The 1998 GMC Safari has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 971,112 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
VISIBILITY03V0930002003-03-07507,171 affected
Defect
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
Consequence
IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
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…
SEAT BELTS01V1230002001-04-10461,851 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF 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.
CHILD SEAT99V0090001999-01-202,090 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE OCCUPANT'S RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
8
2crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
3
3crashes1injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT
3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
3
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
3
2crashes
Total complaints111
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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. 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…”
“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”
“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…”
“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”
“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…”
“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”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 GMC Safari as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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