Total Complaints
3 filings
GMC SAFARI (GMC) · model year
1996 GMC SAFARI (GMC)
3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996GMCSAFARI (GMC) carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 1996 SAFARI (GMC) is suspension:front:springs:torsion bar with 1 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:cruise control (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.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1996 SAFARI (GMC). 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.
3
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090929STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
I LOVE THIS VAN BUT IM BEGINNING TO THINK THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DOOR HANDLES. WHEN I LEAST EXPECT IT THE HANDLES WILL JUST BREAK OFF IN MY HAND. I HAVE REPLACED EACH ONE AT LEAST TWICE. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THEM THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF. *TR
20070131CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL *- THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 1996 GMC SAFARI VAN. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT 25 MPH AND WHEN HE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. HIS FOOT REMAINED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO THE INTERSECTION AND WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE VEHICLES WERE BADLY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR, BUT HE FELT THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB
Mileage: 77,000
20061115SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A RESIDENCE WHERE A DEALER REPRESENTATIVE CAME FOR AN INSPECTION AND DETERMINED THE PASSENGER SIDE TORSION BAR FRACTURED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Mileage: 147,800
Compare 1996GMCSAFARI (GMC) to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 GMC SAFARI (GMC) have?▼
The 1996 GMC SAFARI (GMC) has 3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 GMC SAFARI (GMC)?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 GMC SAFARI (GMC) is SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 1996 GMC SAFARI (GMC) 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.