GMC SAFARI · model year

2001 GMC SAFARI

55 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001GMCSAFARI carries 55 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 56 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 2001 SAFARI is service brakes, hydraulic with 4 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4) and electrical system (4). 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. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2001 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.

55
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
56
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

55 filings

Crashes Reported

1 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, HYDRAULIC4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS3
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS2
INTERIOR LIGHTING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
AIR BAGS1

Recalls (3)

06E02600023/03/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D

06E04300019/05/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE

05V09900014/03/2005

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION IN THE STOP LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT THAT RESULTS IN THE STOP LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS BEING INOPERATIVE.

Recent Complaints

20140801ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER FUELING, COULD NOT RESTART VEHICLE. DASH LIGHTS. HAD TO WAIT 15 - 30 MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE START VEHICLE. BATTERY 4 MONTHS OLD, INTERMITTENT ONGOING PROBLEM. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH DISCOVERED VIA WEB SEARCH LIST PROBLEM WITH "IGNITION PASSLOCK/PASSKEY SECURITY SYSTEM". THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT MY LOCAL GM DEALER WILL NOT ADDRESS OR FIX. ESTIMATED CONSUMER REPAIR COST OVER $1000,00. *TR

Mileage: 84,300

20140801ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. BRAKE & ABS INDICATOR LIT. WAIT 15- 30 MINUTES AND VEHICLE MAY RESTART. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. NOTED: PASSLOCK/PASSKEY SECURITY SYSTEM INTERMITTENT FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 84,300

20140801ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. TIME IN BETWEEN ERRANDS 2 HOURS. OUTSIDE TEMP 95. HAD TO WAIT 15 - 30 MINUTES IN HOT VEHICLE TRYING TO START VEHICLE EVERY 20-30 SECONDS. PROBLEM WITH PASSLOCK/PASSKEY SECURITY SYSTEM AS LISTED ON VARIOUS WEB SITES. CHECKED WITH PERSONAL OBD II & CAN SCAN TOOL AND FOUND NO DTC'S. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE CONSTANT AND OCCUPANT SAFETY IS A MAJOR CONCERN. *TR

Mileage: 84,300

20140521ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNTIL THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED. ALL POWER IS UP, TURN KEY AND NO RESPONSE. DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL AND MOVE SHIFT LEVER FROM P TO D3 MAY CAUSE STARTER TO WORK. TOLD BY AAA DRIVER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 81,500

20110817SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING

AT SLOW SPEEDS THE ABS ACTIVATES AND THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STOP. THE SIERRA VAN USES THE SAME COMPONENTS AS THE TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED BY 05V379000 ON 8/3/05. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME WITH DIRTY SPEED SENSORS. *KB

Mileage: 84,300

20110817SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

AT SLOW SPEEDS THE ABS ACTIVATES AND THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STOP. THE SIERRA VAN USES THE SAME COMPONENTS AS THE TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED BY 05V379000 ON 8/3/05. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME WITH DIRTY SPEED SENSORS. *KB

Mileage: 84,300

20080125ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATES, BACKFIRES, AND FAILS TO START WHEN COLD. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 03-06-04-041 WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF WHEN THE VEHICLE DID START, IT WOULD RUN ROUGH AND THEN STALL. UPDATED

Mileage: 50,000

20060724SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM SENSORS WERE FAULTY AND ACTIVATED ON DRY PAVEMENT AT A SPEED OF LOWER THAN 8 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNAL TO INDICATE A FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED YET BY THE CONTACT.

Mileage: 69,000

20060722VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW GOES PART WAY DOWN, WILL NOT GO OUT - INTERMITTENT PROBLEM INCREASED TO PERMANENT PROBLEM. NOW GOES DOWN MAYBE 1/2 INCH, ONLY GOES UP 1/32 INCH AT A TIME. HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 6/03, NOT LONG AFTER THAT, PROBLEM SURFACED IN INCREASING REGULARITY. WHEN I HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED BY DEALER IN 1/04, I WAS TOLD THIS HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. ITEMS REPAIRED / REPLACED, WERE: 1314WSC95 - ELECTRICAL MISC. PO45391 - MOTOR PO45386 - ACTUATOR SEVERAL RIVETS. THE REPAIR FACILITY DESCRIBED THE WINDOW PROBLEM AS "BINDING", AND A ALSO FOUND THAT THE DOOR LOCK WAS NOT ACTIVATING PROPERLY DUE TO A DOOR LOCK MECHANISM PROBLEM (THE ACTUATOR) AS HAVING AN "INTERNAL SHORT". THE REPAIR OF 1/04 WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 14 MONTHS (DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANT WORK), WHEN IN 3/05, THE PROBLEM HAD GRADUALLY RETURNED. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, HE SAID IT WAS NOT. I

Mileage: 84,537

20060722ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW GOES PART WAY DOWN, WILL NOT GO OUT - INTERMITTENT PROBLEM INCREASED TO PERMANENT PROBLEM. NOW GOES DOWN MAYBE 1/2 INCH, ONLY GOES UP 1/32 INCH AT A TIME. HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 6/03, NOT LONG AFTER THAT, PROBLEM SURFACED IN INCREASING REGULARITY. WHEN I HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED BY DEALER IN 1/04, I WAS TOLD THIS HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. ITEMS REPAIRED / REPLACED, WERE: 1314WSC95 - ELECTRICAL MISC. PO45391 - MOTOR PO45386 - ACTUATOR SEVERAL RIVETS. THE REPAIR FACILITY DESCRIBED THE WINDOW PROBLEM AS "BINDING", AND A ALSO FOUND THAT THE DOOR LOCK WAS NOT ACTIVATING PROPERLY DUE TO A DOOR LOCK MECHANISM PROBLEM (THE ACTUATOR) AS HAVING AN "INTERNAL SHORT". THE REPAIR OF 1/04 WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 14 MONTHS (DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANT WORK), WHEN IN 3/05, THE PROBLEM HAD GRADUALLY RETURNED. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, HE SAID IT WAS NOT. I

Mileage: 84,537

20060722LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW GOES PART WAY DOWN, WILL NOT GO OUT - INTERMITTENT PROBLEM INCREASED TO PERMANENT PROBLEM. NOW GOES DOWN MAYBE 1/2 INCH, ONLY GOES UP 1/32 INCH AT A TIME. HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 6/03, NOT LONG AFTER THAT, PROBLEM SURFACED IN INCREASING REGULARITY. WHEN I HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED BY DEALER IN 1/04, I WAS TOLD THIS HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. ITEMS REPAIRED / REPLACED, WERE: 1314WSC95 - ELECTRICAL MISC. PO45391 - MOTOR PO45386 - ACTUATOR SEVERAL RIVETS. THE REPAIR FACILITY DESCRIBED THE WINDOW PROBLEM AS "BINDING", AND A ALSO FOUND THAT THE DOOR LOCK WAS NOT ACTIVATING PROPERLY DUE TO A DOOR LOCK MECHANISM PROBLEM (THE ACTUATOR) AS HAVING AN "INTERNAL SHORT". THE REPAIR OF 1/04 WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 14 MONTHS (DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANT WORK), WHEN IN 3/05, THE PROBLEM HAD GRADUALLY RETURNED. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, HE SAID IT WAS NOT. I

Mileage: 84,537

20050927SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT: 2001 GM SAFARI. THE CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES WILL NOT WORK FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND VEHICLE COULD SLIDE INTO THE INTERSECTION. WIFE WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CONSUMER WENT TO DIFFERENT DEALERS, THEY TOLD HIM THAT IT MAY BE THAT THE WHEELS NEEDED TO BE REPACKED. . THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TOOK TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THE VEHICLE HAD 58,000 MILES. BRAKE FAILURE STARTED WITHIN MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. BRAKES BECAME WORSE. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT KEEP FRONT TIRES FROM WEARING OUT.*AK

20050927TIRES

DT: 2001 GM SAFARI. THE CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES WILL NOT WORK FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND VEHICLE COULD SLIDE INTO THE INTERSECTION. WIFE WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CONSUMER WENT TO DIFFERENT DEALERS, THEY TOLD HIM THAT IT MAY BE THAT THE WHEELS NEEDED TO BE REPACKED. . THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TOOK TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THE VEHICLE HAD 58,000 MILES. BRAKE FAILURE STARTED WITHIN MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. BRAKES BECAME WORSE. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT KEEP FRONT TIRES FROM WEARING OUT.*AK

20050506SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

I HAVE A 2001 GMC SAFARI VAN.APPROX 49000 MILES.I FIRST EXPIERENCED MY ANTILOC BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATING WHEN NOT NEEDED AT SLOW SPEEDS.THINKING THIS WAS A LITTLE ODD AND I THOUGHT I WOULD NEED TO GET IT TO ACT UP MORE IN ORDER TO PROPERLY EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY SERVICE PERSONEL.AND I THOUGHT IT WAS MINOR AS EVEN THO THE ANTILOC SYSTEM ACTIVATED THE BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK FINE.UNTILL ONE DAY WHEN ALL I HEARD WAS THE NOISE ACCUSTOMED WITH THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR.AFTER PUSHING AS HARD AS I HAVE EVER PUSHED ON A BRAKE PEDAL THE VAN STOPPED. BEING AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE I GOT IT INTO MY SERVICE DEPT.WHO REPLACED BOTH FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS.

Mileage: 49,500

20050425FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

THE FUEL PUMP ON MY GMC 2001 SAFARI VAN MAKES A LOUD WHINING NOISE. I AM LOOKING INTO WHY THIS WOULD OCCUR ON A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED OTHER GMC'S AND NOT HEARD OF ANY SUCH PROBLEMS. I FEEL THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND AM LOOKING TO HAVE IT REPLACED BY THE DEALER WITHOUT CHARGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK

Mileage: 50,000

20050423STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

POWER STEERING FAILED, DRIVE SHAFT IN PUMP BROKE, CAUSING BRAKES TO FAIL. NO ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE. VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE AND REPAIRED WITH NEW POWER STEERING PUMP INSTALLED. *JB

Mileage: 38,000

20050323EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO VIN. *AK

20050318SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEN, DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20050318EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEN, DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20050318EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEN, DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Compare 2001GMCSAFARI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 GMC SAFARI have?
The 2001 GMC SAFARI has 55 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 56 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 GMC SAFARI?
Yes, the 2001 GMC SAFARI has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 GMC SAFARI?
The most-complained component for the 2001 GMC SAFARI is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2001 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.