General Comments:

This van cannot be stopped. We've used it for a work van. Had it for 6 years. Has 260k miles on it. We've never even changed the oil in it. I swear I think it just might outlast me.

Faults:

Catalytic Converter at 150,000 miles

Oxygen Sensor at 150,000 miles

Intake Manifold gasket at 165,000

Water Pump at 165,000 miles

Rear Axle (used) at 183,000 miles

Brakes due to business use

Motor mounts due to business use

Front shocks

Tires due to business use.

General Comments:

Thank god I am a G.M. man! In 2002 I bought a 1993 GMC Safari XT van with 149,000 miles on it. Today it has 184,000 miles on it. I use it on my newspaper delivery motor route everyday in bad driving conditions. Dispite understandable problems due to the age of the vehicle, it has definately served its purpose. The 4.3L V6 engine, and automatic transmission just won't quit. I know people who had various vehicles with the 4.3L V6 engine go over 200,000 miles, and still running! This is one reason I bought this van. I hope to buy another Astro or Safari van in the next two years.

Faults:

Have had three ball joint failures.

Bolt holding driver's seat back vertical broke.

Transmission interlock failed, making it impossible to shift out of park.

Passenger's left armrest broke off.

Serious paint peeling began after five years.

General Comments:

This van runs like new after half a million miles.

The engine is original and has never been opened for service.

However I had to install a rebuilt transmission after 350,000 miles.

Aside from the problems mentioned above, all this van has ever required is normal upkeep and occasional replacement of worn parts.

Faults:

Problems with shifting out of park.

Air conditioning died at 80000 miles.

Rebuilt transmission at 105000 miles.

Electric rear hatch is stubborn.

Electric windows have failed.

General Comments:

We're a family of 6, and tow a boat, so this is the only van that meets our needs.

Remarkably, the Safari has been very reliable for us. A few early out of lot problems.

We plan to replace with the same.

Faults:

I replaced the transmission at 275000km.

I replaced a rad hose on it.

I replaced the water pump once because of a very long trip.

General Comments:

It has done me very well ever since we got it. I have Krowned (rustproof) it since I got it and the body's solid. My family's getting smaller so I'll be getting a car or something that gets better gas mileage. My van gets maybe 23-24 miles per gallon, I would have wanted better than that, but still this van is made for for towing and I don't do a lot of that. From the success I had with it, it sure makes up for that.

Faults:

1st day of ownership - doors would not open (electric locks malfunction).

2nd day of ownership - car would not go into gear (the interlock switch has a bad design and this is a problem on every hot day to this day).

3rd day of ownership - dealer will replace the flywheel.

4th day of ownership - car at the dealer waiting for parts.

5th day of ownership - dealer replaced two front tires to resolve front end vibration (this problem remains to this day).

6th day of ownership - the car would not start (I am out of town) had to be towed in to a GM dealer. GM provides a rental car.

7th day of ownership - car at the dealer waiting for parts.

8th day of ownership - car at the dealer waiting for parts.

9th day of ownership - transmission blows out most of the transmission fluid car had to be towed in.

10th day of ownership - car at the dealer having the transmission serviced.

And, this was just the beginning!

Since than, I have had to replace several tires and two rims in an attempt to fix the vibration, which by the way, was never fixed to this day, I guess this car was design to shake.

In the third year of ownership all the front end components had to be replaced and I am told now that they are gone once again.

For some strange reason this car needs a new muffler every two years. The local muffler shop is just loving me since they warranty the muffler, but the labor and the rest of the components are not covered by their warranty.

The transmission was rebuilt in the forth year and the transmission fluid lines to the heat exchanger had to be replaced in the second and forth year.

The coolant lines to the rear heater had to be replaced in the forth year of ownership.

Rear shock absorbers do not seem to last more than a two years on this car, I wonder if it is those plastic rear springs.

The air-condition went after four years.

Various sensors and sending units all went, one at a time, after three years. The temperature gauge is no longer working, although the sensor is fine. The switch for the rear heater broke after three years. It is funny how all of this just lasted past the original warranty.

The trim and finish only lasted about three years, after that everything is cracking, curling up and generally looking really bad, and why should I be surprised, they still use vinyl covered foam on this car's doors (1940s technology).

The paint is de-laminating in many places and it is completely gone where the tail pipe hits the fender on large bumps. This car has more rust in more places that I actually feel unsafe driving it in fear of it falling apart as I drive down the highway.

General Comments:

Overall, I have spent more than half of the original cost of the car, on repairs. And, not routine maintenance type of repairs, but just plain lousy quality of parts and bad design kind of stuff. Can you imagine my frustration when you have to spend first 10 days of owning a new car at the dealership? They were not even sympathetic.

Would I buy another GM product? Not in this life time. They have great commercials, but they do not have a product to back them up.

I put 389,000 km on my Chrysler Mini Van and not a screw fell out of it. I put over 430,000 km on my full size Ford van with similar positive experience. I got a brand new Honda from my Honda dealer after 4000 km, because it had bad looking paint that would require repainting and I did not want a repainted new car, now that's positive car experience. I will buy another Honda any day.

Faults:

This vehicle is junk. I have had all kinds of trouble with it. At 60000 miles the valve seals burned out, costing $840.00 to repair.

Now I am having trouble with the fuel system. The pump went out and was replaced, now it is not running again.

I recently met the fellow who owned it before me, and he bought it new and had trouble with it too. At 28000 miles he had the fuel pump replaced. The fuel regulator,and the fuel injectors. And the transmission had to be repaired sevral times when he had it.

Now it has 74000 miles on it, and should still be running fine, but I can`t trust it. It will just stop dead.

G.M. did something wrong when they made this vehicle, it is nothing but a headache. I can`t wait till I save up enough money to get rid of it and buy another vehicle. Any vehicle!

I regret selling my old 1978 Bronco, when I bought this van. At least I could trust it.

I know several other peaple who have had trouble with these vans. I wish I'd have know that when I got it.

It is a nice looking vehicle and rides fine, but the 4.3 engine is junk.