1998 GMC SAFARI Recalls, Complaints & Safety

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

88,303 vehicles affected

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

61,944 vehicles affected

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

507,171 vehicles affected

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES

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 REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

461,851 vehicles affected

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 BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.

2,090 vehicles affected

EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES. BRAKE LINES SO CORRODED THAT THEY ARE CRACKING AND SPLITTING LEAKING FLUID AND NECESSITATING EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. CORROSION ALSO NOTED ON FUEL LINES, AND VEHICLE UNDERCARRIAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SAFARI. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. HOWEVER, THEY BEGAN OPERATING AGAIN FIVE TO TEN MINUTES LATER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RAINFALL IS FREQUENT IN HIS STATE. NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE PRESENT DURING OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 143,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 05/06/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/06/08

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SAFARI. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 160,000. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A RAINY NIGHT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER SWERVING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALMOST GETTING HIT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNTIL IT STOPPED RAINING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MOTOR STOPPED OPERATING BECAUSE THE SOLDER JOINT CRACKED. *AK

1998 SAFARI VAN, RANDOM FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, THERE IS NO PATTERN TO IT, IT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY TO FUNCTION, WHICH IS KIND OF A SAFETY CONCERN, SINCE THE ONLY TIME I USE THE WIPERS IS DURING A RAINSTORM, WHICH REDUCES VISION GREATLY. *NM

1998 GMC SAFARI HAS DIED FIVE TIMES AND EACH TIME THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKES AND POWER STEERING ABILITY.*MR STALLED WHILE DRIVING (NO START), CHECK FUEL SYSTEM. PERFORM FUEL INDUCTION AND THROTTLE BODY CLEAN. R&R OLD BELT, TENSIONER CAME APART, REPLACE TENSIONER AND BELT TO REPAIR. *BF

OUR VAN BROKE DOWN ON MY WIFE WHILE SHUTTLING 5 KIDS FROM SCHOOL. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THE FUEL INJECTORS FAILED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PUMP GASOLINE THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS AND SHORT OUT THE COMPUTER. THE REPAIR BILL WAS ESTIMATED AT $3,000.00. THE INJECTORS, THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE COMPUTER ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOP CALLED A LOCAL GMC DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE HAD 3 OR 4 OF THESE RECENTLY. I CONTACTED GMC SEVERAL TIMES AND ASKED THEM FOR INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE. WHEN GASOLINE IS SHORTING OUT AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT, I SEE A TREMENDOUS RISK OF FIRE. I ASKED GMC SEVERAL TIMES IF THERE WOULD BE POTENTIAL FOR RE-OCCURANCE IN MY VAN AND ALSO IF IT COULD HAPPEN IN OUR BLAZER OF THE SAME YEAR AND ENGINE. THEY HAVE IGNORED EVERY REQUEST. THEIR ONLY RESPONSE WAS THAT I NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY VEHICLE AT SOME POINT. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS PAST WARRANTY AND NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM WHY THEY SENT ME TWO RECALL NOTICES FOR THIS SAME VEHICLE EARLIER THIS YEAR IF IT IS PAST WARRANTY. THEY SAID BECAUSE THE TWO ISSUES WERE A KNOWN PROBLEM. A OUTSIDE MIRROR SWITCH AND AN AUDIBLE SEAT BELT WARNING. I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH HAVING TO PAY UPKEEP ON MY VEHICLE. WHEN A PART FAILS IN SUCH AN UNSAFE MANNER AND RUINS A WIRING HARNESS AND A COMPUTER, I SEE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THEY SHOULD ADDRESS.*AK

1998 GMC SAFARI VAN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODEL 700, FAILURED AT 93,000 MILES DUE TO A 3RD GEAR SLIPPAGE. I FOUND IN MY RESEARCH TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THIS WAS COMMON FOR GMC TRUCKS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION FOR THIS TO FAIL BETWEEN 90,000 AND 100,000 EVEN WITH SCHEDULED SERVICE. GMC AGREED TO REPLACE WITH A FACTORY REBUILD, WHICH THEY DID BUT AT MY COST OF $2,300.00, WITH A 36 MONTH/50,000 MILE WARRANTY. I COULD NOT FIND ANY TECH SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS ON YOUR WEB SITE, DO YOU HAVE ANYOTHER INFORMATION. GMC AND ITS DEALERSHIP IS ALREADY AWARE OF MY PRODUCT DISPLEASURE WHEN I EXPECT QUAILTY AND DURABILITY IT WAS NOT THERE. PLEASE RESPOND, THANK YOU.*AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN, AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE. DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER ONLY OPERATE THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. ALSO, UNLESS CONSUMER KEEPS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE BATTERY ALMOST DIES.*AK

I HAVE A 98 GMC SAFARI, I HAVE HAD THREE (3) REAR AC BLOWER CONTROL SWITCHES BURN UP IN IT SIX (6) YEARS. THE SWITCHES ARE MELTED FROM OVERHEATING. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OVER THIS ISSUE? THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE LAST ONE. *JB

IDLE LINKS HAD TO BE CHANGED AT 21,000 MILES. CONSUMER WENT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE FRONT END ALIGNED, AND THAT WAS WHEN CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. *AK *NM

NUMEROUS FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO OPERATE ( SOMETIMES THEY WORK SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, WHEN THEY DO FINALLY COME ON THEY WON'T TURN OFF). TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DISABLED THE VEHICLE ON 3 OCCASIONS. *JB VEHICLE SHOWING SAME SYMPTOMS OF 1997 WHICH WAS RECALLED

DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK BOLTS/RINGS SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL RAIL LINE SYSTEM WAS LEAKING GASOLINE, AND CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER REPLACED FUEL RAIL. *AK

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THERE WAS A LEAK BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND FUEL TANK. *AK *SCC *JB

RECALL COMPLETED SEPT 19. ELECTRIC WONDOW ON DRIVER SIDE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPROPERLY STARTED SEPT 21. REPORTED TO DEALER STATED NOT RELATED PROBLEMS. ON SEPT 24 WINDSHIELD WASHER NOT WORKING. ON SEPT 26 A/C & VENT BLOWER NOT WORKING. NONE THESE PROBLEMS EXISTED UNTIL RECALL # 03V093000 WAS DONE.

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT INPACT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WITHOUT WARNING THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *AK THE CONSUMER WAITED 1 MINUTE AND THEN WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM BACK ON. THE 1992-1997 CHEVROLET TRUCKS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME WIPER SWITCH PROBLEM. THE 1998 WIPER SWITCH WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE SAME AS THE 1997 WIPER SWITCH. *SCC *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF PULSE MODULE.*AK

GAUGE READS HOT AND PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. PH

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FORWARD, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK AND HARD PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED IN ORDER FOR THE PEDAL TO WORK. CAUTION WAS USED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED FORWARD BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. *AK *SCC *JB

SINCE DECEMBER, 2002, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO TURN ON ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. THE OPERATION IS TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE. THEY HAVE FAILED TO COME ON IN THUNDERSTORMS TWICE CAUSING A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION, THEN WILL WORK RELIABLY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, ONLY TO UNEXPECTEDLY FAIL AGAIN. *AK

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 03-V-930-000 RELATED TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR SWITCH. *NLM

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, THE EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNLESS THE HIGH BEAMS WERE TURNED ON. *NLM *TS *JB

THE RIM PRESSED ON THE BEAD OF THE TIRE WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE TO BLOW OUT. *JB

I HAD THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE 3 YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT. THE DEALER DID IT TWICE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD ON IT, THE THIRD TIME WAS 3,000 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY ENDED AN AAMOCO TRANSMISSIONS REPAIRED IT. THIS WAS THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER 2002. THE TRANSMISSION IS AGAIN SHIFTING HARD AND "JUMPING" INTO GEAR AFTER STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT OR ANY SUCH INCIDENT.*JB

IN FEB 01 THE DEALERSHIP FIXED A ROUGH IDLE LOW POWER CONDITION BY USING A HIGH PRESSURE TOP END ENGINE CLEAN CALLED PRO TEC. THIS SERVICE IS NOT CALLED OUT IN THE MAINTENCNAE SECTION OF THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IS NOT AUTHOURIZED BY GM. SEVEN MONTHS LATER IN OCTOBER 2001 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL OF THE INJECTORS DUE TO "LEAKING' AND ALSO FOUND A LEAKING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR P/N 17113203 THAT WAS THEN REPLACED. I BELIEVE THE SERVCE IN MARCH CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS, AND THAT THE INVENTORY USAGE ON THE INJECTORS AND ESPECIALLY THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR SHOULD BE FOR A RECALL. THE PRO TEC ENGINE SERVICE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF IT IS A SAFE MAINTENANCE PRACTICE, WHICH I BELIEVE IT IS NOT, AND CAN CAUSE DANGEROUS OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THESE SAFARI VANS. PLUS THE OVER ALL COST WAS OVER A 1000 DOLLARS. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT WILL UNLATCH WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BUCKLE. TS

WHILE DRIVING 20-25MPH AND GOING STRAIGHT VEHICLE MADE A POPPING NOISE, AND STEERING FAILED. VEHICLE WAS FORCED TO GO INTO A DITCH DUE TO STEERING WHEEL NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN. THERE WAS ONE INJURY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX. *AK *YH

Crash 1 injured

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING GEARS WILL SWITCH FROM 1ST TO 2ND, AND IT WILL BE HARD TO CHANGE BACK TO 1ST GEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

BACK DOOR LOCK BROKE WITHOUT ANY FORCE, UNABLE TO OPEN BACK DOOR.*AK

THE TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN THE DAY OR NIGHT. THE SIGNAL LIGHT WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO HEAR, AND THE BLINKER STAYED ON. *AK *SCC

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WON'T ADJUST--STRIPPED GEARS. HOOD LATCH DOES NOT WORK--I HAVE TO PRY IT UP.*AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 25MPH, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SLC

ACCORDING TO PARTS WAREHOUSE, OVER 300 OF THESE HOSES HAVE BEEN ORDERED/REPLACED SINCE NOVEMBER 2001.*AK

WIRES IN REAR AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH COMPLETELY MELTED. ELECTRICAL POWER BUTTONS INSIDE OF VEHICLE WERE HOT TO TOUCH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT CONSUMER COULD BRING VEHICLE IN FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT . WARRANTY EXPIRED ON VEHICLE.*AK

THE BROKEN SHAFT ON THE HYD. PUMP CONTROLS BOTH THE BRAKES ,WHICH I HAD NEXT TO NONE ,AND ALSO THE POWER STEERING .I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD VERY GINGERLY, ONLY BECAUSE AT THAT TIME I WAS COASTING AT ABOUT 10MPH ,ALMOST IN FRONT OF OUR DRIVEWAY.AT THIS TIME I WAS TOWING OUR TRAVEL TRAILER, RETURNING FROM VACATION,FROM THE WEST COAST, VIA INTERSTATES AND MANY MOUNTAINOUS ROADS.GOD HELP IF THIS WOULD HAD HAPPEN AT THE TIME .AFTER UNHITCHING THE 24FT. TRAILER, OUR VAN WAS FLATBEDDED TO OUR DEALER WHO DID A FINE REPAIR JOB ON THE HYD. PUMP PROBLEM.AS FOR THE WIPER CONTROL MODULE THAT IS ANOTHER STORY. THE PROBLEM OCCURED IN RAPID CITY N.D. WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH ALONG A HIGHWAY, DURING A RAIN STORM. THEY JUST QUIT OPERATING WITHOUT WARNING. WE SAT OUT THE STORM, THEN PROCEED BACK TO OUR CAMP GROUND.WE LOCATED A GMC DEALER IN RAPID CITY S.D. WHO REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANGER HAD TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON MANY VEHICLES AND KEEPS MANY ON THE SHELF.

CRACKS IN REAR BRAKE DRUMS CAUSE BRAKES TO GRIND WHEN APPLIED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

THROTTLE CABLE FRAYED CAUSING EXTREME AND UNWARRANTED ACCELERATION FROM 65 MPH FWY SPEED TO 90 MPH AND THEN STUCK OPEN AT THIS POINT. BRAKING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT DUE TO SPEED, HOWEVER MANAGED TO REDUCE SPEED TO POINT OF BEING ABLE TO PLACE GEAR IN NUETRAL POSITION AND STOP. AS A RESULT BRAKE PADS WERE RUINED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS WELL AS ACCELERATOR CABLE.*AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS . WHEN BACKING OUT AND TRYING TO GIVE VEHICLE GAS ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL NOT GO DOWN TO FLOOR. *AK

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL BECAUSE BRAKES DID NOT CATCH, CAUSING HIM TO HIT A PARKED CAR. HE WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY.*AK

Crash

DRIVER COULD NOT AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLE DUE TO STEERING LOCKING UP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES.

Crash

INTERMITTENTLY THROTTLE STICKS AND VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. DEALER HAS CLEANED THROTTLE BODY.*AK