PlainCars

GMC SAFARI · model year

2005 GMC SAFARI

8 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005GMCSAFARI carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2005 SAFARI is steering with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:exhaust system (1) and structure:body:door (1). 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 2 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 2005 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.

8
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

8 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
SUSPENSION:REAR1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recalls (2)

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

Recent Complaints

20170427UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NV

20070525STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

2005 SAFARI WITH DEFECTIVE FRAME**NAR**CC THE FRAME HOLDING THE A FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH, WHICH ALLOWED THE BOLT HOLDING THE A FRAME TO CUT ITS WAY THROUGH THE FRAME AND DROP THE LOWER A FRAME. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME DROPPED WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. *JB

20050303STEERING

DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY FOUR TO FIVE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE A COMPLETE U-TURN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT IT WAS NORMAL. *AK

20050125ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

1. THE BREAKING SYSTEM IS REAL BAD THAT CAUSED A GREAT SHAKING IN THE STIRRING WHEEL. 2. UNUSUAL SOUND IN THE BACK OF THE VAN 3. RATTLING NOISE IN THE SHELVES 4. STIRRING WHEEL IS NOT WORKING GOOD WHEN MAKING A U-TURN, I NEED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE MAKING A COMPLETE U-TURN. 5. NOISE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. *NM

Mileage: 185

20050125STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

1. THE BREAKING SYSTEM IS REAL BAD THAT CAUSED A GREAT SHAKING IN THE STIRRING WHEEL. 2. UNUSUAL SOUND IN THE BACK OF THE VAN 3. RATTLING NOISE IN THE SHELVES 4. STIRRING WHEEL IS NOT WORKING GOOD WHEN MAKING A U-TURN, I NEED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE MAKING A COMPLETE U-TURN. 5. NOISE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. *NM

Mileage: 185

20050125SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1. THE BREAKING SYSTEM IS REAL BAD THAT CAUSED A GREAT SHAKING IN THE STIRRING WHEEL. 2. UNUSUAL SOUND IN THE BACK OF THE VAN 3. RATTLING NOISE IN THE SHELVES 4. STIRRING WHEEL IS NOT WORKING GOOD WHEN MAKING A U-TURN, I NEED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE MAKING A COMPLETE U-TURN. 5. NOISE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. *NM

Mileage: 185

20050125SUSPENSION:REAR

1. THE BREAKING SYSTEM IS REAL BAD THAT CAUSED A GREAT SHAKING IN THE STIRRING WHEEL. 2. UNUSUAL SOUND IN THE BACK OF THE VAN 3. RATTLING NOISE IN THE SHELVES 4. STIRRING WHEEL IS NOT WORKING GOOD WHEN MAKING A U-TURN, I NEED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE MAKING A COMPLETE U-TURN. 5. NOISE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. *NM

Mileage: 185

20050125STEERING

1. THE BREAKING SYSTEM IS REAL BAD THAT CAUSED A GREAT SHAKING IN THE STIRRING WHEEL. 2. UNUSUAL SOUND IN THE BACK OF THE VAN 3. RATTLING NOISE IN THE SHELVES 4. STIRRING WHEEL IS NOT WORKING GOOD WHEN MAKING A U-TURN, I NEED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE MAKING A COMPLETE U-TURN. 5. NOISE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. *NM

Mileage: 185

Compare 2005GMCSAFARI to Similar Vehicles

SAFARI vs FORDF-150 → SAFARI vs FORDEXPLORER → SAFARI vs JEEPGRAND CHEROKEE → SAFARI vs FORDESCAPE →

NHTSA Investigations

PE07014Preliminary EvaluationClosed

FUEL TANK LEAK

PE88002Preliminary EvaluationClosed

FRCTR OF P/S PUMP BRCKT

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 GMC SAFARI have?▼
The 2005 GMC SAFARI has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 GMC SAFARI?▼
Yes, the 2005 GMC SAFARI has 2 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 2005 GMC SAFARI?▼
The most-complained component for the 2005 GMC SAFARI is STEERING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 2005 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

Understanding NHTSA Complaints → Vehicle Recalls Explained → Safest Car Brands 2026 → Most Reliable Used Cars → Lemon Law Guide →

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.