1997 GMC Safari

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/1997· STRUCTURE

  THE HATCH GAVE WAY WHILE IN RAISED POSITION AND HIT OWNER IN HEAD AND NECK.

• 12/31/1997· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT FAILURE.

• 12/30/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT ON A BACK ROAD I WAS CROSSING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK AND THE VEHICLE CUT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT OVER THE TRACKS TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. THE GAS GAUGE READ THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS, WHEN IN FACT THE TANK WAS EMPTY. THE GAS GAUGE HAS NOT WORKED EVER SINCE.

• 12/28/2001· VISIBILITY

  INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK WHEN TURNED ON. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED IT WAS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

• 12/17/2001· POWER TRAIN

  GEARS CAN BE SHIFTED WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. CONSUMER REALIZED IT AFTER CHILD SHIFTED GEARS WHILE ENGINE WAS IDLING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

• 12/17/1998· SEAT BELTS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PART WAS ORDERED TO CORRECT SEAT BELT PROBLEM. CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH STICKING OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

• 12/14/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL TIMES THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE WHILE SHE WAS PASSING A TRACTOR-TRAILER MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. VAN WOULD NORMALLY RESTART, BUT HAD TO BE TOWED 3 TIMES. DEALER IN FLORIDA FAILED TO REPAIR AFTER 10 DAYS AND TWO ATTEMPTS. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO REPAIRED IT IN 4 HOURS! PROBLEM WAS A MELTED FUEL PUMP WIRING HARNESS. *TR

• 12/06/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED, THERE WAS NO STEERING OR BRAKES. CONSUMER TOTALLED VAN. *AK

• 12/04/1998· SUSPENSION

  IDLER ARMS ARE FAULTY DUE TO AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, CAUSING TIRE WEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 12/02/1997· STRUCTURE

  STRESS CRACKS IN BODY/FRAME.

• 11/21/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING IT LOSES POWER. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/09/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ALL THE GAUGES DO NOT WORK DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PREVIOUSLY, DEALER REPLACED GAS GAUGE. ALSO, TRANSMISSIN MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

• 11/04/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  RIGHT FRONT CALIPER LOCKED UP RESULTING IN NUMEROUS REPAIRS INCLUDING ALIGNMENT, NEW TIRES AND IDLER ARMS REPLACEMENT AT MY COST. ALL UNDER 30K MILES!!!

• 11/04/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  WHILE LOADING GROCERIES THE TAILGATE OF THE VAN FAILED ,AND CLOSED ON CONSUMER,S NECK, RESULTING IN INJUTIES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

• 11/01/2005· POWER TRAIN

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED . HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND HAD REPAIR WORK DONE IN MAY 2005. IN SEPTEMBER 2005 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO REFUND THE MONEY FOR SERVICE TOWARD A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT THIS REPAIR HAS NOT CURRENTLY BEEN MADE.*AK

• 10/25/2000· STEERING

  IDLER ARMS THAT POSITION STEERING TIE ROD WERE EXTREMELY LOOSE. THIS ALLOWED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES RAPIDLY. ALSO RESULTED IN VIOLENT SIDE-TO-SIDE SHIMMY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES OR WHEN DRIVING ON GROOVED HIGHWAY SURFACES.CLOSE INSPECTION OF IDLER ARMS REVEALED THAT BUSHINGS WERE EXTREMELY WORN. IDLER ARMS (GM PART NUMBER 26018165) HAD BEEN REGULARLY LUBRICATED, YET APPEARED DRY AND DIRTY AROUND BUSHING. REPLACEMENT PART PROCURED FROM GM DEALER (PART NUMBER 12471302) WAS A DIFFERENT DESIGN, WITH GREASE FITTING ON SIDE OF ARM, WITH AN EXTENDED BUSHING SURFACE. THIS TYPE OF PART SHOULD NORMALLY LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED. MY FAILURE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES. DEALER STATES THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED, YET NO RECALL OR OWNER NOTIFICATION OF PROBLEM, DESPITE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD INHERENT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL.

• 10/22/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECAHNICS GARAGE WHERE THEY FOUND THAT ALL THE MECHANICAL LINKAGES AND HYDRAULICS WERE INTACT, HOWEVER THE ABS INTERFACE ON THE COMPUTER BOARD WAS FAULTY, THEREBY DISABLING THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM. *SCC

• 10/18/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT AN ACCIDENT TO NHTSA. I WAS DRIVING A 25 FOOT GMC PENSKE TRUCK FROM FLORIDA TO VIRGINIA ON AUG 16TH, 2000 WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE UNEXPECTEDLY AND BURNED EVERY MATERIAL ITEM THAT I OWNED, INCLUDING MY 2000 TOYOTA CELICA THAT WAS BEING TOWED ON A CARRIER. I WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE WITH SINGED LEG HAIR, AND SMOKE INHALATION AS I LITERALLY HAD TO BAIL OUT OF THE CAB AND RUN FOR MY LIFE. THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL WAS ON THE SCENE AS I95 WAS COMPLETELY CLOSED DOWN. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM PENSKE'S INSURANCE COMPANY GHALLAGER AND BASSETT, TOLD ME THAT SUCH ENGINE FIRES HAD OCCURED APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. ALSO I KNOW OF A COUPLE WHO WAS IN A SIMILAR INCIDENT, DRIVING A PENSKE RENTAL TRUCK FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO FLORIDA WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR OF MY ACCIDENT FROM PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE DEPARTMENT IN FLORIDA, DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AND GMC HAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THE YEAR OF THE TRUCK WAS 1993 BY A FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER BASED ON THE VIN, BUT GMC CLAIMS IT WAS A 1997 VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE IF THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE PAST, AND TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT OTHER PEOPLES LIVES AND BELONGINGS ARE NOT IN DANGER. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

• 10/12/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH THE FAN BELT TENSIONER PULLEY SOUNDED LIKE IT EXPLODED, THE POWER STEERING QUIT AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO FORCE MY WAY TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND COAST TO A STOP. REFD ALSO OIB ID #S848796 709479 844009 --- SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE FROM THIS DEFECT

• 10/12/1999· VISIBILITY

  THE LEFT REAR WINDOW BRACKET FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE CAUSING THE WINDOW TO SLAM ON CHILDS FINGERS AFTER IT HAD BEEN SERVICED. NLM

• 10/08/1997· TIRES

  FRONT TIRES WORN TO WIRE AFTER 6000 MILES. REPAIR NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *AK

• 10/05/2001· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, FRONT END SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, CONSUMER STATES IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE IMPACT WAS HIGHER THAN WHAT THE IMPACT SENSORS NEEDED FOR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.

• 10/04/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 5 MPH WITH FOOT ON BRAKE CAR ACCELERATED VERY FAST. AFTER CAR HAS ACCELERATED, THEN IT JUST STOPPED. *AK

• 09/27/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  STARTING TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THE ENGINE PULLEY POPPED OFF WHICH EFFECTED THE BRAKES AND STEERING. *AK

• 09/27/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE TO SKID, WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 09/26/2002· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENLY. MR

• 09/26/2002· VISIBILITY

  CONSUER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL INTERMITTENLY STOP WORKING WHEN THE CONSUMER HAS THE WIPERS IN USE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *MR

• 09/26/2000· STEERING

  CONSUMER CAN'T TURN STEERING WHEEL IF BRAKE IS FULLY APPLIED. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING, ESECIALLY TRYING TO PARALLEL PARK, GOING INTO REVERSE. CONSUMER TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT DID THE SAME THING. DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE & NOTHING WAS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CONSUMER WAS GOING TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

• 09/23/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE THROTTLE BODY ON OUR 1997 GMC SAFARI CAME APART SENDING PIECES INTO THE ENGINE AND FAILING IN A WIDE OPEN THROTTLE CONDITION THAT WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE BY THE DRIVER. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERED THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR ACCELERATED THROUGH 85 MILES PER HOUR WITHOUT ANY DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERTOR. THE DRIVER HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE TO KEEP SPEED SOMEWHAT UNDER CONTROL. THE ONLY MEANS TO CONTROL THE ENGINE WAS TO TURN IT OFF.

• 09/22/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY

• 09/20/1999· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  THE BATTERY CABLE LINE HANGING OVER THE THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE GOING INTO THE INTAKE/OUTTAKE MANIFORD, WHICH CUT IT IN HALF. THE TRANSMISSION CAUGHT ON FIRE.CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

• 09/18/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE HONEYCOMB CATALYST MATERIAL IS BROKEN AND CAN BE HEARD TO BE RATTLING AROUND WITHIN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CATALYST WITHIN THE HOUSING WILL FURTHER DETERIORATE, BREAK APART, AND MIGRATE INTO THE MUFFLER. SINCE THE MUFFLER IS NOT SHIELDED AS WELL AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THIS PRESENTS A VERY REAL FIRE HAZARD.*AK

• 09/18/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS BRAKES BIND, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT. IN ADDITION, POORLY FITTING PADS/BROKEN CALIPERS, CAUSING INTERMITTENT GRINDING. GMC VEHICLE BUILT IN US AND IMPORTED INTO GREAT BRITAIN UNDER VAUXHALL BRAND NAME. *AK

• 09/14/2000· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR CORRECTLY WHICH IS ALSO EFFECTING THE COMPUTER . GMC HAS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE 2 PARTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 09/12/2006· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL LEAK IN SAFARI SUPPLIED FUEL LINE THAT GOES TO THE GENERATOR. *NM

• 09/04/2001· POWER TRAIN

  THIS SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF EXPENSIVE REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ARE STILL NOT RESOLVED. IT TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST.

• 09/04/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DAYTIME DRIVING LIGHTS ARE TOO BRIGHT; THEY ARE HIGH BEAMS AND VERY IRRITATING, DRIVER TURNS EYES AWAY FROM THEM. ALSO, ON SOME OF THESE MODELS THESE LIGHTS ARE VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, GIVING A FALSE SENSE OF LON GDISTANCE, COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *AK

• 09/02/2003· SEATS

  THE LEVER THAT MADE THE SEAT RECLINE BACKWARDS/FORWARD BROKE OFF ALTHOUGH EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS NOT USED. THIS RESULTED IN THE SEATS RECLINING BACKWARDS BY THEMSELVES DRIVING. *PH *NLM

• 09/02/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THROTTLE LINKAGE STICKS WHEN TAKING OFF CAUSING FAILURE. *YC

• 09/02/1998· SEAT BELTS

  SEATBELTS FAIL TO RETRACT.

• 08/29/2002· STEERING

  WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE JERKED SUDDENLY, THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TS *JB

• 08/29/2001· STEERING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  GM CHAS A FAILURE IN THE SAFARI AND THEY DON'T CARE, IT'S A LEMON!! NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED.*AK

• 08/28/2000· TIRES

  PE20020, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A P215, DOTA3XF CDI 358 GMC, SAFARI 1997, FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE GENERAL AMERITECH ST TIRE TREAD CAME OFF JUST LIKE THE FIRESTONE RECALL, TEN DAYS AGO FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, YESTERDAY THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TREAD SEPARATED.*AK MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S FENDER WA SUSTAINED DUE TO ONE OF THE TIRE FAILURES. *SLC

• 08/25/1999· VISIBILITY

  NO SUMMARY

• 08/24/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS, AND UNDERNEATH HOOD FROM THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISHE THE FIRE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

• 08/23/2005· POWER TRAIN

  1997 GMC SAFARI TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SUN GEAR SHELL FAILURE CAUSED NO REVERSE, SECOND OR OVERDRIVE ON THIS VEHICLE.

• 08/21/2001· SEAT BELTS

  CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECAL 01V123000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF SAFETY BELT AUDIBLE WARNING MODULE. DEALER STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

• 08/19/2014· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  THIS VAN BELONGS TO MY MOTHER. MY SISTER WAS DRIVING THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. SHE IS 60 YRS OF AGE AND A VERY GOOD DRIVER. HER DESCRIPTION: "JUST PULLING AWAY FROM ONE LIGHT & COMING UP TO ANOTHER. WASN'T GOING MORE THAN 20 MPH. STEP ON THE BRAKES & THEY WEREN'T THERE." THE ACCIDENT CAUSED ABOUT $500 IN DAMAGE TO THE HONDA AUTO THAT WAS STRUCK, AND SIMILAR LIGHT DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER OF THE SAFARI. I INSPECTED SYSTEM AND FOUND NO LEAKS, AND CONCLUDED THAT MASTER CYLINDER MAY BE FAILING, SO I REPLACED IT. AFTER THAT REPAIR, HAD EXCELLENT PEDAL. I BORROWED THE VAN A FEW DAYS LATER, AND WHILE DRIVING IT, I EXPERIENCED THE SAME NO BRAKE CONDITION 3 TIMES, ONCE WHICH LEFT THE FRONT END OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION (LUCKILY, NO COLLISION). I RECOGNIZED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ERRONEOUSLY KEEPING THE FRONT BRAKES FROM APPLYING, AND THAT WAS WHAT CAUSED THE NO BRAKE CONDITION. A GM MECHANIC ADVISED ME TO PULL THE ABS FUSE. I DID SO, AND NOW THE VAN HAS GREAT BRAKES, EVERY TIME. I HAVE DONE THE SAME TO ANOTHER FAMILY VEHICLE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH THIS DANGEROUS SYSTEM; I'M NOT WAITING UNTIL IT CAUSES ANOTHER ACCIDENT. THIS CONDITION SCREAMS FOR YOUR ATTENTION. NO ONE WAS HURT BY THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE INCIDENT (EXCEPT FINANCIALLY), BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE ENDS UP GLIDING INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION, OR OVER A CROSSWALK, AND DOES CAUSE A DEATH OR TWO. PLEASE HAVE ALL THESE DANGEROUS ABS VEHICLES RECALLED, AND HAVE THESE SAFETY FEATURES-TURNED-SAFETY HAZARDS DEFEATED, BEFORE SOMEONE DOES BECOME A VICTIM.

• 08/19/2004· CHILD SEATCrash

  COSCO MODEL #22260HOU, DOM 03-11-04. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CHILD BOOSTER SEAT BUCKLE BROKE. THE CHILD SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. *AK *SC *JB

• 08/15/2000· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION JERKS BETWEEN FIRST/ SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. WITH NO PRIOR WARNING ENGINE WILL STARTED UP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK