Total Complaints
25 filings
GMC SAFARI · model year
1989 GMC SAFARI
25 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989GMCSAFARI carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1989 SAFARI is seat belts:front:retractor with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (2) and steering:hydraulic power assist system (2). 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 1989 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.
25
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20110821ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE BRACKETS ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAVE BROKEN 3+ TIMES AND HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED, PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, BRACKETS, FLUID, AND HOSE TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THE MOST RECENT WAS LAST WEEK. 08/18/2011 *TR
20110821STEERING
THE BRACKETS ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAVE BROKEN 3+ TIMES AND HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED, PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, BRACKETS, FLUID, AND HOSE TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THE MOST RECENT WAS LAST WEEK. 08/18/2011 *TR
20040510VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
RANDOM FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. VERY SPOOKY WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT. WHEN QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM. BUT THEY KNEW JUST WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEY HAVE A FIX. *LA
Mileage: 66,000
20030404STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRONT VAN CAPTAINS CHAIR FRAME AND TRACK, HAS HAD TO BE REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES. SEAT LIFTS UP, DOES NOT STAY SECURED TO TRACK. *JB
Mileage: 168,520
20000418SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
THE ALUMINUM OR SIMILAR MATERIAL BRACKET WHICH CONNECTS THE ELECTRONICALLY-CONTROLLED DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE FLOOR GUIDES IS "RIPPED" --- NOT COMPLETELY BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE SEAT INSECURE AND DEFINITELY UNSAFE IN A SUDDEN STOP OR IMPACT.*AK
19990522STEERING:LINKAGES
WITHOUT WARNING THE TIE ROD RIPPED ITSELF OUT OF THE FRAME. IF THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEED, THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. ONE BODY SHOP OWNER SAID THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
19990124FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ON GOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT, BUT EVEN WHEN I HAD A REBUILT ENGINE PUT IN BY MILES CHEV, MILLINGTON,TN IN JULY 97 AT 146,737 MILES ,NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT ANY ENGINE FIRES...MOST MECHANICS SAID IT WAS A "MINOR" ELECTRIAL PROBLEM...THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON WHEN IT NEEDED OIL, AND PERIODICALLY THE RED BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, EVEN THOUGH THE EMERGANCY BRAKE HAD NOT BEEN APPLIED AND THE LEVER PULLED TO DOUBLE CHECK FOR RELEASE. NO OTHER WARNINGS OF POSSIBLE FIRE...NO SMOKE OR ODORS THAT NIGHT, JUST DROVE HOME ABOUT 20 MILES IN THE RAIN, PARKED IN MY DRIVE AND ABOUT 3.5HRS LATER A MAN WALKING BY SAW IT BURNING AND HAD PEOPLE CALL 911. TUNE UP & OIL CHG. @187,314M,12/17/98. *AK
19981117SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT BELT DOESN'T ADJUST, IT'S LOOSE. IT DOES NOT HOLD. THIS DEFECT COMPLIES WITH RECALL 98V150000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK THE BOLT HOLDING THE ENGINE BRACKET BROKE OFF. *YH
19981117ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT BELT DOESN'T ADJUST, IT'S LOOSE. IT DOES NOT HOLD. THIS DEFECT COMPLIES WITH RECALL 98V150000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK THE BOLT HOLDING THE ENGINE BRACKET BROKE OFF. *YH
19981101SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR SEAT BELT FAILED UNDER HARD BRAKING. ALSO, POWER STEERING PUMP REAR BRACKET MALFUNCTIONED.
19981101STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
REAR SEAT BELT FAILED UNDER HARD BRAKING. ALSO, POWER STEERING PUMP REAR BRACKET MALFUNCTIONED.
19970619CrashSTEERING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM SEAT BECAUSE THE LAP BELT DID NOT HOLD. FURTHERMORE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN GOING OVER 55 MPH. *AK
19970619CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM SEAT BECAUSE THE LAP BELT DID NOT HOLD. FURTHERMORE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN GOING OVER 55 MPH. *AK
19970128POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY
GEAR SHIFTER STUCK IN PARK POSITION. *AK
19970113STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHILE GETTING INTO VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE BROKE OFF DOOR INTO DRIVER'S HAND, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HANDLE HAS NOT BROKEN. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. *AK
19970103SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE ON SEAT, THE SEAT BOLT BROKE AGAIN, CAUSING THE SEAT TO RECLINE INTO THE REAR SEAT. RECALL#93V187000. *AK
19961231STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING PULLEY CAME APART, CAUSING SERPENTINE BELT TO BREAK
19960104STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN BOLT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING COLUMN IN PLACE, BECOMES VERY LOOSE, CAN NOT SHIFT GEARS AND USE TURN SIGNALS. TT
19960104POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
STEERING COLUMN BOLT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING COLUMN IN PLACE, BECOMES VERY LOOSE, CAN NOT SHIFT GEARS AND USE TURN SIGNALS. TT
19960104EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
STEERING COLUMN BOLT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING COLUMN IN PLACE, BECOMES VERY LOOSE, CAN NOT SHIFT GEARS AND USE TURN SIGNALS. TT
Compare 1989GMCSAFARI to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 GMC SAFARI have?▼
The 1989 GMC SAFARI has 25 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 GMC SAFARI?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 GMC SAFARI is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM.
Is the 1989 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.