Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 GMC Safari problems
Owners filed 6 complaints about the 2004 GMC Safari with NHTSA between Aug 2004 and Dec 2011. The most-cited component is suspension (2).
Complaints
6
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension2
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Equipment1
- Power train1
- Tires1
- Steering1
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 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
0
1
0
2
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
2 reports
“THE REAR END WAS MAKING A NOISE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE CAR DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CARRIER BEARINGS AND THE RING & PINION (FACTORY DEFECT). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING THIS NOISE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED AND THE WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER REPAIRS. THE COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE 1500.00 DOLLARS. WE HAVE SENT IT TO THE DEALER ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THEY SAY THE WARRANTY REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SAFARI AWD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE ABS ACTIVATED ABNORMALLY AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO PULSATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HUBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. UPDATED 03/23/12 *BF UPDATED 04/09/12”
Fuel system, gasoline
1 report1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VACUUM HOSE FAILED IN HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE RUBBING AGAINST THE FUEL LINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING LINE WOULD COST BETWEEN $800-$1,000. SHE WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE DEFECT APPEARED TO BE WEAKENING THE FUEL LINE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE ISSUE AND REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 134,000.”
Equipment
1 report
Power train
1 report
Tires
1 report
“I PURCHASED NEW A 2004 GMC SAFARI VAN ALL WHEEL DRIVE WITH LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL. I RECENTLY HAD A TIRE FAILURE 350 MILES FROM HOME (RIGHT REAR). NO BIG DEAL JUST PUT THE SPARE ON RIGHT. WELL IT WAS 8:30 AT NIGHT WITH ICE ON THE ROAD. I GOT TO THE BURM , JACKED IT UP, WHEELS CHOCKED, IT SLIPPED OFF THE JACK, DO TO THE ICE. WITH LUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED AND HAD A FLOOR JACK. GOT THE TIRE ON, LOOKING GOOD. TOOK OFF TO TRY AND GET A NEW TIRE ON BEFORE THEY CLOSE. WELL GUESS WHAT? THE DONUT SPARE FROM THE FACTORY ISN'T THE SAME HEIGHT AS THE OTHER THREE! THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BUCK AND JUMP. THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS YOU CAN DRIVE ON THIS SPARE FOR 3,000 MILES. IF I HAD TRIED TO DRIVE HOME I WOULD HAVE TORN UP MY TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE AND LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL!!!! THANKS GM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT KIND OF ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN WHEN EVERYTHING FAILS! I SEE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT IS MANDATING TIRE PRESSURE INFO TO THE DRIVER. TIRE PRESSURE IS OUT OF THE MANUFACTURES CONTROL , BUT PUTTING THE CORRECT SIZE SPARE TIRE (HEIGHT WISE ANYWAY)IS IN THEIR CONTROL IF THE GOVERNMENT FEELS TIRE PRESSURE IS IMPORTANT TO…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.