The 1991 GMC Safari has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 950,413 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS93V1870001993-11-16604,207 affected
Defect
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Consequence
IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC93V1190001993-08-02341,364 affected
Defect
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Consequence
SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
SEAT BELTS91V1640001991-09-204,842 affected
Defect
SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.
Consequence
VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.
Remedy
REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
11
2crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
3
2fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
1crashes
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
3
1crashes
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
1crashes
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
2
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
2
2crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
Total complaints60
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Loss of brake action due to instant fluid loss. Brake line ruptured due to extreme and isolated corrosion in brakeline located area of gasoline tank (forward of rear axle on driver's side.) no notice or prior events leading to failure. Have noted many internet complaints of this nature and…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1991 gmc safari. The contact noticed that the abs warning indicator consistently illuminates on the instrument panel. Secondly, when applying pressure to the brake pedal, the vehicle skids. He is in the process of notifying a dealer in reference to the failures. The failure…”
“1991 safari hood came up while driving and shattered the windshield. *ts *jb”
“Numerous complaints identical to those experienced by other owners of this vehicle type. Twice now when applying brakes in a panic situation the abs system failed and warning light came on. Replaced ecu on brake system once now dealer informs that is must be replaced again at a cost of $1200. I…”
“Numerous complaints identical to those experienced by other owners of this vehicle type. Twice now when applying brakes in a panic situation the abs system failed and warning light came on. Replaced ecu on brake system once now dealer informs that is must be replaced again at a cost of $1200. I…”
“Numerous complaints identical to those experienced by other owners of this vehicle type. Twice now when applying brakes in a panic situation the abs system failed and warning light came on. Replaced ecu on brake system once now dealer informs that is must be replaced again at a cost of $1200. I…”
“Numerous complaints identical to those experienced by other owners of this vehicle type. Twice now when applying brakes in a panic situation the abs system failed and warning light came on. Replaced ecu on brake system once now dealer informs that is must be replaced again at a cost of $1200. I…”
“I was travling at about 60 miles and hour when the a piece of the tire out sideway. The size 12 inches x 8 inches blew out of the tirer hitting the car nex to me. I have never seen a tirer have such catastrophic failure the side wall is missing a piece from first out side thread to the rim bead by…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA91028 Opened 1991-06-10 · closed 1992-06-30
BRAKE FAILURE
===
InvestigationEA92022 Opened 1992-06-24 · closed 1993-11-19
SEAT BACK BOLT BREAKAGE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE91052 Opened 1991-02-22 · closed 1991-06-10
BRAKE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE97025 Opened 1997-06-12 · closed 1997-11-26
INSTRUMENT PANEL/DASH ELECTRICAL FIRE
ALLEGED ELECTRICAL FIRES MAY OCCUR IN THE DASH AREA WHILE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE BEING OPERATED OR WHILE PARKED.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1991 GMC Safari as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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