Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1990 GMC Safari, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Structure6
- Seats4
- Seat belts4
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Steering2
- Electrical system2
- Suspension2
- Visibility2
- Latches/locks/linkages1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 1990 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… |
| 1993120 20 Aug 1993 | Brakes On certain K1500, Astro, Safari and Suburban vehicles, corrosion of the composite front brake rotors could cause separation of the stamped steel centre section … |
| 1991175 23 Dec 1991 | Brakes On certain vehicles, In areas of high road salt use, corrosion of the composite front brake rotors could cause separation of the stamped steel centre section fr… |
| 1990122 13 Aug 1990 | Fuel System NOTE: M-VANS WITH 4.3 OR 2.5 LITRE ENGINE AND SCHOOL BUSES WITH 366 V-8 GAS ENGINE. VEHICLES MAY HAVE FUEL RETURN HOSES WHICH COULD BREAK AT THE CRIMPED CO… |
| 1990045 15 Mar 1990 | Fuel System THE FRAME MOUNTED FUEL FILTER MAY CRACK AT THE FUEL INLET MOUNTING NUT AS A RESULT OF FLEXING AND ALLOW FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS COULD CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHI… |
| 1989146 17 Oct 1989 | Emissions Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 1103 - exhaust emissions. Engine cam gear misorientaion. |
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.
FUEL RETURN HOSES MAY BREAK AT EITHER CRIMPED COUPLING, CAUSING A LEAKAGE OF FUEL.
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 1990 GMC Safari: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 39304 | COLD ENGINE KNOCK. *TW |
| 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
INSTRUMENT PANEL/DASH ELECTRICAL FIRE
SEAT BACK BOLT BREAKAGE
BRAKE FAILURE
BRAKE FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation