Total Complaints
3 filings
GMC SAFARI (GMC) · model year
1998 GMC SAFARI (GMC)
3 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998GMCSAFARI (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 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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 (GMC) is visibility:windshield wiper/washer with 1 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (1) and seat belts (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 1998 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
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100411CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT 2 DAYS AGO , THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT HOLD ME LIKE IT SHOULD, CAUSING ME TO BE SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAIN INJURIES. *TR
Mileage: 157,000
20100411CrashSEAT BELTS
IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT 2 DAYS AGO , THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT HOLD ME LIKE IT SHOULD, CAUSING ME TO BE SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAIN INJURIES. *TR
Mileage: 157,000
20060810VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
I OWN A 1998 GMC SAFARI VAN; I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS WORKING WHEN EVER THEY WANTED TO" SINCE PURCHASING THE VAN. YESTERDAY DURING A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM, THE WIPERS QUIT COMPLETELY WITH ZERO WARNING. THE ONLY REASON THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT WAS BECAUSE LUCKILY THERE WAS NOTHING FOR ME TO HIT WHEN I LOST CONTROL DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO ONLY BE TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR OTHER YEARS, IT IS NOT RECALLED ON 1998 YEAR MODELS. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FOR SAFETY SAKE BEFORE SOME IS KILLED. *JB
Mileage: 100,000
Compare 1998GMCSAFARI (GMC) to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 GMC SAFARI (GMC) have?▼
The 1998 GMC SAFARI (GMC) has 3 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC SAFARI (GMC)?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 GMC SAFARI (GMC) is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SEAT BELTS.
Is the 1998 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.