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1996 GMC Safari

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Safari years

Owner complaints for the 1996 GMC Safari are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 22 of 139 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

8 reports
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87,000 miles · Feb 16, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

PROBLEM WITH 1996 GMC SAFARI VAN NOT STARTING. *BF THE MECHANIC FOUND THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT PUMPING FUEL. UPON RETRIEVING THE FUEL PUMP FROM THE GAS TANK, HE FOUND IT TO HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. THE ACTUAL FAILURE WAS NOT THE FUEL PUMP, BUT BECAUSE IT GENERATED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT THE HOSE COMING FROM THE P…

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PROBLEM WITH 1996 GMC SAFARI VAN NOT STARTING. *BF THE MECHANIC FOUND THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT PUMPING FUEL. UPON RETRIEVING THE FUEL PUMP FROM THE GAS TANK, HE FOUND IT TO HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. THE ACTUAL FAILURE WAS NOT THE FUEL PUMP, BUT BECAUSE IT GENERATED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT THE HOSE COMING FROM THE PUMP ALONG THE CONNECTION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE HAD TO HAVE A REBUILT ENGINE INSTALLED AFTER THE FIRST ENGINE FAILED WITH ONLY 87,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10115064

98,162 miles · Jul 21, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE IDLED ROUGH,THE SERVICE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE ENGINE MIFIRED. THIS OCCURED BECAUSE THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE EITHER STUCK IN THE OPEN OR CLOSE POSITION. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED DUE TO DEPOSIT BUILD UP WHICH CAUSED THE POPPET VALVE TO STICK AND FAIL. THERE WAS TSB #000604003B ON THIS ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP CL…

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THE VEHICLE IDLED ROUGH,THE SERVICE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE ENGINE MIFIRED. THIS OCCURED BECAUSE THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE EITHER STUCK IN THE OPEN OR CLOSE POSITION. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED DUE TO DEPOSIT BUILD UP WHICH CAUSED THE POPPET VALVE TO STICK AND FAIL. THERE WAS TSB #000604003B ON THIS ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED THE INJECTORS, BUT SHOULD OF REPLACED THE CSFI FUEL SYSTEM AS PER THE TSB. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10083368

66,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineSuspension

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE - RECALLED - DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS REPAIRED, NOW WIPERS OPERATE WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. BOTH TORSION RODS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WITHIN 1 DAY APART OF EACH OTHER. MECHANIC REVEALED THAT GM NOW HAS A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE TO BE DONE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IT COSTS AN EXTRA $90 TO REPAIR. WHICH MEANS …

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE - RECALLED - DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS REPAIRED, NOW WIPERS OPERATE WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. BOTH TORSION RODS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WITHIN 1 DAY APART OF EACH OTHER. MECHANIC REVEALED THAT GM NOW HAS A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE TO BE DONE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IT COSTS AN EXTRA $90 TO REPAIR. WHICH MEANS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL THE VEHICLES AND REPLACE AT THEIR COST. BROKEN SPARK PLUG ALMOST KILLED MY FAMILY. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL DOWN, DRIVER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR DOES NOT OPERATE.

NHTSA ODI #10070505

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER HAD 8 FUEL PUMPS PUT INTO VEHICLE SINCE SHE HAD IT. FUEL PUMP KEEPS FAILING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #892244

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineVisibility

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET - NEEDED REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES ON VAN. HEATER FAN DASHBOARD SWITCH - WHEN SET ON FLOOR HEAT ONLY, IT BLOWS OUT BOTH AT THE DEFROSTER AND THE FLOOR. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR - AFTER IT STOPPED WORKING, WE GROUNDED THE MOTOR AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN - NOW IT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT NOT WHEN…

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INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET - NEEDED REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES ON VAN. HEATER FAN DASHBOARD SWITCH - WHEN SET ON FLOOR HEAT ONLY, IT BLOWS OUT BOTH AT THE DEFROSTER AND THE FLOOR. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR - AFTER IT STOPPED WORKING, WE GROUNDED THE MOTOR AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN - NOW IT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT NOT WHEN YOU USUALLY NEED IT MOST. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR - FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. AIR CONDITIONING TUBE - BECAME BRITTLE AND BROKE - REPAIRED IT AND THE A/C WORKS CORRECTLY AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #740321

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000
Electrical SystemEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEN, AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT AIR, AND CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY TOLD HER THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS RUBBING AGAINST A BLOCK CONNECTING WITH AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, AND THIS WAS CAUSING AIR CONDITIONING COOLANT TO RUN OUT ONTO THE GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867449

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL PUMP FAILURE PROBLEMS NOTED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES CONCERNING GMC SAFARI VANS.ALSO,MECHANIC STATED FIRST REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP HE ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE WAS DEFECTIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED IF THERE IS A RECALL OR TECHNICAL SEVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM SO I MAY BE REIMBURSED. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO REGISTER THIS C…

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FUEL PUMP FAILURE PROBLEMS NOTED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES CONCERNING GMC SAFARI VANS.ALSO,MECHANIC STATED FIRST REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP HE ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE WAS DEFECTIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED IF THERE IS A RECALL OR TECHNICAL SEVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM SO I MAY BE REIMBURSED. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO REGISTER THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT MY VEHICLE WITH YOU.

NHTSA ODI #700185

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604412

Official recalls

4

03V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Apr 28, 2003

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

01V123000 · Seat Belts:front:warning Light/devices

Apr 10, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

99V009000 · Child Seat

Jan 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED DUAL CHILD SEATS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISSING A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CLUTCH SPRING AND/OR PAWL SPRING IN THE CHILD SEAT. IF THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE USED. IF THE PAWL SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE OCCUPANT'S RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.

97V057000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Apr 8, 1997

THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR ON THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME.

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

1

EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure

Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.