IllustrationBRAKES: DRIVING ALONG AND EXITING OFF A FREEWAY RAMP,APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AFTER A FEW SECOND, THE BRAKES CAUGHT AND THE BRAKES WERE FINE. *AK
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 reportsABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, DURING NORMAL BRAKING, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE SYSTEM DOES ITS NORMAL PUMPING, BUT DOES NOT STOP THE VAN AS QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD. THE VAN GOES ANOTHER COUPLE OF FEET BEFORE STOPPING. THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 2 1/2 YEAR PERIOD. THE SECOND BEING ABOUT ONE MO…
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ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, DURING NORMAL BRAKING, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE SYSTEM DOES ITS NORMAL PUMPING, BUT DOES NOT STOP THE VAN AS QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD. THE VAN GOES ANOTHER COUPLE OF FEET BEFORE STOPPING. THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 2 1/2 YEAR PERIOD. THE SECOND BEING ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO, WITH 58,000 MILES ON VAN. *AK
EA94-038; WHEN TRAVELING DOWN AN INCLINE AND ON FLAT SURFACE IN WET WEATHER CONDTIONS, CONSUMER NOTICED THE PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER ALSO HAD NEAR ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM . *AK
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPIED THEY DO NOT STOP VEHICLE. PROBLEM OCCURRED 3 TIMES. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER. PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS ON ALL TYPES OF PAVEMENT. *AK *SLC
ABS BEAKES; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A PANIC STOP, THE VEHICLE BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SKID.*AK
EA94038;THE DEFECTIVE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A RESULT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THE VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES; EXCESSIVE FORCE IS NEEDED TO STOP VEHICLE WHILE APPLYING BRAKES.OWNER NOTES THAT BRAKE WORK HAD BEEN DONE ON VEHICLE WHICH CONTROLLED PROBLEM. BUT PROBLEM REMAINED. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. THE ONLY WAY THEY WILL STOP IS BY PUMPING THE BRAKES. *AK
UPON APPLYING BRAKES, DURING PANIC STOP, PEDAL BECAME HARD, CAUSING REAR END COLLISION. *AK 8JB
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.