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 61 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 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
61 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Suspension
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 …
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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.
NHTSA ODI #711098
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED ITS GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THERE IS NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM. HAS TO RELEASE AND APPLY AGAIN TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP, THIS HAS TO BE REPEATED MORE THAN ONCE AT TIMES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #846934
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THEN AIR WILL RELEASE AND LET THE PEDAL BACK UP. DLR HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #843113
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS FAIL WHEN WET ALLOWING WHEELS TO LOCK UP. NO CODE IS GENERATED IN COMPUTER. DEALER LOST WITHOUT CODE. WHEN SYSTEM IS DRY AND OPERATING, IF A SLIPPERY CONDITION ENCOUNTERED AFTER BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED; COMPUTER ACTUATES BUT VEHICLE DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP. THIS CONDITION STARTED IN 1996 AND CONTINUES TODAY. NO FAILURE COD…
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ABS FAIL WHEN WET ALLOWING WHEELS TO LOCK UP. NO CODE IS GENERATED IN COMPUTER. DEALER LOST WITHOUT CODE. WHEN SYSTEM IS DRY AND OPERATING, IF A SLIPPERY CONDITION ENCOUNTERED AFTER BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED; COMPUTER ACTUATES BUT VEHICLE DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO STOP. THIS CONDITION STARTED IN 1996 AND CONTINUES TODAY. NO FAILURE CODE IS GENERATED WHEN SYSTEM FAILS. ORIGINALY ONE SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT ONSET OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #703281
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Power Train
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER STUCK IN PARK POSITION.
NHTSA ODI #780987
Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 1998
Steering
STEERING WHEEL HAS TEAR IN MATERIAL, EXPOSING AIRBAG. QCAW
NHTSA ODI #542148
Mileage unknown · May 6, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
DRIVE BELT TENSIONER FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #535232
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1998
Seats
THE DRIVER'S AND THE PASSENGER' S SEATS GO INTO THE RECLINING POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #822308
Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES: WHEN DRIVING IN WET WEATHER THE RIGHT FRONT AND BOTH REAR ABS BRAKES LOCK UP AND VEHICLE SKIDS.. AFTER DRYING OUT FROM USE OR IN DRY WEATHER THE BRAKES TAKE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AND A LOT OF DISTANCE TO STOP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #820785
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MPH WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, HEARD GROANING NOISE, BRAKES DID NOT CATCH , VEHICLE KEPT GOING, RESULTING IN A CRASH. BRAKE ENGINEER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #819524
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1993 GMC Safari Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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