GMC SAFARI · model year

1992 GMC SAFARI

66 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992GMCSAFARI carries 66 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 2 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 1992 SAFARI is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 20 filings, followed by suspension:front:springs:torsion bar (7) and service brakes, hydraulic:power assist (3). 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 1992 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.

66
Complaints
4
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

66 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP20
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER2
SUSPENSION:FRONT2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK2
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1

Recent Complaints

20060809SUSPENSION:FRONT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SUSPENSION DROPPED ONTO THE FRONT TIRES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT IN USE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE SHOCKS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BUT THE SHOCKS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT LED UP TO THE OCCURRENCE.

Mileage: 130,000

20050808ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

AS FOR EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY. I OPENED THE DOOR OF MY VAN AND FOUND THE SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC COMING OUT OF IT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER, WHICH I USUALLY DON'T HAVE IN THE PLUG, BECAUSE I USE THE PLUG FOR TOO MANY OTHER THINGS HAS MELTED AND WAS STUCK INSIDE MY DASH. AFTER TAKING THAT PANEL OFF TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE LIGHTER OUT OF THE PLUG, I ATTEMPTED TO UNPLUG THE WIRES BUT WHILE DOING THIS THE SMALL AMOUNT OF THE PLUG THAT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE DASH BROKE FREE AND STARTED SPARKING. AT THIS POINT IT BLEW A FUSE SO I CUT THE WIRES JUST TO BE SAFE AND TAPED THEM SEPARATELY WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. LATER THAT NIGHT I COULD SMELL ANOTHER BURNING TYPE SMELL BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING THAT I FIGURED OUT WHAT IT WAS. NOW WHENEVER I USE MY HEATER/AC THERE IS SMOKE THAT COMES OUT FROM BEHIND THAT INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE FUSE BLEW I LOST ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND I AM AFRAID THAT IF I REPLACE THE FUSE T

20041004CHILD SEAT

I HAVE A 1992 GMC SAFARI VAN. IT HAS NO ANCHOR SYSTEM FOR A CHILD SEAT AND GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATES NO REQUIREMENT FOR SUCH A SYSTEM. IT IS MY OPION THAT JUST LIKE OTHER VEHICLES THE VAN SHOULD HAVE AN ANCHOR SYSTEM FOR THE CHILD SEAT AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SUPPLY SUCH A SYSTEM. *AK

20040917SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

WHILE WIFE AN FAMILY WERE IN VAN, PASSENGER SIDE TORSION BAR SNAPPED, SLAMMING RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE DOWN. AWD DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND CAUSING FAMILY TO BECOME STRANDED. GM HAS DISCONTINUED REPLACEMENTS, A CONVERSION IS AVAILABLE FROM THEM FOR OVER $500.00 AND BOTH SIDES NEED TO BE REPLACED/MODIFIED. *AK

Mileage: 54,800

20040708SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR SNAPPED IN TWO PLACES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 171,000

20040309SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND REMAINS ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

20040226SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

ABS SYSTEM FAILED. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY STILL HAD BRAKES. *AK ABS FAILED WHEN CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE LOSS OF ABS WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF INTERNAL BRAKE MODULE. CONSUMER DECLINED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS QUOTED BY THE DEALER OF THE EXPENSE FOR REPAIR, COST WAS $1300, AND WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WILL STILL HAVE THE SAME BRAKING CAPABILITY EVEN WITHOUT ABS. IN ADDITION, RECALL ON DIPSTICK, TO INDICATE TRANSMISSION RESEVOIR. IF DIPSTICK IS SHORTER, IT WOULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. *LA

Mileage: 68,500

20020220SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20010912SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

THE VEHICLE MAKE A POPPING NOISE, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT FRONT END WAS ALMOST SITTING ON THE TIRE DUE TO BOTH TORSION BARS WERE BROKE. *YH

20010725SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TORTION BAR BREAKS CAUSING THE FRONT END TO DIVE VERY HARD AND HIT BOTTOM OF FRAME EXTREMELY HARD CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE FRONT END HITTING THE BOTTOM OF TRAVEL.*AK

20010108SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

DEFECTIVE BRACKET THAT HOLDS REAR SPRINGS TO REAR AXLE BROKE,CAUSING REAR END TO FALL, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ONLY THING KEEPING THE REAR FROM LEAVING THE VAN WAS THE REAR SHOCKS. . *AK *SLC

20001213UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PAINT IS PEELING. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

20000912SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

AFTER AWHILE TORSION BAR BROKE DOWN, THERE WAS NO WARNING. CONSUMER SAID THAT DEALER SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THE PROBLEM.*AK

20000911SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. CAME OUT & NOTICED VEHICLE WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND DUE TO BROKEN TORSION BAR . VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP & SERVICED. BULLETIN ON TORSION BAR FROM MANUFACTURER. TORSION BAR WAS REPAIRABLE.*AK

20000905SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

NO SUMMARY

20000726SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

20000717SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ABS SYSTEM FAULTY. NLM

20000713SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ABS SYSTEM FAULTY. NLM

20000629EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

PIECE OF WIRING THAT HELD UP SPARE RUSTED THROUGH. IF CONSUMER WERE TO TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS AND TIRE FELL OFF, THERE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN SOME INJURIES.*AK

20000508SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHEN BRAKING ON ICY ROAD THE BRAKES WILL TOTALLY DISENGAGE EVEN IF SOME WHEELS ARE ON DRY PAVEMENT

Compare 1992GMCSAFARI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 GMC SAFARI have?
The 1992 GMC SAFARI has 66 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 GMC SAFARI?
The most-complained component for the 1992 GMC SAFARI is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST.
Is the 1992 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.