1994 GMC SAFARI Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FUELING THE 1994 GMC SAFARI (15 WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE,, RESULTING IN STRIKING THE VEHICLE BEHIND IT. THE CONTACT REENTERED THE VEHICLE, SHIFTED THE LOOSE GEAR INTO DRIVE AND MOVED THE VEHICLE FORWARD TO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE W2ASA DRIVABLE, BUT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LOOSE. *AK

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DRIVING A 1994 GMC SAFARI AWD AND AT A STOP HAD THE 41" TORSION BAR SNAPPED. SEARCHED FOR REPLACEMENT FROM SALVAGE YARDS BUT THEY HAVE STOPPED SELLING THEM DUE TO LIABILITY REASONS, NEED TO INSTALL ADJUSTMENT EQUIPMENT SOLD BY GM WITH A COST OF $800. *NM

WHEN DRIVING DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WERE NUMEROUS RECALLS ON OTHER YEAR AND MAKES OF THE SAFARI VANS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC *JB

THE VAN WAS GOING DOWN THE I25 NORTH OF DENVER WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR SNAPPED. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY RACE CARS AND BRINING THE VAN TO A STOP WAS THE HARDEST I HAVE EVER DONE. BY DRIVING SKILLS, LUCK AND THE GOOD LORD I AM HERE TODAY TO WRITE THIS COMPLAINT. DOES GENERAL MOTORS NEED TO WAIT FOR A FAMILY TO DIE BEFORE THEY WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE. I DID NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I WENT TO GET PARTS AND THAT IS WHEN I FIND THAT GM KNOWS THEY HAVE DEFECTIVE TORSION BARS AND SUPERSEDES THE PART NUMBERS TO SHORTER (FROM 40" TO 36" BARS) THESE BARS ARE REDESIGNED AND MUST BE REPLACED IN PAIRS. I HAVE THE VAN TORN DOWN NOW WITH THE FAILED PART AND IT UPSETS ME ENOUGH THAT I AM GOING TO LET THE VAN SIT UNTIL GENERAL MOTORS DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. NOTE THAT THE GMC SAFARI AWD VANS AND THE CHEVROLET ASTRO AWD VANS ARE THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE HAD A PROBLEM IN A MALL PARKING LOT WHEREIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DASH BOARD, POWER WINDOWS, A/C, RADIO) FAILED AT THE VERY SAME TIME AS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. IT HAPPENED ONLY TWO OTHER TIMES. RECENTLY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT IS NOT FIXED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IT IS A WIRING PROBLEM, BUT TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALL WANT TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, SO ELECTRICAL SOUNDS MORE LIKELY TO US. THE VAN HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW, AS WE ARE HESITANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT AND EVEN MORE HESITANT TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND, IF SO, WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ON A TRIP, DURING TRAVEL IN A RAINSTORM. ON ONE OCCASION, I PULLED OVER AND DAMAGED THE RIGHT SIDE RUNNING BOARD DUE TO INABILITY TO SEE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FLAW AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE FACTORY. *LA

RECALL COMPLAINT NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V159/GM RECALL NO. 03023.THE (ABOVE) RECALL IS CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM THAT FAILS DUE TO A BAD CIRCUIT BOARD/MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE MANY VEHICLES INVOLVED INCLUDING 1994 VEHICLES, BUT FOR THE GMC SAFARI ONLY 1995-1997 MODELS ARE LISTED. MY 1994 GMC SAFARI EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE MODE AS THE OTHER 1994 VEHICLES LISTED AND THE 1995-19997 SAFARI MODELS. THE SERVICE REPAIR RECEIPT INDICATES THE FAILURE MODE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE RECALL NOTICE DESCRIPTION. I HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO NON-OPERATION OF MY WIPER SYSTEM AT A COST OF $341.75. WHEN THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS FAILURE MODE WAS ANNOUNCED IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE 1994 SAFARI MODEL YEAR. I HAVE HAD REPEATED CONVERSATIONS WITH GMC RECALL OFFICE AND THEY INDICATE THAT MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT PART OF THE RECALL. UPON MY OWN INVESTIGATION, I FOUND A 1995 GMC SAFARI AND FOUND IT HAD THE SAME WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY AS MY (1994) VEHICLE, THIS VEHICLE IS COVERED FOR THE FAILURE RECALL, BUT MINE IS NOT. I INDICATED THIS TO GMC BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT ACCUMULATE COMPLAINTS ON OTHER VEHICLES NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE WAITED OVER 8 MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR AN UPDATE, BUT THEY INDICATED NO UPDATE WAS AVAILABLE. I BELIEVE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE ADDING THE 1994 GMC SAFARI TO THE RECALL COMPLAINT NOTICE NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V159/GM RECALL NO. 03023. PLEASE INDICATE WHAT FURTHER ACTION I CAN TAKE IN ORDER TO RECOVER MY EXPENSE ($341.75) IN REPAIRING THE SAME DEFECT WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER SAFARI MODELS AND ON OTHER 1994 GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAILURE MODE DESCRIPTION. THANK YOU JOSEPH D. JAKLIC 317.877.3304 [email protected] . *AK

OUR 1994 GMC SAFARI ACCELERATED SUDDENLY TWICE WITHIN 2 HOURS. FIRST INCIDENT ON I40 NEAR BRINKLEY, AR WHILE MY WIFE WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE SWITCHED THE A/C FROM MAX TO NORMAL AND THE ACCELERATOR SUDDENLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. SHE STOPPED THE PROBLEM BY USING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES AND PUMPING 3 OR 4 TIMES TO PREVENT THE ACCELERATING VAN FROM HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS OFF. THE SECOND TIME OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH. SHE TOUCHED NOTHING ON THE DASH OR THE TURN SIGNAL STALK. THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR AGAIN AND IT TOOK SEVERAL PUMPS OF THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. IT APPEARS TO BE CONNECTED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SINCE PUMPING THE BRAKES STOPS THE ACCELERATION.*AK

THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V159000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WITH ITS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. *SCC *JB

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 1994' GMC SAFARI. ACCORDING TO NHTSA, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND YET THE RECALL ONLY COVERS FROM 95 AND UP MODELS. IF THE PROBLEM WAS KNOW TO OCCUR ON THE 1994 MODELS, WHY DOESN'T THE RECALL COVER THEM? THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASSIONS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS WHEN MY WIPERS HAVE FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSE ME TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL THEY DECIDED TO WORK AGAIN. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED IF IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

CATASRTOPHIC FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE OF THE LEFT TORSION BAR ON A 1994 GMC SAFARI AWD VAN. APPARENTLY, THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM MUST NOW BE REPLACED DUE TO "SUPERSEDED PARTS" FROM GM. *NLM

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THE WIPERS STOPPED AND CHANGED SPEED SETTING ON IT'S OWN. IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE WIPER MODULE WAS REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM *CB *JB

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE WITH IT'S WINDSHIELD WIPER AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, BUT IT'S VIN NUMBER OR MODEL YEAR IN NOT INCLUDED. *TT

MOVING IN TRAFFIC AT 20 MPH. HIT BRAKES FOR QUICK STOP AND VAN DID NOT STOP. HIT CAR IN FRONT OF US. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734314

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VEHICLE HAS ABS FAILURE WHEN DRIVING IN HAZARDOUS CONDITION/WEATHER. EX., SNOW, ICE OR RAIN. THERE IS A RECALL FOR ABS ECU 00 V 228 008, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

INTERMITTENT WIPER MOTOR (CF. OBI ID 869298) RECALLED ON CHEVROLET S10 BLAZER. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TEND TO FAIL UNEXPECTEDLY. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY MORE FREQUENT. MY RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON OTHER GMC VEHICLES OF ABOUT THE SAME YEAR OF MANUFACTURE. GM RECALL # 98043, FROM 1998, APPARENTLY COVERS 1994,1995 AND 1996 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET AND GMC TRUCKS AND SUV'S IN THE S/T AND C/K SERIES. I CONTACTED GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE (A 1994 GMC SAFARI) IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. THE PROBLEM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING IS IDENTICAL TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM IS FAR MORE PERVASIVE THAN THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES COVERED IN THE RECALL. GMC HAS NOT PROVIDED ME WITH ANY SATISFACTION IN THIS MATTER.

STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME. DEALERSHIP HAD TO TAKE ENTIRE COLUMN APART AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. OWNER IS UNCOMFORTABLE DUE TO DEALERSHIP STATING THIS IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THAT CONDITION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*JB

MOVING IN TRAFFIC AT 20 MPH. HIT BRAKES FOR QUICK STOP AND VAN DID NOT STOP. HIT CAR IN FRONT OF US. *AK

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NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WHILE IN MOTION AND MOTOR IS STILL RUNNING. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR 5 YEARS. DEALER WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT ONGOING PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC, THE WIPERS STOPPING RUNNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.*JB

FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE, AND RIGHT FRONT END DROPPED. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND COMPRESSOR REPLACED IN FIVE YEARS WITH NUMEROUS FREON RECHARGES DUE TO LEAKS.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE IN GARAGE. *AK

WAS PULLING OUT OF PARKING SLOT WHEN FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP ON THE WHEEL AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PROBLEM SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

FUEL INJECTOR LEAKAGE. TOOK OUT DIPSTICK AND SMELLED FUEL ON IT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND FOUND OUT LEAKAGE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A FIRE.*AK

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING. ON 03/10/01, I NOTICED THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE PERTAINING CAR SAGGING, CAR ALMOST TOUCHING THE TIRE. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM, AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TORSION BAR WAS BROKEN. UPON ORDERING A NEW ONE, HE WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THIS IS A 1994 SAFARI, WE HAVE TO BUY NEW TORSION BARS AND ARMS FOR BOTH SIDE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION. REASON BEING THAT GMC HAD SINCE THEN RE-DESIGNED THIS TORSION BAR SYSTEM. IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAD TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE FRONT TORSION BAR SYSTEM, BECAUSE OF IT BEING RE-DESIGNED , ALTHOUGH ONLY THE FRONT LEFT BAR WAS BROKEN. WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PAYING FOR WERE THE PROBLEM LIES, BUT I QUESTION THE FACT THAT GMC RE-DESIGNED THIS PIECE, AS WELL AS THAT IT IS OUR COST. WHAT REASON COULD THERE BE FOR RE-DESIGNING SUCH A PIECE. COSMETICS? DOUBTFULL! OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SOME SORT OF MISTAKE WITH THE OLD DESIGN. SHOULD THE CUSTOMER THEREFOR PAY FOR THIS. WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH GMC ABOUT THIS, BUT GET AS MUCH AS A PHONE MESSAGE BACK, STATING THAT THE CAR IS BEYOND IT'S STANDARD 36,000MLS-3 YRS. WARRANTEE. I FEEL HOWEVER THAT THIS HAS NO RELEVANCE TO THE ISSUE. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I'M BRINGING THIS ISSUE TO YOUR ATTENTION. WE HOPE THAT YOU COULD SHED SOME MORE LIGHT ON THIS, AND WE DO FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE RE-IMBURSED FOR COSTS OTHER THAN THE BROKEN TORSION BAR. HERE IS SOME CONTACT INFO FOR YOU TO WORK WITH: OUR MECHANIC, DEWEY'S TIRE & AUTO REPAIR LLC, 603-356-5703; PONTIAC & GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE, PO BOX 33172, DETROIT MICH., 48232-5172, REFERENCE # C-03448370. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL ME FOR ANY FURTHER INFORMATION THAT I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. A. VAN COESANT. *AK

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES, AND DEALER SAID THAT WAS THE WAY ABS WORKED. WHEN GETTING OF FREEWAY AND TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES, IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A 2X4 UNDER BRAKE PEDAL, CAN'T PUSH BRAKE DOWN. *AK

MOVING IN TRAFFIC AT 20 MPH. HIT BRAKES FOR QUICK STOP AND VAN DID NOT STOP. HIT CAR IN FRONT OF US.

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CONSUMER IS EXPIERENCING SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN MANUFACTURER'SRECALL 98043. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL JUST STOP, AND THERE'S NOTHING CONSUMER CAN DO. ONCE ON THE INTERSTATE AMONG TRUCKS WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED.*AK

THIS IS THE SECOND STATE INSPECTION I HAD TO GET NEW IDLER ARMS. *AK

FRONT LEFT TORSION BAR BROKE IN DRIVEWAY. DEALER HAD UPDATE KIT FOR BOTH SIDES. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. *AK

WHILE SAFARI WAS PARKED TORSION BAR BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SAFARI WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. BOTH TORSION BARS BROKE BECAUSE THE PARTS HAVE BEEN RE-ENGINEERED. GMC OBVIOUSLY KNEW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SAFARI'S. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN I PASSED A SLIGHT DIP IN THE ROAD AND THERE WAS A VERY LOUD BANG RESEMBLING AN EXPLOSION AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SLAMMED TO THE GROUND. THE DRIVERS SIDE TORSION BAR SNAPPED! IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THE TIMING OF THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN IT DID, AS WE HAD JUST LEFT THE MASS TURNPIKE AND WERE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF MYSELF, MY FAMILY AND THE LIVES OF OTHER PERSONS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL THE TORTION BAR IS MADE OF, AND I FEAR THE OTHER SIDE MAY BE DEFECTIVE AS WELL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE, CAUSING FRONT END TO DROP. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE RECLINING PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT HANDLE FELL OFF. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE ENTIRE RECLINING MECHANISM UNDER CHAIR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW--THE MECHANISM CANNOT WITHSTAND THE TORSIONAL STRESS CAUSED BY LIFTING THE HANDLE TO ADJUST THE SEAT. CURRENTLY, SEAT IS TOTALLY RECLINED AND WILL NOT STAY UP. CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR FAMILY. *AK *ML

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP DURING USE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN A BLINDING RAIN, THIS PRESENTED A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION TO BE IN ON A CROWDED INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

REAR DOOR FAILS TO OPEN, NOTICED THAT LATER YEARS HAVE KEY MECHANISM ADDED TO AUTO DOOR OPENER. A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED 3 TIMES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE. ALL DEFECTS MINIMIZED OR DENIED AT FIRST, LATER CONFIRMED. *AK