Problems · by component

1997 GMC Safari visibility problems

29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 GMC Safari cite visibility, 19% of all 152 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
29
19% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the visibility

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE FAILURE, APPROXIMATELY IN EARLY 2006 ON 1000K TRIP. PARTS PURCHASED MODULE N12463 PART NUMBER 12463090 FROM DEALER IN EDMONTON AT COST OF $64.87 INCLUDING GST.. RETURNED HOME 1000K AS DEALER TOO BUSY TOO FIX, AND PAID $36.00 LABOR TO HAVE INSTALLED. TOTAL COST FOR MODULE AND LABOR: $100.87. MY REQUEST IS FOR GM TO PAY THIS $100.87 AS THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER A RECALL NOTICE AT ANY TIME IN THE LIFE OF THESE VEHICLES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2008VisibilityODI 10227944
“WHILE DRIVING INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETRERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 25, 2005VisibilityODI 10115908
“SEPTEMBER 1, 1999: AC PROBLEM (NOT COOLING) REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. NOVEMBER 3, 1999: LEFT DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW MOTOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (NOT PASSENGER SIDE AS DOCUMENTED ON THE INVOICE). JANUARY 31, 2003: I WROTE TO GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE VIA EMAIL, DETAILING SOME PROBLEMS THAT HAD DEVELOPED WITH MY VAN. I COMPLAINED THAT THE DRIVERS WINDOW MOTOR WAS INTERMITTENT AT BEST. I MENTIONED WAS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED ERRATICALLY. MY LOW SETTING ON THE AC FAN WAS INOPERABLE, AND EVENTUALLY ALL 3 LEVELS STOPPED. I HAD BEEN LIVING WITH IT FOR OVER A YEAR, BECAUSE I AM A SINGLE MOM, WORK FULL TIME AND COULDNT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT MY TRANSPORTATION. THE REPLY I GOT WAS THAT MY VAN WAS TOO OLD, AND THINGS BREAK. THREE MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED A RECALL CAMPAIGN IN THE MAIL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. MAY 8, 2003: I TOOK MY VAN INTO THE CLOSEST GMC DEALER TO HAVE MY DRIVERS WINDOW MOTOR ($329.38) AND THE AC RESISTOR REPLACED ($103.24), AND PERFORM THE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR. JULY 22, 2003: RETURNED TO GMC DEALER TO REPAIR AC PROBLEM (AC BLOWS FROM DEFROSTER AND NOT FROM VENTS) THAT DEVELOPED MAY 10, 2003.($132.50) SEPTEMBER 24, 2003:…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2004Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10072604
“CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED IN SOME OF THE PROBLEMS HE HAD WITH THE CHASSIS AND OTHER AUXILIARY SYSTEMS. (NAR) *PH TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, AC/ HEATER, GAS GAUGE, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, ELECTRIC WINDOW. *CB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2004Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Visibility, Structure, EquipmentODI 10066973
“ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS ON CONSUMER'S TWO VANS. EACH VAN HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT'S TRANSMISSION, ALTERNATOR, MOTORS FOR DOOR AND WINDOWS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, FUEL PUMP, OXYGEN SENSORS AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *LA THE CONSUMER HAS TWO GMC SAFARI'S BOTH 1997 MODELS. THEIR VIN'S ARE [XXX] AND [XXX]. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2004Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10059141
“CONSUER STATES THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL INTERMITTENLY STOP WORKING WHEN THE CONSUMER HAS THE WIPERS IN USE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *MR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2002VisibilityODI 8019575

Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Visibility: windshield wiper

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

VisibilityReported Apr 28, 2003NHTSA 03V159000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.