IllustrationWHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT PARTIALLY TO THE FLOOR WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *YC
1994 GMC Safari
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Safari years
Owner complaints for the 1994 GMC Safari are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.
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: 16 of 119 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 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
37 reportsWHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY MAKE THE CAR JERK, AND THE CAR DOES NOT STOP, IT HESITATES. DEALER SAID CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO TAKE BRAKES APART JUST TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON ONCE VEHICLE REACHES 8 MPH. BRAKES SQUEAK AND GRAB AND DON'T PERFORM PROPERLY. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR UNTIL REPAIR NOTICE IS RECEIVED. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH A CAR STOPP;ED IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO STOP AND THE ANTI-LOCKS KICKED IN AND I SLAMMED INTO THE FIRST CAR WICH HIT ANOTHER AND THE ANOTHER. I THINK I HAD TIME TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE CARS IF THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP ANY, BUT ALL THEY DID WAS CAUSE A HARD PULSATION OF THE BRA…
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I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH A CAR STOPP;ED IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO STOP AND THE ANTI-LOCKS KICKED IN AND I SLAMMED INTO THE FIRST CAR WICH HIT ANOTHER AND THE ANOTHER. I THINK I HAD TIME TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE CARS IF THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP ANY, BUT ALL THEY DID WAS CAUSE A HARD PULSATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND LITTLE IF ANY STOPPING POWER AT ALL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE ACTED UP BUT THE FIRST TIME WITH A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SO I PAY IN INSURANCE AND CITATIONS FOR SOMETHING THE MANUFACTURER HAS SAID WAS BAD BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THE BRAKES BEING BAD OR RECALLED. SO THANKS TO GM I HAVE TO FIGHT WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET THE VAN FIXXED SO I CAN TAKE IT TO GM FOR REPAIRS ON THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK
POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE; THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO STOP VEHICLE RIGHT AWAY. THIS HAPPENED ON A SMOOTH/DRY ROAD SURFACE. DRIVER MADE A NORMAL STOP AT A LIGHT AND TRUCK CONTINUED TO TRAVEL, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. *AK
ABS BRAKE SENSOR WORN OUT & REPLACED 2X - CAUSE NOT IDENTIFIED BUT OVER 2 MONTHS,MECHANICS DISCOVERED AXLE NUT LOOSENED & LF WHEEL LOOSE,WOBBLY & COMING OFF AXLE(GMC BAD & POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN FLAW - SINCE THERE'S NO COTTER PIN USED, TYPICALLY FOUND ON AWD/4WD VEHICLES). MECHANICS "NOTCHED" AXLE SPINDLE TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT…
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ABS BRAKE SENSOR WORN OUT & REPLACED 2X - CAUSE NOT IDENTIFIED BUT OVER 2 MONTHS,MECHANICS DISCOVERED AXLE NUT LOOSENED & LF WHEEL LOOSE,WOBBLY & COMING OFF AXLE(GMC BAD & POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN FLAW - SINCE THERE'S NO COTTER PIN USED, TYPICALLY FOUND ON AWD/4WD VEHICLES). MECHANICS "NOTCHED" AXLE SPINDLE TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT NUT LOOSENING, COMING OFF & WHEEL FLYING OFF. LOOSENING AXLE NUT TRACED TO A SUPPOSEDLY BAD WHEEL BEARING(NO TYPICAL WARNING NOISE AT ALL & COST $930 TO REPLACE IN JUNE 1999). POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN FLAW REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE! LEHMER'S GMC DEALERSHIP[1851 GALINDO ST, CONCORD, CA94524,(925)685-4481]SAYS TOO MUCH MILEAGE FOR ANY REMUNERATION. I FEEL COST SHOULD BE GMC'S TO BEAR(NOT MINE) AS WELL AS FIXING OTHER WHEELS. IT'LL COST GMC ALOT MORE IN COURT IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, ETC. -LIKE THEIR GAS TANKS PROBLEMS! GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS IT'S NOT IN THEIR HANDS. THANKS VERY MUCH.....*AK
BRAKES WORK SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR. HAVE TRIED TO HAVE BRAKES REPAIRED BUT NO ONE CAN FIND PROBLEM.WHEN I TAKE THE VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED THE BRAKES START TO WORK. DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER THAT I HAD REPLACED TWO DAYS BEFORE AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED BUT THE PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL WILL TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
194V087000 · Equipment:other:labels
May 9, 1994
THE MANUFACTURER'S CERTIFICATION LABEL AND/OR THE DRIVER AIR BAG ADVISORY LABEL MAY BE MISSING FROM THE VEHICLES, WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF 49 CFR 567.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: OWNERS OF VEHICLE WOULD BE UNAWARE OF THE LOAD CAPACITY OF THE VANS, THE VAN BUILD DATE, AND WOULD NOT HAVE ANY ASSURANCE THAT THE VANS MEET THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS.
Remedy: THE LABELS WILL BE FURNISHED TO OWNER'S FOR INSTALLATION ON THE VEHICLES.
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
1RQ99003 · Windshield Wiper
Opened Mar 8, 1999 · Closed May 31, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
No summary supplied.