Reliability & cost of ownership
GMC Safari Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the GMC Safari? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
GMC Safari problems by model year
41 recall entries and 159 owner complaints on file across 11 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Safari | 2 | 4 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2004 Safari | 2 | 5 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2003 Safari | 3 | 18 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2002 Safari | 3 | 25 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2001 Safari | 3 | 39 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2000 Safari | 2 | 68 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1999 Safari | 3 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1998 Safari | 5 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1997 Safari | 6 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1996 Safari | 6 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1995 Safari | 6 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the GMC Safari, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- service brakes, hydraulic56 complaints
- electrical system18 complaints
- steering16 complaints
- structure13 complaints
- engine and engine cooling12 complaints
- suspension11 complaints
- exterior lighting10 complaints
- visibility9 complaints