Total Complaints
11 filings
GMC SAFARI · model year
1986 GMC SAFARI
11 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986GMCSAFARI carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 SAFARI is seats with 2 filings, followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (1) and tires:tread/belt (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1986 SAFARI. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
11
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEATS | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20021106SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINNING RUPTURED. *JG
20021106STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE CHASSIS FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT . *JG
19981015ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IS LOSING PRESSURE, AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. ALSO, THERE IS BLACK THICK SMOKE COMING TAIL PIPE. *AK
19981015ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IS LOSING PRESSURE, AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. ALSO, THERE IS BLACK THICK SMOKE COMING TAIL PIPE. *AK
19960529SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE WHEN THE DRIVER SAT IN THE SEAT. *AK
19960425CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEADLIGHT SWTICH FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD
19960425SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED TO SECURE DRIVER DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY. *SD
19960425SEATS
SEAT TRACK FAILED, CAUSING SEAT TO LOSE POSITION. *SD
19960325CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER WAS HIT IN THE REAR, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINED BACKWARDS, DRIVER WAS FELL TO THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
19960125TIRES:TREAD/BELT
IRREGULAR WEAR OF B F GOODRICH TIRE TREADS, CONTRIBUTING TO BRAKING/STEERING PROBLEMS. *SD
19950516STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
ERRATIC OPERATION OF STEERING WHEEL. RESULTING IN POOR STABILITY. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAIL. TT
Compare 1986GMCSAFARI to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 GMC SAFARI have?▼
The 1986 GMC SAFARI has 11 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 GMC SAFARI?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 GMC SAFARI is SEATS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1986 GMC SAFARI safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.