The 1986 GMC Safari has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 604,207 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seats. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS93V1870001993-11-16604,207 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
Complaints by component
SEATS
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
1
1crashes1injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
1injuries
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
1
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
1
Total complaints11
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While driving vehicle is losing pressure, and oil was leaking from the engine. Also, there is black thick smoke coming tail pipe. *ak”
“While driving vehicle is losing pressure, and oil was leaking from the engine. Also, there is black thick smoke coming tail pipe. *ak”
“Driver's seat broke when the driver sat in the seat. *ak”
“Erratic operation of steering wheel. Resulting in poor stability. Please describe in more detail. Tt”
“Consumer was hit in the rear, the driver side seat reclined backwards, driver was fell to the rear of the truck. Please describe . *ak”
“Headlight swtich failed, causing accident. *sd”
“Seat belt failed to secure driver during accident, causing injury. *sd”
“Seat track failed, causing seat to lose position. *sd”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA87009 Opened 1987-01-21 · closed 1988-08-16
REAR BRAKES
ANALYSIS: THE PROPOSED GM CHANGES SHOULD REDUCE THE FRONT-BIAS IN THEREAR BRAKE SYSTEM.HOWEVER THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT GM WILL RETROFITTHE 1985 AND 1986 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES.REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PROBLEMMAY NOT LIE IN THE BRAKE BIASING SYSTEM, BUT RATHER IN MALFUNCTIONINGOR IMPROPERLY DESIGNED REAR BRAKE…
InvestigationEA92022 Opened 1992-06-24 · closed 1993-11-19
SEAT BACK BOLT BREAKAGE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE86053 Opened 1986-05-01 · closed 1987-01-20
INADEQUATE REAR BRAKES
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:NO TSB'S OR RECALLS HAVE BEENISSUED ON THIS MATTER.THE 1985 CAMIP PHASE II SURVEY RATED THE GM M-VANBRAKE EFFECTIVENESS LOWEST AMONG VEHICLE LINES TESTED.IN RESPONSE TO THECONCERN OF VAN OWNERS, CHANGES IN THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER DIAMETER AND THEPROPORTIONING VALVE WERE…
InvestigationPE89106 Opened 1989-03-23 · closed 1989-09-19
REAR AXLE SEAL FAILURE
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InvestigationPE90039 Opened 1990-02-05 · closed 1990-06-29
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 GMC Safari as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.