Total Complaints
142 filings
GMC SAFARI · model year
142 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994GMCSAFARI carries 142 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 17 crashes, 2 fires, 13 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 1994 SAFARI is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 29 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (18) and suspension:front:springs:torsion bar (13). 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 1994 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.
Total Complaints
142 filings
Crashes Reported
17 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 29 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 18 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR | 13 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 10 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 6 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FUELING THE 1994 GMC SAFARI (15 WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE,, RESULTING IN STRIKING THE VEHICLE BEHIND IT. THE CONTACT REENTERED THE VEHICLE, SHIFTED THE LOOSE GEAR INTO DRIVE AND MOVED THE VEHICLE FORWARD TO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE W2ASA DRIVABLE, BUT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LOOSE. *AK
Mileage: 155,000
DRIVING A 1994 GMC SAFARI AWD AND AT A STOP HAD THE 41" TORSION BAR SNAPPED. SEARCHED FOR REPLACEMENT FROM SALVAGE YARDS BUT THEY HAVE STOPPED SELLING THEM DUE TO LIABILITY REASONS, NEED TO INSTALL ADJUSTMENT EQUIPMENT SOLD BY GM WITH A COST OF $800. *NM
Mileage: 165,000
WHEN DRIVING DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WERE NUMEROUS RECALLS ON OTHER YEAR AND MAKES OF THE SAFARI VANS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Mileage: 69,000
THE VAN WAS GOING DOWN THE I25 NORTH OF DENVER WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR SNAPPED. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY RACE CARS AND BRINING THE VAN TO A STOP WAS THE HARDEST I HAVE EVER DONE. BY DRIVING SKILLS, LUCK AND THE GOOD LORD I AM HERE TODAY TO WRITE THIS COMPLAINT. DOES GENERAL MOTORS NEED TO WAIT FOR A FAMILY TO DIE BEFORE THEY WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE. I DID NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I WENT TO GET PARTS AND THAT IS WHEN I FIND THAT GM KNOWS THEY HAVE DEFECTIVE TORSION BARS AND SUPERSEDES THE PART NUMBERS TO SHORTER (FROM 40" TO 36" BARS) THESE BARS ARE REDESIGNED AND MUST BE REPLACED IN PAIRS. I HAVE THE VAN TORN DOWN NOW WITH THE FAILED PART AND IT UPSETS ME ENOUGH THAT I AM GOING TO LET THE VAN SIT UNTIL GENERAL MOTORS DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. NOTE THAT THE GMC SAFARI AWD VANS AND THE CHEVROLET ASTRO AWD VANS ARE THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Mileage: 148,100
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE HAD A PROBLEM IN A MALL PARKING LOT WHEREIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DASH BOARD, POWER WINDOWS, A/C, RADIO) FAILED AT THE VERY SAME TIME AS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. IT HAPPENED ONLY TWO OTHER TIMES. RECENTLY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT IS NOT FIXED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IT IS A WIRING PROBLEM, BUT TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALL WANT TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, SO ELECTRICAL SOUNDS MORE LIKELY TO US. THE VAN HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW, AS WE ARE HESITANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT AND EVEN MORE HESITANT TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT GUARANTEE TH
Mileage: 123,000
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE HAD A PROBLEM IN A MALL PARKING LOT WHEREIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DASH BOARD, POWER WINDOWS, A/C, RADIO) FAILED AT THE VERY SAME TIME AS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. IT HAPPENED ONLY TWO OTHER TIMES. RECENTLY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT IS NOT FIXED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IT IS A WIRING PROBLEM, BUT TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALL WANT TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, SO ELECTRICAL SOUNDS MORE LIKELY TO US. THE VAN HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW, AS WE ARE HESITANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT AND EVEN MORE HESITANT TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT GUARANTEE TH
Mileage: 123,000
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE HAD A PROBLEM IN A MALL PARKING LOT WHEREIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DASH BOARD, POWER WINDOWS, A/C, RADIO) FAILED AT THE VERY SAME TIME AS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. IT HAPPENED ONLY TWO OTHER TIMES. RECENTLY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT IS NOT FIXED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IT IS A WIRING PROBLEM, BUT TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALL WANT TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, SO ELECTRICAL SOUNDS MORE LIKELY TO US. THE VAN HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW, AS WE ARE HESITANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT AND EVEN MORE HESITANT TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT GUARANTEE TH
Mileage: 123,000
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE HAD A PROBLEM IN A MALL PARKING LOT WHEREIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DASH BOARD, POWER WINDOWS, A/C, RADIO) FAILED AT THE VERY SAME TIME AS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. IT HAPPENED ONLY TWO OTHER TIMES. RECENTLY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT IS NOT FIXED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IT IS A WIRING PROBLEM, BUT TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALL WANT TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, SO ELECTRICAL SOUNDS MORE LIKELY TO US. THE VAN HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW, AS WE ARE HESITANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT AND EVEN MORE HESITANT TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT GUARANTEE TH
Mileage: 123,000
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE HAD A PROBLEM IN A MALL PARKING LOT WHEREIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DASH BOARD, POWER WINDOWS, A/C, RADIO) FAILED AT THE VERY SAME TIME AS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. IT HAPPENED ONLY TWO OTHER TIMES. RECENTLY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT IS NOT FIXED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IT IS A WIRING PROBLEM, BUT TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALL WANT TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, SO ELECTRICAL SOUNDS MORE LIKELY TO US. THE VAN HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW, AS WE ARE HESITANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT AND EVEN MORE HESITANT TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT GUARANTEE TH
Mileage: 123,000
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ON A TRIP, DURING TRAVEL IN A RAINSTORM. ON ONE OCCASION, I PULLED OVER AND DAMAGED THE RIGHT SIDE RUNNING BOARD DUE TO INABILITY TO SEE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FLAW AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE FACTORY. *LA
Mileage: 89,000
RECALL COMPLAINT NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V159/GM RECALL NO. 03023.THE (ABOVE) RECALL IS CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM THAT FAILS DUE TO A BAD CIRCUIT BOARD/MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE MANY VEHICLES INVOLVED INCLUDING 1994 VEHICLES, BUT FOR THE GMC SAFARI ONLY 1995-1997 MODELS ARE LISTED. MY 1994 GMC SAFARI EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE MODE AS THE OTHER 1994 VEHICLES LISTED AND THE 1995-19997 SAFARI MODELS. THE SERVICE REPAIR RECEIPT INDICATES THE FAILURE MODE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE RECALL NOTICE DESCRIPTION. I HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO NON-OPERATION OF MY WIPER SYSTEM AT A COST OF $341.75. WHEN THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS FAILURE MODE WAS ANNOUNCED IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE 1994 SAFARI MODEL YEAR. I HAVE HAD REPEATED CONVERSATIONS WITH GMC RECALL OFFICE AND THEY INDICATE THAT MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT PART OF THE RECALL. UPON MY OWN INVESTIGATION, I FOUND A 1995 GMC SAFARI AND FOUND IT HAD THE SAME WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY AS MY (1994) VEHICLE, THIS VEHICLE IS COVE
Mileage: 58,710
OUR 1994 GMC SAFARI ACCELERATED SUDDENLY TWICE WITHIN 2 HOURS. FIRST INCIDENT ON I40 NEAR BRINKLEY, AR WHILE MY WIFE WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE SWITCHED THE A/C FROM MAX TO NORMAL AND THE ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE STOPPED THE PROBLEM BY USING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES AND PUMPING 3 OR 4 TIMES TO PREVENT THE ACCELERATING VAN FROM HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS OFF. THE SECOND TIME OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH. SHE TOUCHED NOTHING ON THE DASH OR THE TURN SIGNAL STALK. THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN AND IT TOOK SEVERAL PUMPS OF THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. IT APPEARS TO BE CONNECTED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SINCE PUMPING THE BRAKES STOPS THE ACCELERATION.*AK
Mileage: 10,250
THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V159000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Mileage: 100,000
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WITH ITS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. *SCC *JB
Mileage: 74,000
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1994' GMC SAFARI. ACCORDING TO NHTSA, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND YET THE RECALL ONLY COVERS FROM 95 AND UP MODELS. IF THE PROBLEM WAS KNOW TO OCCUR ON THE 1994 MODELS, WHY DOESN'T THE RECALL COVER THEM? THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASSIONS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS WHEN MY WIPERS HAVE FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSE ME TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL THEY DECIDED TO WORK AGAIN. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED IF IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK
Mileage: 155,000
CATASRTOPHIC FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE OF THE LEFT TORSION BAR ON A 1994 GMC SAFARI AWD VAN. APPARENTLY, THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM MUST NOW BE REPLACED DUE TO "SUPERSEDED PARTS" FROM GM. *NLM
Mileage: 148,000
THE WIPERS STOPPED AND CHANGED SPEED SETTING ON IT'S OWN. IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE WIPER MODULE WAS REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM *CB *JB
Mileage: 142,211
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE WITH IT'S WINDSHIELD WIPER AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, BUT IT'S VIN NUMBER OR MODEL YEAR IN NOT INCLUDED. *TT
Mileage: 30,000
MOVING IN TRAFFIC AT 20 MPH. HIT BRAKES FOR QUICK STOP AND VAN DID NOT STOP. HIT CAR IN FRONT OF US. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734314
Mileage: 115,000
VEHICLE HAS ABS FAILURE WHEN DRIVING IN HAZARDOUS CONDITION/WEATHER. EX., SNOW, ICE OR RAIN. THERE IS A RECALL FOR ABS ECU 00 V 228 008, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Mileage: 75,000
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.