1990 GMC Safari Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1990 GMC Safari, and owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1990 GMC Safari
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seats
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.
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.
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Rotor (service brakes)
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.
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…
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Seat belt anchorage bar for rear sofa failed to sustain loads required by FMVSS 210.
Remedy: Replace noncomplying sofa bar with bar that meets requirements.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Fuel return hoses may break at either crimped coupling, causing a leakage of fuel.
Remedy: Install a properly crimped fuel return hose.
35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1990 GMC Safari have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 9 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Consumer discovered that the power driver seat would rock back and forth when the vehicle accelerated too quickly, consumer thought that a mounting bolt was loose, he then tilted the seat back and ins”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 22, 2002 · Seats
“Consumer was driving along and made a stop; then, put vehicle in reverse and it made a loud noise, later she was told that idle arm had fallen off.*ak vehicle also would vibrate while driving at 65 mp”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 3, 2001 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1990 GMC Safari (Safari 2WD (cargo), Safari AWD (cargo), Safari AWD (passenger)). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 16–20 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–18 / 18–24 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Vans |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.5/4.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare GMC Safari model years
Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Safari model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 GMC Safari | 2 | 1 |
| 1986 GMC Safari | 1 | 7 |
| 1987 GMC Safari | 1 | 11 |
| 1988 GMC Safari | 2 | 7 |
| 1989 GMC Safari | 3 | 18 |
| 1990 GMC Safari | 4 | 35 |
| 1991 GMC Safari | 3 | 39 |
| 1992 GMC Safari | 1 | 59 |
| 1993 GMC Safari | 0 | 61 |
| 1994 GMC Safari | 1 | 119 |
| 1995 GMC Safari | 3 | 195 |
| 1996 GMC Safari | 4 | 139 |
| 1997 GMC Safari | 4 | 135 |
| 1998 GMC Safari | 3 | 89 |
| 1999 GMC Safari | 1 | 61 |
| 2000 GMC Safari | 0 | 68 |
| 2001 GMC Safari | 1 | 39 |
| 2002 GMC Safari | 1 | 25 |
| 2003 GMC Safari | 1 | 18 |
| 2004 GMC Safari | 0 | 5 |
| 2005 GMC Safari | 0 | 4 |
Checking a specific 1990 GMC Safari
How do I know if my 1990 GMC Safari has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1990 GMC Safari; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 90V146000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other GMC models
- Sierra 15008,930 complaints
- Acadia5,569 complaints
- Yukon4,989 complaints
- Sierra3,937 complaints
- Terrain3,124 complaints
- Jimmy2,720 complaints
- Envoy2,459 complaints
- Yukon XL2,417 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.