The 1999 GMC Safari has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 461,851 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
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.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
3
AIR BAGS
2
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
Total complaints92
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 5 mph, the vehicle's abs sensor unit failed on three separate occasions. The service dealer replaced the abs sensor unit three times, but the problem persisted.”
“1999 gmc safari transmission failure. See gm tsb #00-07-30-002 dated 11/2000. 1st-2nd late shift, reverse, 2nd, & 4th gear caused immediate failure. All required transmission service performed by dealer on this vehicle. Root cause is the known sun gear shell failure in the gm 4l60e automatic…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1999 gmc safari. Since the vehicle was purchased in may of 2005, the steering idler arm has been replaced four times. As a result, the vehicle has lost steering ability. The contact has put 30,000 miles on the vehicle in two years. The mechanic stated that the idler arms have…”
“This morning (5/4/05) while driving my 1999 gmc safari, I experienced a jolt and a high rpm rev and a long 1-2 shift. I got to my destination (1/4 mile up the road) and then discovered that I had no reverse. I immediately drove to the dealer (a 6-mile drive). I noticed in addition to no reverse,…”
“Dt: about a year ago the problem began. When braking at low speeds about 5-10 mph abs kicks in and a grinding sound occurs. This causes extended stopping distances. All wheel drive, all wheel antilock to the owner's knowledge. No warning lights illuminated and the dealer said that the abs sensor…”
“(1) nothing leading up to event. Suddenly the vehicle was not able to be moved in reverse although the gear selector was able to be placed into r. Also, the vehicle would not drive smoothly in any forward gears. However, it was able to move forward and subsequently able to be driven onto a…”
“While driving over 50 mph vehicle vibrated. Consumer was in touch with the dealer and manufacturer, but the problem still existed. Consumer stated that the driveshaft was the problem, yet they won't do anything about it. *ak”
“Dear whom it may concern, last monday(5-17-04) my car would not start. Prior to that the car was running fine, it has been a dependable vehicle. The f- control had broke in two. The car can not go into gear and/or changes gears without notice when the f control is broken. The car was towed the…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 GMC Safari as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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