1997 GMC Safari SLT from North America - Comments

Electrical stuff has died - both electric window motors, fuel pump, gas gauge, A/C controls, CD player replaced.

Early on, seemed to eat brakes and rotors with all that weight on front end.

Seems to get knocked out of alignment easily.

Front diff. leaked in year 2, but fixed at dealer under warranty and no problem since.

Rebuilt transmission needed at 145,000.

Rear heat died at about 150,000.

Both front and rear A/C still work although some of the controls are a little uncooperative.

Leather on driver's seat ripping at 170,000 - all others holding up including 3 dogs in car regularly.

Side windows useless for air flow.

4 capt. chairs comfortable over long hauls (pass side front could use more leg room). 3rd seat weighs a ton and pain to remove.

Surprisingly, body and under carriage has held up very well. Also still have all original exhaust on car.

Pulled several different utility and car trailers (max rated at 5000 lbs) and it pulls with no problem.

The many interior lights combined with kids provide ample opportunity to kill batteries on regular basis.

Religious oil changes at 3000 miles and regular replacement of all fluids help get this to 175000 miles and counting without any oil leaks or burning of oil.

I thought combining American made quality along with AWD and minivan I would only get 100,000 miles from this van. I've been pleased to get close to 175,000 and routinely still take it on 500+ mile trips.

I've driven the last of 145,000 miles of a total of 203,469 before my dad paid $1200 for a used vortec 4.3 to be installed, I love this van and drive it for work on construction sites every day of the week and am very happy at how little down time it has given me, but now at 207,506 miles the front differential is making a bad noise and even though the A/C lasted 196,000 miles I can't suggest putting any more money into this van. The suspension is just odd now even with brand new shocks. GMC really got it right when they mated their vortec 4.3 with AWD and this utilitarian van. I feel I got more than my money's worth driving this vehicle for work over the last 8 years, but everything is consistently breaking now, including: window controls, rear hatch release, glove box latch, wiper sprayer, rear defrost and the service engine soon light always draws many questions. When your van goes let her go gracefully and sell while she's still worth something...

Phillip.

I purchased my 1997 GMC Safari SLT in Feb. 2000 used at 75,000 Km. It has the captain buckets for driver and mid section.

OK I’ll give you the blower motor, catalytic converter, and some other odds and ends needed to be replaced, but, after about 12 – 15 trips from Toronto,Canada to Florida and various other states plus the fact I drive FAST (well as fast as the Safari lets me at 160km/h), the governor kicks in and it dies.

The only time it has ever let me down is because I have left the lights on and needed a quick boost, but it has never left me on the side of any road. It now has 325,000 Km, it still runs like a charm and I’m having a hard time parting with it.

I just (last week Aug. 2006) purchased another used Safari, but it is an SLE, still 4WD, but the seats suck, so I’m having the seats from the 97 moved to my new/used 2003. I searched for an STL, but could not find any for sale.

In 2000 I also purchased a Safari SLE 2WD for my wife; it’s been 6.5 years and the only part we replaced as of yet is the alternator.

I love the Vortec 4.3 – not sure why GM is putting the 4.2 in the Envoys, but the 4.3 blows less gas than the 4.3, go figure. Why would GM take such a long lasting vehicle off the market???

If it was not for the body giving out, I would be keeping my (buddy) Safari SLT, but sa-la-vi (c'est la vie). As both the Safaris sit in the driveway awaiting the seat exchange, I wonder if, when the scrap guy comes, I will shed a tear. Thank you for letting me post a goodbye to an old friend.