Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1989 GMC Safari, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering7
- Seat belts5
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Power train2
- Structure2
- Seats2
- Visibility1
- Electrical system1
- Exterior lighting1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1989 GMC Safari.
| 2000080 21 Mar 2000 | Accessories On certain vehicles operated in areas of high salt use, the spare tire hoist cable may corrode and eventually break. This would allow the spare tire to fall of… |
| 1993153 15 Nov 1993 | Seats And Restraints ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BUCKET SEATS WITH KNOB TYPE RECLINER MECHANISMS, A FRONT SEAT RECLINER BOLT MAY FATIGUE AND BREAK. THIS MAY ALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUD… |
| 1989146 17 Oct 1989 | Emissions Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 1103 - exhaust emissions. Engine cam gear misorientaion. |
| 1989040 23 Mar 1989 | Powertrain ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL ROD MAY SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER SHIFT LEVER. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE SHIFT INDIC… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What GMC told its dealers about the 1989 GMC Safari: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 37942 | TRANSMISSION EXTENTION SEAL LEAKS. *TW |
| 10028790 | GENERAL MOTORS: ON ALL 1988-2009 FULL SIZE CHEVROLET/GMC PICKUPS, UTILITIES AND VANS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL MOVE DOWN OR SELF APPLY DURING FULL LOCK TURNS OR NEAR FULL LOCK TURNS. CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VANS; HUMMER 2 ARE INCLUDED. *PE UPDATED 5/24/11. *PE |
| 10007838 | DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT |
| 10007244 | WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR DOES NOT FIT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SEAT BACK BOLT BREAKAGE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation