GMC SAFARI · model year

1998 GMC SAFARI

111 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998GMCSAFARI carries 111 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 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 1998 SAFARI is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 8 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (8) and unknown or other (5). 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 1998 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.

111
Complaints
9
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

111 filings

Crashes Reported

9 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 SLIP8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
SUSPENSION:FRONT3
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER3
SEATS2
WHEELS:RIM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM2

Recent Complaints

20140204SERVICE BRAKES

EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES. BRAKE LINES SO CORRODED THAT THEY ARE CRACKING AND SPLITTING LEAKING FLUID AND NECESSITATING EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. CORROSION ALSO NOTED ON FUEL LINES, AND VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE. *TR

Mileage: 290,000

20070703VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SAFARI. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. HOWEVER, THEY BEGAN OPERATING AGAIN FIVE TO TEN MINUTES LATER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RAINFALL IS FREQUENT IN HIS STATE. NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE PRESENT DURING OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 143,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 05/06/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/06/08

Mileage: 110,000

20070502VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SAFARI. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 160,000. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A RAINY NIGHT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER SWERVING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALMOST GETTING HIT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNTIL IT STOPPED RAINING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MOTOR STOPPED OPERATING BECAUSE THE SOLDER JOINT CRACKED. *AK

Mileage: 160,000

20060918VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

1998 SAFARI VAN, RANDOM FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, THERE IS NO PATTERN TO IT, IT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY TO FUNCTION, WHICH IS KIND OF A SAFETY CONCERN, SINCE THE ONLY TIME I USE THE WIPERS IS DURING A RAINSTORM, WHICH REDUCES VISION GREATLY. *NM

Mileage: 85,000

20050518ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

1998 GMC SAFARI HAS DIED FIVE TIMES AND EACH TIME THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKES AND POWER STEERING ABILITY.*MR STALLED WHILE DRIVING (NO START), CHECK FUEL SYSTEM. PERFORM FUEL INDUCTION AND THROTTLE BODY CLEAN. R&R OLD BELT, TENSIONER CAME APART, REPLACE TENSIONER AND BELT TO REPAIR. *BF

Mileage: 30,738

20050222FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

OUR VAN BROKE DOWN ON MY WIFE WHILE SHUTTLING 5 KIDS FROM SCHOOL. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THE FUEL INJECTORS FAILED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PUMP GASOLINE THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS AND SHORT OUT THE COMPUTER. THE REPAIR BILL WAS ESTIMATED AT $3,000.00. THE INJECTORS, THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE COMPUTER ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOP CALLED A LOCAL GMC DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE HAD 3 OR 4 OF THESE RECENTLY. I CONTACTED GMC SEVERAL TIMES AND ASKED THEM FOR INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE. WHEN GASOLINE IS SHORTING OUT AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT, I SEE A TREMENDOUS RISK OF FIRE. I ASKED GMC SEVERAL TIMES IF THERE WOULD BE POTENTIAL FOR RE-OCCURANCE IN MY VAN AND ALSO IF IT COULD HAPPEN IN OUR BLAZER OF THE SAME YEAR AND ENGINE. THEY HAVE IGNORED EVERY REQUEST. THEIR ONLY RESPONSE WAS THAT I NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY VEHICLE AT SOME POINT. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS PAST WARRANTY AND NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM WHY THEY SENT ME TWO RECALL

Mileage: 71,000

20050210POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1998 GMC SAFARI VAN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODEL 700, FAILURED AT 93,000 MILES DUE TO A 3RD GEAR SLIPPAGE. I FOUND IN MY RESEARCH TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THIS WAS COMMON FOR GMC TRUCKS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION FOR THIS TO FAIL BETWEEN 90,000 AND 100,000 EVEN WITH SCHEDULED SERVICE. GMC AGREED TO REPLACE WITH A FACTORY REBUILD, WHICH THEY DID BUT AT MY COST OF $2,300.00, WITH A 36 MONTH/50,000 MILE WARRANTY. I COULD NOT FIND ANY TECH SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS ON YOUR WEB SITE, DO YOU HAVE ANYOTHER INFORMATION. GMC AND ITS DEALERSHIP IS ALREADY AWARE OF MY PRODUCT DISPLEASURE WHEN I EXPECT QUAILTY AND DURABILITY IT WAS NOT THERE. PLEASE RESPOND, THANK YOU.*AK

Mileage: 93,000

20050105VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN, AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE. DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER ONLY OPERATE THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. ALSO, UNLESS CONSUMER KEEPS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE BATTERY ALMOST DIES.*AK

Mileage: 80,000

20050105LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN, AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE. DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER ONLY OPERATE THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. ALSO, UNLESS CONSUMER KEEPS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE BATTERY ALMOST DIES.*AK

Mileage: 80,000

20050105VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN, AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE. DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER ONLY OPERATE THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. ALSO, UNLESS CONSUMER KEEPS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE BATTERY ALMOST DIES.*AK

Mileage: 80,000

20050105ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN, AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE. DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER ONLY OPERATE THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. ALSO, UNLESS CONSUMER KEEPS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE BATTERY ALMOST DIES.*AK

Mileage: 80,000

20050105ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN, AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE. DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER ONLY OPERATE THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. ALSO, UNLESS CONSUMER KEEPS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE BATTERY ALMOST DIES.*AK

Mileage: 80,000

20041219ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

I HAVE A 98 GMC SAFARI, I HAVE HAD THREE (3) REAR AC BLOWER CONTROL SWITCHES BURN UP IN IT SIX (6) YEARS. THE SWITCHES ARE MELTED FROM OVERHEATING. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OVER THIS ISSUE? THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE LAST ONE. *JB

Mileage: 70,000

20041213SUSPENSION:FRONT

IDLE LINKS HAD TO BE CHANGED AT 21,000 MILES. CONSUMER WENT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE FRONT END ALIGNED, AND THAT WAS WHEN CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. *AK *NM

Mileage: 20,900

20041122POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NUMEROUS FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO OPERATE ( SOMETIMES THEY WORK SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, WHEN THEY DO FINALLY COME ON THEY WON'T TURN OFF). TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DISABLED THE VEHICLE ON 3 OCCASIONS. *JB VEHICLE SHOWING SAME SYMPTOMS OF 1997 WHICH WAS RECALLED

20041122VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER

NUMEROUS FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO OPERATE ( SOMETIMES THEY WORK SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, WHEN THEY DO FINALLY COME ON THEY WON'T TURN OFF). TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DISABLED THE VEHICLE ON 3 OCCASIONS. *JB VEHICLE SHOWING SAME SYMPTOMS OF 1997 WHICH WAS RECALLED

20040227SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK BOLTS/RINGS SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 76,000

20031118FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL RAIL LINE SYSTEM WAS LEAKING GASOLINE, AND CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER REPLACED FUEL RAIL. *AK

20031023FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THERE WAS A LEAK BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND FUEL TANK. *AK *SCC *JB

Mileage: 54,909

20030929ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

RECALL COMPLETED SEPT 19. ELECTRIC WONDOW ON DRIVER SIDE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPROPERLY STARTED SEPT 21. REPORTED TO DEALER STATED NOT RELATED PROBLEMS. ON SEPT 24 WINDSHIELD WASHER NOT WORKING. ON SEPT 26 A/C & VENT BLOWER NOT WORKING. NONE THESE PROBLEMS EXISTED UNTIL RECALL # 03V093000 WAS DONE.

Compare 1998GMCSAFARI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 GMC SAFARI have?
The 1998 GMC SAFARI has 111 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC SAFARI?
The most-complained component for the 1998 GMC SAFARI is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 1998 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.