The 2003 GMC Safari has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 41,477 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION03V3280002003-09-1241,477 affected
Defect
CERTAIN MINIVANS HAVE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION BETWEEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT RUBBER BOOT AND THE STEERING KNUCKLE (BOTH LEFT/RIGHT SIDES), WHICH COULD RESULT IN CUTTING OF THE BOOT THAT IS INTENDED TO SEAL THE BALL JOINT. IF THE LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT WERE CUT, CONTAMINATION FROM THE ROAD (SALT, DIRT, WATER, ETC.)…
Consequence
THE STEERING KNUCKLE COULD SEPARATE FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, DROPPING DOWN THE AFFECTED CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE COIL SPRING WOULD PUSH THE CONTROL ARM DOWN INTO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, CREATING A DRAG THAT WOULD SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE…
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
SERVICE BRAKES
2
AIR BAGS
1
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
1
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1
1fires
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
1
Total complaints19
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The brake lines in front are rusted out and leaking creating a serious problem, as the brakes are not working. I see this is a re-occurring problem with gmc vehicles. The cost to repair is astronomical. Why isn't gmc recalling these vehicles?”
“. I would like to report the incident I had with my automobile: gmc safari wagon 2003. One day in july this year (2014) I applied the brakes of the above vehicle when I was approaching the red traffic light. The vehicle did not stop even through the brake system was recently worked on. I…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 gmc safari. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, he crashed head-on into another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries reported. A police report was not filed. The failure and current mileage was 126,000.”
“Our 2003 gmc safari has had the brakes spontaneously fail while we were driving it at least six times (every couple of months or so) for the past year. Each time, the pedal just dropped to the floor, the "brake" light came on, and we have had to practically stand on the brake pedal to get it to…”
“Purchased booster seats for our grandchildren. A certified inspector showed us that all four rear seat belts do not lock when pulled quickly indicating that the seatbelts would not restrain the child in an accident (or an adult either). Took the vehicle back to the dealer. Dealer claims the…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 2003 gmc safari. The vehicle was parked and the contact smelled something burning. He lifted the hood and noticed the clamp that held the brake line was on fire. The contact extinguished the fire, and the vehicle was towed to his residence. He changed the brake line hose, and…”
“Corrosion has built up on the abs sensors causing them to activate at low speeds. When this happens the brakes don't lock up and at low speeds (less than 4 mph) that means the vehicle takes an extra few feet to stop. On one occasion I almost hit a person and two other times a parked car in a…”
“At irregular times when driving at slow speeds (~10 mph), on dry clean pavement, and under light to moderate braking, the anti-lock braking system engages and extends the stopping distance of the vehicle. I understand that a recall was issued for other vehicles in other states, but obviously the…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 GMC Safari as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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