IllustrationCONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINNING RUPTURED. *JG
1986 GMC Safari
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Safari years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seats. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
1 reportsOfficial recalls
193V187000 · Seats
Nov 16, 1993
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5EA92022 · Seat Back Bolt Breakage
Opened Jun 24, 1992 · Closed Nov 19, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
PE90039 · Spare Tire Carrier Failure
Opened Feb 5, 1990 · Closed Jun 29, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE89106 · Rear Axle Seal Failure
Opened Mar 23, 1989 · Closed Sep 19, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
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EA87009 · Rear Brakes
Opened Jan 21, 1987 · Closed Aug 16, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ANALYSIS: THE PROPOSED GM CHANGES SHOULD REDUCE THE FRONT-BIAS IN THEREAR BRAKE SYSTEM.HOWEVER THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT GM WILL RETROFITTHE 1985 AND 1986 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES.REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEMMAY NOT LIE IN THE BRAKE BIASING SYSTEM, BUT RATHER IN MALFUNCTIONINGOR IMPROPERLY DESIGNED REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS.STATUS: ANALYZING RESPONSE FROM GM DATED 5/12/87.AWAITING REPLY FROM NHTSA'S LEGAL STAFF CONCERNING GM'S RESPONSE.TOLD TO SIT ON IT A WHILE BY MR. PARKER AT 8/20/87 BRIEFING.AFTER LEGAL'S REPLY, THE DATA WILL BE UPDATED AND AN ACTIONDECISION WILL BE FORWARDED FOR SUPERVISOR'S REVIEW.===
PE86053 · Inadequate Rear Brakes
Opened May 1, 1986 · Closed Jan 20, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:NO TSB'S OR RECALLS HAVE BEENISSUED ON THIS MATTER.THE 1985 CAMIP PHASE II SURVEY RATED THE GM M-VANBRAKE EFFECTIVENESS LOWEST AMONG VEHICLE LINES TESTED.IN RESPONSE TO THECONCERN OF VAN OWNERS, CHANGES IN THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER DIAMETER AND THEPROPORTIONING VALVE WERE PLANNED FOR THE 1987 MODEL M-VANS.ANALYSIS:THE PROPOSED MANUFACTURER CHANGES WILL REDUCE THE FRONT-BIAS OFTHE BRAKE SYSTEM.HOWEVER, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT GM WILL RETROFITTHE 1985 AND 1986 MODELS.OVER THE NINE MONTHS SINCE THE PE WAS OPENED,THE NUMBER OF ODI REPORTS HAS INCREASED BY 300%.THESE REPORTS INDICATETHAT THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE AN OVERLY FRONT-BIASED BRAKING SYSTEM, BUTTED M-VAN'SBRAKE ADJUSTER WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, ALLOWING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL TOROTATE, EVEN WITH 200 POUNDS APPLIED PEDAL FORCE.THE VEHICLE DID PASSMODIFIED COMPLIANCE TESTS FOR BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCES.PROPOSED ACTION:TO UPGRADE THIS TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.===