Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 GMC Safari problems

Owners filed 32 complaints about the 2002 GMC Safari with NHTSA between Jul 2001 and May 2018. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (12).

Complaints
32
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic12
  2. Electrical system6
  3. Suspension4
  4. Visibility4
  5. Air bags2
  6. Power train2
  7. Steering2
  8. Equipment2
  9. Tires1
  10. Service brakes1
  11. Exterior lighting1
  12. Engine and engine cooling1
  13. Interior lighting1
  14. Structure1

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20011
20024
20036
20044
20053
20064
20071
20084
20091
20101
20110
20120
20131
20140
20150
20160
20171
20181

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

12 reports2 crashes
“MY 2002 GMC SAFARI WOULD NOT START. I WENT AND REPLACED THE 2.5 YEAR OLD BATTERY (IT WAS LEAKING AT THE TERMINALS) IT STARTED ONE TIME AND THEN ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER IT WAS DEAD AGAIN. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. I WAS FIRST INFORMED THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM WAS O.K. AND THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS THE BATTERY WAS NOT FULLY CHARGED. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON THE DASH AND A BRAKE LINING WAS LEAKING. THEY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE BOTH LININGS AND FLUSH THE SYSTEM AND FILL WITH FRESH FLUID. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN THE PARTS CAME AND THE TECH WAS TO INSTALL THE LININGS THAT THE FLUID WAS SMOKING AND THE TECH ALMOST BURNED HIS HANDS. THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE LIFT THREE HOURS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THE SERVICE REP COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW THIS HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD THAT GM TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE POSITIVE CABLE FOR GROUNDING. THEY FOUND IT WAS GROUNDING ON THE CENTER LINK OF THE STEERING. THE WORK ORDER SAID THEY RE-ROUTED THE CABLE. I WAS TOLD BY A GM REP IN ARGENTINA THAT GM FELT THAT AFTER THE TIME AND MILEAGE THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. I TOLD HIM THAT IF THE CABLE HAD BEEN PROPERLY ROUTED AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE THAT THIS WOULD…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2009Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10273158

Electrical system

6 reports1 fire
“THE GRAND AM SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ITS ANTI THEFT DEVISE IF YOU GO TO EDMANS.COM YOU WILL SEE MANY COMPLAINTS TO THIS PROBLEM AS WELL AS MANY MORE. WE ARE ALL GETTING STRANDED AND SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. G.M. NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS AND DO A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2008Electrical systemODI 10221655

Suspension

4 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAFARI. WHILE DRIVING 5 OR 6 MPH, IT TOOK 40-50 FEET BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD STOP THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS AND IDLER ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. GMC DENIED HIM REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER HAD THE REPAIRS MADE A AN INDEPENDENT SHOP THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,550 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,530. UPDATED 5/5/08 *CN UPDATED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2008Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10224784

Visibility

4 reports
“THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR DOESN'T OPERATE IN HIGH HUMIDITY UNLESS I UNPLUG AND REPLUG THE CONNECTION AT THE MOTOR UNDER THE HOOD. IT IS AN 02 GMC SAFARI CARGO VAN WITH 48K MI. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2004VisibilityODI 10078860

Air bags

2 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAFARI. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A 2006 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LOWER BACK PAIN, A BRUISED TOE, A FOREHEAD GASH, AND DAMAGE TO THE RIBS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. *TT UPDATED 8/21/18*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2017Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11046293

Power train

2 reports
“THE REAR AXLE BROKE AND THE LEFT WHEEL & AXLE CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE HOUSING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2010Power trainODI 10331047
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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