | Steering | |
| 2004 Safari | 5 | 0 | — | Suspension | |
| 2003 Safari | 18 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Safari | 25 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Safari | 39 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Safari | 68 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Safari | 61 | 1 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 Safari | 89 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 Safari | 135 | 4 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Safari | 139 | 4 | — | Visibility | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 Safari | 195 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
More from GMC: all GMC models · GMC VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Safari years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (195), 1996 (139), 1997 (135) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Safari year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the GMC Safari?
Service Brakes, Hydraulic, with 185 complaints across 11 model years.
How many recalls does the GMC Safari have?
9 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.