VehicleVerdict

1997 GMC Safari problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 200 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 5.1 times the median Safari year — the 1997 model ranks #2 of 24 Safari years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 14 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across visibility & wipers (34), transmission (22), and engine (20), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

200

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

1

Investigations

10

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

14

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1997 compare to other Safari years?

See all Safari years to avoid →

What are the most common 1997 GMC Safari problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Visibility & Wipers3417%
Transmission2211%
Engine2010%
Brakes189%
Fuel System189%
Steering168%
Electrical System137%
Speed Control95%
Body & Structure95%
Seat Belts84%
Other74%
Airbags74%
Suspension53%
Tires & Wheels53%
Latches & Locks21%
Seats21%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)21%
Lighting21%
Child Seat11%

Does the 1997 GMC Safari have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

06E043000Fuel SystemMay 19, 2006 · 88,303 units

Defect

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

03V159000Visibility & WipersApril 28, 2003 · 1,755,876 units

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 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

01V123000Seat BeltsApril 10, 2001 · 461,851 units

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.

99V009000Child SeatJanuary 20, 1999 · 2,090 units

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 WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.

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.

97V057000Seat BeltsApril 8, 1997 · 18,972 units

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

THIS PROBLEM RLESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VAN, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP 12K AGO, BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS REOCURRED. IN ADDITION, HAVE HAD A POWER WINDOW MOTOR GO OUT, BLOWER FAN BURN UP, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS AFTER BEING SERVICED BY DEALERSHIP AND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · January 25, 2001

THE BATTERY CABLE LINE HANGING OVER THE THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE GOING INTO THE INTAKE/OUTTAKE MANIFORD, WHICH CUT IT IN HALF. THE TRANSMISSION CAUGHT ON FIRE.CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · June 27, 1999 · fire

ENGINE HAS ROUGH IDLE/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PREVIOUSLY, DEALER PERFORMED ENGINE TUNE-UP. NEXT PROBLEM OF ROUGH ENGINE/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STILL WAITING FROM DEALER AS TO THE CAUSE. TSB 00-06-04-003 HAS BEEN ISSUED CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM, THE QUESTION IS, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, SINCE THIS IS A…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 13, 2001

1997 GMC SAFARI BRAKE FAILED COMPLETELY NO REAR NO FRONT SUSPECT IT WAS THE ANTI LOCK CONTROL UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT . NO LEAKS VISIBLE. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · August 2, 2011 · crash

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT ON A BACK ROAD I WAS CROSSING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK AND THE VEHICLE CUT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT OVER THE TRACKS TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. THE GAS GAUGE READ THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS, WHEN IN FACT THE TANK…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · June 18, 1999

1997 GMC Safari — common questions

Is the 1997 GMC Safari reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 200 complaints put the 1997 model at #2 of 24 Safari years. It is one of the Safari years to avoid.

What are the most common 1997 Safari problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are visibility & wipers (34 complaints), transmission (22 complaints), engine (20 complaints).

Does the 1997 GMC Safari have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1997 GMC Safari. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1997 GMC Safari under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which GMC Safari years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Safari years to avoid are 1995, 1997, 1996, 1994, 1998, 2000, 1999, 1993, 1992, 1991. The cleanest record among Safari years belongs to 1984.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.