IllustrationFRONT TIE RODS, WITHIN 1500 MILES APART, BROKE. DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAS A BAD SETUP, AND TIE RODS COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME.*AK
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
139 reportsCONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE BUT UPON CALLING TO MAKE AN APPOINMENT FOR REPAIR THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR.(RECALL # 01V-123) *YH
WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY TORSION BAR BROKE AND FRONT OF VEHICLE FELL ON TIRES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAD 3 OF THE SAME VEHICLES IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER HEARD LOUD CRACKING NOISE. THEN, FRONT OF VEHICLE HIT THE GROUND. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TORSION BAR HAD BROKEN, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PARTS WERE ORDERED, BUT WERE INCORRECTLY DESIGNED FOR THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE. BOTH SIDES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE DESIGN HAS CHANGED…
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WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER HEARD LOUD CRACKING NOISE. THEN, FRONT OF VEHICLE HIT THE GROUND. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TORSION BAR HAD BROKEN, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PARTS WERE ORDERED, BUT WERE INCORRECTLY DESIGNED FOR THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE. BOTH SIDES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE DESIGN HAS CHANGED. MAMUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. BUT, REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY OR CUSTOMER'S SATISFACTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
BOTH TORSION BARS BROKE AT 60 MPH CAUSING FRONT OF VEHICLE TO DROP ON TIRES.VEHICLE SKIDDED TO A STOP WITH NO STEERING.HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER.SERVICE TECH.SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.CALLED GMC AND THEY AGREED WITH DEALER.I ASK DEALER FOR THE BROKEN TORSION BARS AND HAD THEM ANYLIZED BY A METAL LAB TECH.HIS O…
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BOTH TORSION BARS BROKE AT 60 MPH CAUSING FRONT OF VEHICLE TO DROP ON TIRES.VEHICLE SKIDDED TO A STOP WITH NO STEERING.HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER.SERVICE TECH.SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.CALLED GMC AND THEY AGREED WITH DEALER.I ASK DEALER FOR THE BROKEN TORSION BARS AND HAD THEM ANYLIZED BY A METAL LAB TECH.HIS OPINION WAS THAT THE BARS HAD STRESS CRACKS FROM THE METAL BEING DEFECTIVE.IF THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS GM HAS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD DRIVING ON YOUR HIGHWAYS DAILY.HOW MANY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS,INJURIES OR DEATHS ARE REQUIRED BEFORE AN INVESTIGATION IS STARTED.
WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD SHORTED OUT, CAUSING WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BE INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING VIEW OF DRIVER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
THIS PART FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT BOTH TORSION BARS MUST BE REPLACED PER THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE TORSION BAR DESIGN HAS BEEN CHANGED SINCE THIS VEHCILE WAS MANUFACTURED. IT WAS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE ORIGINAL 2 PIECE DESIGN RUSTED PREMATURELY AT TH…
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THIS PART FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT BOTH TORSION BARS MUST BE REPLACED PER THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE TORSION BAR DESIGN HAS BEEN CHANGED SINCE THIS VEHCILE WAS MANUFACTURED. IT WAS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE ORIGINAL 2 PIECE DESIGN RUSTED PREMATURELY AT THE POINT WHERE BOTH COMPONENTS MEET. THE AREA IN QUESTION WAS SUBJECT TO MOISTURE AND SALT ACCUMULATION AND WAS NOT READILY DETECTABLE UNTIL THE UNTIRE SUSPENSION COMPONENT FAILED. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR IS CLOSE TO $1,000.00. GMC CLAIMS THAT THERE ARE NO RECALL CAMPAIGNS FOR THIS COMPONENT. AFTER SOME LOCAL RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON. MOST TECHNICIANS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AGREE THAT THIS PART IS NOT A WEAR ITEM AND IF PROPERLY DESINGED SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD CONSIDER RECALLING THESE COMPONENTS ON ALL GMC SAFARI AND CHEVROLET ASTRO VANS. *AK
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
FRONT END TORSION BAR FELL OF VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND THAT DEALERS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO GREASE THE CUP THAT THE TORSION BAR KNUCKLE GOES INTO, THIS WOULD STOP THE BUILD UP OF ROAD GRIME AND HELP STOP RUST FROM FORMING ON THE KNUCKLE, CONSUMER IS ANGRY THAT HE WAS NEVER TOLD THIS, HE DOES ALL HIS MAINTEN…
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FRONT END TORSION BAR FELL OF VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND THAT DEALERS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO GREASE THE CUP THAT THE TORSION BAR KNUCKLE GOES INTO, THIS WOULD STOP THE BUILD UP OF ROAD GRIME AND HELP STOP RUST FROM FORMING ON THE KNUCKLE, CONSUMER IS ANGRY THAT HE WAS NEVER TOLD THIS, HE DOES ALL HIS MAINTENANCE AT HIS RESIDENCE, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *SLC
LEFT IDLE ARM HAS EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR VEHICLE TO PASS INSPECTION. *NOTE: CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES BASED ON RESEARCH HE HAS DONE. *AK
Official recalls
403V159000 · 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
1EA02006 · 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.