1999 GMC SAFARI Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SAFARI. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2005, THE STEERING IDLER ARM HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAS LOST STEERING ABILITY. THE CONTACT HAS PUT 30,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE IN TWO YEARS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IDLER ARMS HAVE FAILED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 99,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ABS SENSOR UNIT FAILED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS SENSOR UNIT THREE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

1999 GMC SAFARI TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SEE GM TSB #00-07-30-002 DATED 11/2000. 1ST-2ND LATE SHIFT, REVERSE, 2ND, & 4TH GEAR CAUSED IMMEDIATE FAILURE. ALL REQUIRED TRANSMISSION SERVICE PERFORMED BY DEALER ON THIS VEHICLE. ROOT CAUSE IS THE KNOWN SUN GEAR SHELL FAILURE IN THE GM 4L60E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS 70,511 MILES. FILED GMC CUSTOMER COMPLAINT #1-366073225. *JB

DT: ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE PROBLEM BEGAN. WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS ABOUT 5-10 MPH ABS KICKS IN AND A GRINDING SOUND OCCURS. THIS CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. ALL WHEEL DRIVE, ALL WHEEL ANTILOCK TO THE OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ABS SENSOR LOOKED CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE BUT IT SHOWED NO CODES. WHEN THE ABS FUSE IS PULLED THE CAR WORKS FINE BUT HAS NO ABS. THE OWNER HASN'T DISCONNECTED THE ABS FUSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET AND THE PROBLEM HAS REMAINED ABOUT THE SAME. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME DURING LOW SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS.*AK *NM

THIS MORNING (5/4/05) WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 GMC SAFARI, I EXPERIENCED A JOLT AND A HIGH RPM REV AND A LONG 1-2 SHIFT. I GOT TO MY DESTINATION (1/4 MILE UP THE ROAD) AND THEN DISCOVERED THAT I HAD NO REVERSE. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALER (A 6-MILE DRIVE). I NOTICED IN ADDITION TO NO REVERSE, THERE WAS ALSO NO OVERDRIVE (4TH GEAR). THE PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER IS A FAILED SUN SHELL ASSEMBLY. THEY (THE DEALER) INDENTIFIES THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM. TO REPAIR IT REQUIRES A MAJOR OVERHAUL A NEARLY $2000.00 REPAIR. I'M A MEMBER OF IATN (INTERNATION AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS' NETWORK) AND I DID A SERACH OF THIS CONCERN AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE. I ALSO LEARNED THAT GM HAS A TSB ON THIS CONCERN (I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OR NATURE OF THE TSB). AT 6-YEARS OF AGE AND 88,000 MILES THIS (IN MY ESTIMATION) IS A PREMATURE FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SERVICED (FLUSHED AND FILTER REPLACEMENT) TWICE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS AND HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED. I DO TOW TWO SNOWMOBILES IN THE WINTER, BUT THE WEIGHT IS BY FAR WITHIN THE PARAMETERS STATED FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED THE GM SERVICE ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THE WOMAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE PATTERN FAILURE, BUT SAID THEIR "POLICY" FOR GOODWILL ASSISTANCE IS CAPPED AT 72,000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAS 88,000 MILES. SHE WAS PREPARED TO OFFER ME SOME KIND OF VOUCHER TO BE USED TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW GM VEHICLE, BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THAT. THERE'S CLEARLY A PRODUCT CONCERN, AND IF GM IS WILLING TO GIVE ME A DEAL ON A NEW CAR, WHY DON'T THEY GIVE ME A "DEAL" ON REPAIRING THIS ONE? ANYWAY, THAT'S MY COMPLAINT.

EMAIL FM ROBERT CARTER (TX) RE GMC REFUSING TO REPAIR A RECALL ENGINE PART FREE OF CHARGE ON HIS GMC SAFARI VAN SINCE HE MISSED THE RECALL CUT OFF DATE WHILE ON MILITARY DUTY OVERSEAS.*MR *NM

(1) NOTHING LEADING UP TO EVENT. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE MOVED IN REVERSE ALTHOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS ABLE TO BE PLACED INTO R. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE SMOOTHLY IN ANY FORWARD GEARS. HOWEVER, IT WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND SUBSEQUENTLY ABLE TO BE DRIVEN ONTO A TRANSPORT TRAILER FOR TOWING. (2) FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES WERE INCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LOADED ONTO A U-HAUL VEHICLE TRANSPORT TRAILER AND TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY (OCEAN SIDE TRANSMISSION INCORPORATED LOCATED IN OCEANSIDE, CA). (3) TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED WITH SEVERAL PARTS REPLACED AT THE COST OF ALMOST $2000.00. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THE SHELL WAS CRACKED AND "THIS VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION IS KNOWN FOR HAVING A WEAK SHELL". I HAVE THIS OLD PART AVAILABLE AND IT IS BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES APPEARING TO HAVE SHEARED APART. *JB

SECOND OCCURANCE OF SAME PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM ENGAGING AT LOW SPEEDS FOR NO REASON ON 1999 GMC SAFARI VAN. THE PROBLEM IS A BAD SENSOR IN THE FRONT BRAKES BUT REQUIRES A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE HUB/BEARING ASSEMBLY UNIT.

DRIVELINE WAS NOT SYNCHRONIZED WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR WHEN BACKING UP. THE TIRES SEEMED TO BE TRYING TO CATCH UP TO EACH OTHER. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER WAS IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT WAS THE PROBLEM, YET THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK

DEAR WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, LAST MONDAY(5-17-04) MY CAR WOULD NOT START. PRIOR TO THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, IT HAS BEEN A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. THE F- CONTROL HAD BROKE IN TWO. THE CAR CAN NOT GO INTO GEAR AND/OR CHANGES GEARS WITHOUT NOTICE WHEN THE F CONTROL IS BROKEN. THE CAR WAS TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALER. IT WAS AT THE DEALER UNTIL FRIDAY(052104), DUE TO THE NEED TO ORDER THE F CONTROL PART. THE CAR SEEMS TO BE REPAIRED. I DO HAVE THE OLD PART. I AM NOTIFYING YOU DUE TO THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE IF A VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE F CONTROL BREAKS. I WAS PARKED AT THE TIME MY F CONTOL BROKE. I HAVE NOTIFIED GMC. I WILL ALSO NOTIFY CALIFORNIA SAFETY BOARD. SINCERELY, DANNA WILLIAMS. *AK

DEALER HAD REPLACED THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL COMPONENT UNIT TWICE, THE CARRIER CASE GEAR KIT AND BEARING AT OWNER EXPENSE OF $ 1,500. DOLLARS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

I OWN A 1999 GMC SAFARI THAT HAD ITS TRANSMISSION FAIL AT LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. IT FAILED BEFORE ITS FIRST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I WAS OUT OF THE 3/36 WARRANTY PERIOD SO I WAS OUT OF LUCK. *NLM

RED ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TRANSMISSION WAS JUMPING INTO GEAR, WITH 26,000 MILES, TOOK TO DEALER THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. TOOK TRIP TO FLORIDA RED LIGHT CAME ON TOOK TO AAMCO TRANSMISSION (36,000 MI) FOUND PROBLEM,850$, SAID THIS WAS COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. GMC PAID ME HALF, GOING TO COURT WITH DEALER FOR OTHER HALF. MY WARRANTY WAS OVER DUE TO YEARS. *AK

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE COIL WIRE TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN THE WIRE FAILS, THE ENGINE CUTS OFF CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAIL TO WORK. THIS CAUSES A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767118

THE VEHICLE JERKED INTO SECOND GEAR AND THEN STALLED. *JB

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK.*JB

FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND GROOVED TO THE POINT THAT TURNING THEM WOULD HAVE MADE THEM TO THIN FOR SAFE USE. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT THE ROTORS WARPED SO BADLY AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. IN MY OPINION AND MY MECHANICS, GMC IS INSTALLING INFERIOR ROTORS AT A GREAT EXPENSE TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. DT

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR DID NOT HOLD THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MR SCC

Crash 4 injured

PROPORTIONER VALVE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Fire

THE DRIVE SHAFT SPLINES NEEDS CONSTANT LUBRICATION. THERE IS ALSO LEAKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING. *JG

THERE IS A REOCCURING REPLACEMENT NEEDED FOR THE OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL BECAUSE OF LEAKING. THE VEHICLES COOLER LINE BROKE CAUSING LEAKING. *JG

CONUSMERS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS OF THE FUEL INJECTORS SIX TIMES. VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED RESULTING IN NECESSARY FLUSHING OF THE INJECTORS. THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR IS LEAKING AND THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE NEEDED REPLACING. *JG

THE DRIVE SHAFT SPLINES NEEDS CONSTANT LUBRICATION. THERE IS ALSO LEAKING FROM THE TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING. *JG

CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL MARKER HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY SEEMS LOOSE. *JG

CONUSMERS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS OF THE FUEL INJECTORS SIX TIMES. VEHICLE IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED RESULTING IN NECESSARY FLUSHING OF THE INJECTORS. THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR IS LEAKING AND THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE NEEDED REPLACING. *JG

THERE IS A REOCCURING REPLACEMENT NEEDED FOR THE OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL BECAUSE OF LEAKING. THE VEHICLES COOLER LINE BROKE CAUSING LEAKING. *JG

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP BETWEEN FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT IS ON. REPLACED ALL WORN PADS AND SHOES. LIGHT WILL NOT RESET. THE VAN WILL NOT PASS UTAH SAFTY INSPECTION WITH LIGHT ON. NOT SURE OF HOW SAFE THE VAN IS. GMC HAS A KNOWN TRACK RECORD OF SAFTY ISSUE WITH THEIR ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THEY RISK FAMILIES HEALTH BY NOT RESOLVING THE KNOWN ISSUE WITH THEIR ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLE- I REMOVED THE RADIATOR CAP AND NOTICED THAT THE GM DEX-COOL EXTENDED LIFE COOLANT HAS DETERIORATED. WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES THE COOLANT SHOULD HAVE HAD ANOTHER 3 YEARS AND 60,000 MILES BEFORE NEEDING SERVICING. IF I DO NOT GET THE SYSTEM FLUSHED AND HOPEFULLY REFILLED WITH SOMETHING THAT WON'T DEGRADE- I WILL TO PAY TO HAVE THE SYSTEM PROFESSIONALLY FLUSHED. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE BY THE DEALER SINCE NO ONE CAN HANDLE DEX COOL SYSTEMS YET. I HAVE HAD MOST OF THE AUTOPARTS STORES AND OIL CHANGE/RADIATOR SHOPS TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE OTHER PEOPLE REPORT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. OBVIOUSLY GM IS NOT RECALLING THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE COOLANT AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO PAY TO HAVE THE SYSTEM REPAIRED OR MAJOR ENGINE WORK IF A SIGNIFICANT FAILURE OCCURED. CAN YOUR DEPARTMENT PUSH THIS PROBLEM TO THE PUBLIC FOREFRONT? THANK YOU.*AK

THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT WORK. I WAS TOLD BY A GMC MECHANIC THAT THE MOTOR IS BROKE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE COST WOULD BE $120.00 FOR THE MOTOR AND $180.00 FOR LABOR (A SHAKY WAY FOR GMC TO MAKE A PROFIT). THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. I'VE HEARD OF OTHER GMC SAFARI'S WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM (RECALL?). THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 01V123000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PARTS FOR SEAT BELT WARNING MODULE WERE ON BACK ORDER. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS DIFFERENTIAL WEAR BETWEEN THE LEFT AND FRONT BRAKE PADS, DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR, CONSUMER STATES THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER WAS NOT RELEASING PRESSURE ON PADS TO ROTOR CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR, RIGHT FRONT CALIPER FROZEN OR PARTIALLY FROZEN CAUSING LEFT FRONT PADS TO DO ALL OR MOST OF THE BRAKING, AND WARPED OR OTHER DEFECTS IN THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR, DEALER STATED NEW ROTORS WERE NEEDED, FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN, AND REAR BRAKES WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THERE IS A PULSATING GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: APHFJL1U TIRESIZE: P215/75R15)

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

SHUDDER DURING TIGHT, SLOW TURNING, DEALER RPLACED TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE,PROBLEM FIXED. *AK

HAD TO APPLY BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY, SEAT SLID FORWARD AND CAUSED DRIVER TO IMPACT STEERING WHEEL WITH NOSE. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH SEAT,BUT REPLACED SEAT RISER ANYWAY.SEAT STILL DOES NOT ALWAYS LOCK IN POSITION.*AK

FRONT ROTORS TURNED @ 16,000 MILES DUE TO SHIMMY. PADS WERE NOT REPLACED. NO COST-COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE NOW HAS 29,000 MILES AND SHIMMY RETURNED. DEALER REPLACED PADS/TURNED ROTORS AND REPLACED SHOES/TURNED DRUMS AT MY EXPENSE.(NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY). I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR AND THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND NOT COVERED. VEHICLE NOW HAS ROTORS THAT WERE TURNED TWICE. GUESS WHO GOING TO PAY AGAIN (FOR NEW ROTORS) AT NEXT PAD REPLACEMENT.*AK

THE VEHICLES FUEL SYSTEM IS FAULTY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO EXHIBIT A NO START OR STALL CONDITION WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL PUMP RELAY, 4 TERMINAL CONNECTORS AT THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER REPLACED ALL SIX INJECTORS. NLM

BOTH WHEEL CYLINDERS FAILED CAUSING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHILE BRAKING, FRONT BRAKE PADS ALSO REPLACED. NLM