← New search

1991 GMC Safari

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1991 GMC Safari do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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: 4 of 39 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
150,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeat Belts

I HAVE HAD MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM MY 1991 GMC SAFARI MINI VAN THAN ALL OTHER PREVIOUS VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED. I'M LOOKING AT MY THIRD TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL SOON (SEEMS LIKE ONE EVERY TWO YEARS) AND I DON'T DRIVE FAST AND DON'T HAVE A HITCH TO "PULL" ANYTHING. CURRENTLY, MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN…

Read full complaint

I HAVE HAD MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM MY 1991 GMC SAFARI MINI VAN THAN ALL OTHER PREVIOUS VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED. I'M LOOKING AT MY THIRD TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL SOON (SEEMS LIKE ONE EVERY TWO YEARS) AND I DON'T DRIVE FAST AND DON'T HAVE A HITCH TO "PULL" ANYTHING. CURRENTLY, MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO DRIVE. IT WENT FROM HAPPENING ONCE A MONTH TO APPROXIMATELY 4-6 TIMES A DAY. THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOPS I'VE SEEN SAY I NEED AN OVERHAUL AGAIN. I HATE THIS GMC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10070717

128,500 miles · Aug 26, 2003
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO THOSE EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE. TWICE NOW WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN A PANIC SITUATION THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. REPLACED ECU ON BRAKE SYSTEM ONCE NOW DEALER INFORMS THAT IS MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST OF $1200. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXTRAVAGANT MAI…

Read full complaint

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO THOSE EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE. TWICE NOW WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN A PANIC SITUATION THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. REPLACED ECU ON BRAKE SYSTEM ONCE NOW DEALER INFORMS THAT IS MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST OF $1200. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXTRAVAGANT MAINTENANCE EXPENSE EVERY TIME YOU NEED THE ANTI-LOCK PORTION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT DUE TO FAILURE, MUST REPLACE IDLER ARMS EVERY TWO YEARS DUE TO FAILURE AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTERS ON THE BLOWER SWITCH DUE TO OVERHEATING AND MELTING THE SWITCH. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10036634

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2001
Power Train

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TRANSMISSION DIP STICK POPPED OFF, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS ALL OVER WINDSHEILD. TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING AFTRERWARDS. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884466

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725099

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower TrainCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 15 MPH PREPAIRING TO STOP, WEATHER CONDITION WAS DRY, REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, HEARD NOISE ,NO REACTION, NO SKID MARKS FROM WHEELS. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. CHANGED BRAKEPADS AND SHOES/ROTORS/MASTER CYLINDER. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK SERPENTINE BELT R…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 15 MPH PREPAIRING TO STOP, WEATHER CONDITION WAS DRY, REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, HEARD NOISE ,NO REACTION, NO SKID MARKS FROM WHEELS. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. CHANGED BRAKEPADS AND SHOES/ROTORS/MASTER CYLINDER. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED DUE TO CAUSING NOISE. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS. FRONT BRAKES WORN TO SENSORS, DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR BRAKE DRUMS REPLACED, FRONT CALIPER DRAGGING. CONSUMER STATES FROST COMING OUT OF VENTS AT TIMES. OIL PRESSURE DISPLAY UNSTABLE AND INTERMITTENT, DEALER REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT REPLACED. WIND NOISE AROUND DRIVER DOOR. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #818155

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1995
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR AXLE SEAL GOES OUT CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ONTO REAR BRAKE PADS; REPAIRED APPROXIMATELY EVERY 6 MONTHS; BRAKES NOT CONSISTENT; EXCESSIVE EFFORT. TT

NHTSA ODI #973603

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1995
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #481267

Official recalls

3

93V187000 · 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.

93V119000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

Aug 2, 1993

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

91V164000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 20, 1991

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

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.

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

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

4

PE97025 · Instrument Panel/dash Electrical Fire

Opened Jun 12, 1997 · Closed Nov 26, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

ALLEGED ELECTRICAL FIRES MAY OCCUR IN THE DASH AREA WHILE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE BEING OPERATED OR WHILE PARKED.

EA92022 · 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

EA91028 · Brake Failure

Opened Jun 10, 1991 · Closed Jun 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

PE91052 · Brake Failure

Opened Feb 22, 1991 · Closed Jun 10, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available