1997 GMC Safari Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1997 GMC Safari, and owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1997 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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Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)
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.
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…
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Warning light/devices (seat belts)
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.
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…
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Child seat
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…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belts on the child seats, and if necessary, replace the child seat.
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Seat belts: rear/other
The outboard safety belt webbing on the right-hand rear bucket seat can separate during a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protector on the rear seat cushion frame.
135 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 GMC Safari have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA; 7 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 88,633 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 26 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“This van belongs to my mother. My sister was driving the day of the accident. She is 60 yrs of age and a very good driver. Her description: "just pulling away from one light & coming up to another. Wa”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 19, 2014 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 4, 2011 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 GMC Safari Passenger (Safari 2WD (passenger), Safari AWD (passenger)). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 15–16 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 14–15 / 17–20 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Vans |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 4.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-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 1997 GMC Safari
How do I know if my 1997 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 1997 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 01V123000).
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.