1993 GMC Safari

1993 GMC SAFARI ALL WHEEL DRIVE 7-PASSENGER STANDARD WHEEL BASE VAN WITH 42" TORSION BAR FRONT SPRINGS AND 182,000 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TORSION SPRING BROKE INSIDE THE ADJUSTER SLEEVE AT THE FRAME CROSSMEMBER, DROPPING THE DRIVER'S SIDE ONTO THE FRAME. WHILE THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE I HAD USED THE VAN TO TAKE A TRIP WITH MY FAMILY ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. A FAILURE HERE WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE ORIGINAL SPRING DESIGN WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, AND THE UPDATED VERSION COULD ONLY BE SOLD IN PAIRS(BOTH SIDES). IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT AS THE FRONT SPRINGS ARE SO UNRELIABLE AS TO REQUIRE A COMPLETE RE-DESIGN, THAT A RECALL IS IN ORDER. *JB

EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS SPONTANEOUS SHEARING OF FRONT LEFT TORSION BAR. GMC MUST KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE COMPLETELY REDESIGNED THE TORSION BARS, REQUIRING A MAJOR RETROFITTING (AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE) OF THE VAN'S CROSS FRAME MEMBER. FORTUNATELY FOR US, THIS MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE SUSPENSION BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. OTHER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET DESCRIBE THE PART AS BREAKING WHILE DRIVING, INSTANTLY DROPPING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR UNTIL THE TIRE HITS THE WHEEL WELL AND THROWING THE CAR VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT.*AK

WE FEEL THAT THIS VAN HAS HAD MORE THAN IT'S SHARE OF REPAIRS. IT HAS BEEN TOWED HOME FROM CAMBRIDGE MD TWICE. ONCE DUE TO ALTERNATOR FREEZING UP AND BREAKING BELT, AND ONCE FOR FAULTY IGNITION. IT HAS HAD 4 ALTERNATORS, AN AC SENSOR, COMPRESSOR AND ORAFICE. THE RT. FT. PASS. DOOR HAS HAD: NEW ELEC. MOTOR, WINDOW GLIDE, WEATHERSTRIPPING. I'VE HAD 3 EGR VALVES INSTALLED, AN "O" RING REPLACED, AND 3 MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. POWER STEERING PUMP AND HOSE REPLACED. I'VE HAD THE ROOF REPAINTED. AND SEVERAL SPOTS AROUND THE WINDOWS REPAINTED BLACK WHERE THE PAINT IS JUST PEELING OFF. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED. I'VE ALSO REPLACED THE VALVE SEAL, AND WATER PUMP. I'VE HAD RUST REPAIRED 3 TIMES ON THE INSIDE HINDGE AREA OF THE UPPER DUTCH DOOR. AND IN JUST LAST TWO MONTHS, I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE IDLER ARMS, PITMAN ARMS, AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THESE ARE JUST REPAIRS THAT I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR, MANY WERE DONE AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WHEN NO RECEIPTS WERE ISSUED. I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE GAS MILEAGE EVER SINCE WE'VE OWNED THE VAN. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED WE WOULD GET 15/20 MPG. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERS, I WAS TOLD THAT ONCE IT WAS BROKEN IN, GAS MILEAGE WOULD IMPROVE. WELL, I'VE GOT 100,00 MILES ON IT NOW, AND MY AVERAGE GAS MILEAGE IS 14 MPG. WE'RE LUCKY IF WE EVER SEE 18-20 MPG. WHEN WE GET 14 MPG, THAT'S A COMBINATION OF HIGHWAY, AND STOP AND GO DRIVING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE PURCHASED THE GEICO MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN INSURANCE WHEN IT WAS OFFERED.

GM OF CANADA AND THE TRANSPORT CANADA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM. GM RESPONSE IS THAT IF THEY DETECT A PROBLEM WITH A COMPONENT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDED MORE LIKE A BRUSH OFF. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM AT THIS TIME WITH THE TORSION BAR FAILURE. THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH AT TRANSPORT CANADA WAS AWARE OF 5 OTHER REPORTED CASES OF TORSION BAR FAILURE ON THIS MODEL IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. A GM DEALER CONTACTED IN HAMILTON ONTARIO HAD ANOTHER REQUEST FOR TORSION BAR REPLACEMENTS YESTERDAY. A LOCAL WRECKING YARD HAS A VAN IN THERE POSESSION WITH A BROKEN TORSION BAR. I FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM HENCE MY CONTACT WITH NHTSA, TRANSPORT CANADA, AND GM CANADA. INDEED THE DESIGN OF THE TORSION BAR WAS CHANGED ON 1996 AND NEWER ASTRO/ SAFARI AWD VANS AND THE OLD STYLE TORSION BAR IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM GM CANADA. THIS MEANS THE WHOLE FRONT END NEEDS TO BE RETRO FITTED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE TO THE NEW STYLE TORSION BAR. I HAVE NOT RECIEVED A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE TO MY PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOUR ORGANIZATION MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.