2002 GMC Safari Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Safari years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 8th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 GMC Safari. That ranks 8th out of 11 Safari model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (11 complaints, 44%), typically at around 26,037 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 25owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 GMC Safari problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 44% | 26,037 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 16% | 36,022 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 12% | 19,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 12% | 23,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 8% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 8% | 200 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 8% | 28,530 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 4% | 200 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 4% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 4% | 2,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 4% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 4% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 4% | 200 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 GMC Safari recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Problem: On certain minivans, the multifunction switch may develop an open circuit condition in the stop lamp or hazard lamp circuit that results in the stop lamps and hazard lamps being inoperative.
Risk: 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 lead to a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hazard warning flasher switch and apply special grease to the contacts at the time of installation of the module free of charge. The repair would be used in vehicles in which the hazard slider button is still movable. If a vehicle has a hazard slider button that is not movable (frozen), the entire multifunction switch will be replaced. The recall began on april 13, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Loss of brake lamp illumination (PE04072) — opened Oct 19, 2004, closed Mar 21, 2005, led to recall 05V099000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 gmc safari. While driving 45 mph, the contact's vehicle was struck on the driver's side by a 2006 dodge caravan. The contact's vehicle then crashed into a pole. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained lower back pain, a bruised toe, a forehead gash, and damage…
Front brake line rusted out and failed, necessitating expensive repair and replacement. *tr
My 2002 gmc safari would not start. I went and replaced the 2.5 year old battery (it was leaking at the terminals) it started one time and then about 45 minutes later it was dead again. It was towed to the dealer. I was first informed that the charging system was o.k. And that the probable cause…
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 gmc safari. While driving 5 or 6 mph, it took 40-50 feet before the contact could stop the vehicle. A mechanic stated that both the passenger and driver side wheel bearings and idler arms needed to be replaced. The local mechanic performed the repairs. Gmc denied him…
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 gmc safari. The contact stated that the brake lights worked intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and they stated that the repair required them to dismantle some of the major components to better access the failure. The vehicle was not repaired…
Other GMC Safari years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Safari | 4 | 0 |
| 2004 Safari | 5 | 0 |
| 2003 Safari | 18 | 1 |
| 2002 | 25 | 1 |
| 2001 Safari | 39 | 1 |
| 2000 Safari | 68 | 0 |
| 1999 Safari | 61 | 1 |
| 1998 Safari | 89 | 3 |
| 1997 Safari | 135 | 4 |
| 1996 Safari | 139 | 4 |
| 1995 Safari | 195 | 3 |
See all GMC Safari problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC Safari?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, suspension, electrical system problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 11 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 GMC Safari?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 GMC Safari a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Safari model years, the 2002 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.