The 1996 GMC Safari has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,238,789 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 199 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
VISIBILITY03V1590002003-04-281,755,876 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT…
SEAT BELTS01V1230002001-04-10461,851 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Consequence
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
CHILD SEAT99V0090001999-01-202,090 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED DUAL CHILD SEATS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISSING A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CLUTCH SPRING AND/OR PAWL SPRING IN THE CHILD SEAT. IF THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE USED. IF THE PAWL SPRING…
Consequence
THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE OCCUPANT'S RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.
SEAT BELTS97V0570001997-04-0818,972 affected
Defect
THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR ON THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME.
Complaints by component
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
19
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
18
4crashes1fires2injuries
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
12
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
10
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
8
2injuries
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
8
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
5
SUSPENSION:FRONT
5
1crashes
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
4
4crashes7injuries
Total complaints199
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Electrical system fails even with new battery, alternator. When I attempt to start vehicle all power is lost. Happened last year is happening again, only in winter. Kills battery after battery. Have bought 3 batteries, now the electrical power just does not come on. *tr”
“Gmc safari van was parked in driveway, next morning it was discovered that the front had collapsed and was just 2 inches off the pavement, inner fenders were touching the tires. Discovered that the torsion bars had failed, dealer said repairs will be $1000, part has been redesigned and has a new…”
“The consumer 1996 gmc safari van electrical problem with fuel pump. *bf the fuel pump did not pump fuel. The fuel pump suffered electrical damage. The fuel filter was changed when the rebuilt engine was placed in the vehicle. The main bearing was shot. *sc”
“The consumer 1996 gmc safari van electrical problem with fuel pump. *bf the fuel pump did not pump fuel. The fuel pump suffered electrical damage. The fuel filter was changed when the rebuilt engine was placed in the vehicle. The main bearing was shot. *sc”
“The brakes will not engage intermittently. At times there was a noise. Dealer could not duplicate the problem, so they will replace the abs system. *ak”
“Problem with 1996 gmc safari van not starting. *bf the mechanic found the fuel pump was not pumping fuel. Upon retrieving the fuel pump from the gas tank, he found it to have suffered severe electrical damage. The actual failure was not the fuel pump, but because it generated enough heat to melt…”
“Problem with 1996 gmc safari van not starting. *bf the mechanic found the fuel pump was not pumping fuel. Upon retrieving the fuel pump from the gas tank, he found it to have suffered severe electrical damage. The actual failure was not the fuel pump, but because it generated enough heat to melt…”
“Power windows do not work. Consumer checked the fuses, and the fuses are not the problem. Consumer took the vehicle to an after market repair shop where the defect was noticed. *ak no recall found on this issue. *tc”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA02006 Opened 2002-05-31 · closed 2003-07-23
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED…
InvestigationEA02006 Opened 2002-05-31 · closed 2003-07-23
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 GMC Safari as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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