Comments: 1-15, 16-18
No major problems, routine brake maintenance, oil changes, etc.
Plastic thing along the bottom of the driver's seat came off and the rubber things at the bottom of the cupholders came out and needed re-gluing.
The engine is kind of hard to service since half of it is in the van.
This is a great van if you have a large family or need a lot of cargo space. It has tons of room, the beefy V6 has plenty of power, and the 4WD works great in winter.
My only complaints are lack of footroom in the front and the gas mileage isn't that great. It rides and handles like a truck but it's built on a truck chassis so that's expected. I like the interior options, no flimsy cupholders or thinly padded seats.
This van is in a class by itself, none of those other minivans can compare. Don't listen to Consumer Reports; listen to someone who actually owns this van, it's been very reliable. Good for towing a trailer or boat. If you don't want a large vehicle or don't want a boxy looking van then you should probably stick with a smaller van, but if you want a rugged family workhorse and don't mind driving a truck then this is the van for you.
I have a 99 GM Safari AWD. I guess if you call replacing pads AND rotors every 20,000 miles normal brake maintenance then you're right. Front end goes out of wack every 15,000. None of which, of course, is backed by GM.
I agree with this person, don't listen to some know it alls like Consumer Reports, listen to Safari owners. Check out what they have to say at Edmunds.com about this wonderful piece of machinery.
I use to own a 98 GMC Safari also. Two weeks after I bought it, I was cut off and when I hit the brakes, the entire pedal snapped in half leaving me to run into the back end of a Blazer. On top of that, the airbags did not deploy.
During light snow, this van would slip and slide all over the place. It was virtually impossible to go over 35mph without losing fishtailing.
I own a 98 safari AWD, Its the best Van I've owned.It has great load capacity and the motor has lots a power to spare. All though I had My share of break problems warping driver side rotor which turned out to be a sticking break caliper. Small price to pay for the exceptional traction in the winter which I would say is better than a 4wd because of the traction control. If you were thinking of a 4wd pickup, but have a family this Van is the way to go!!!
We own a 1998 GMC Safari, AWD Van. We purchased it used in 2001 with 31,000 miles on it. Having owned two prior Chrysler Mini Vans, we needed a more substantial vehicle to occasionally tow our boat. Vans have been preferable for us over SUV type vehicles for their comfort, room and practicality. The Safari Van has been quite comfortable and relatively reliable. However, the front brake pads seem to wear out every 8k-10K miles. In 30K miles we've had several ABS issues. The ABS sensors on two occasions had to be replaced along with the ABS Booster. The vehicle design is great, the fuel economy is not. The towing ability is super and the All Wheel Drive System works exceptionally in the snow. However, between the several brake issues and other small items, i.e. replacing both power window motors, shocks and tires (3rd set) currently at 60,000. miles this vehicle is a bit pricey to operate. I guess as we learned with Chrysler, the design is good, but the quality greatly lacks...also, the dealers and GMC warranty is of little value.
I have owned a 1998 GMC Safari (conversion van) bought new in 1998. I bought an extended warranty since I had heard bad things about the Safari and Astro (sister to Safari). I'm now at 96000 miles and have had no problems until 50,000 miles. Since then I have had:
a new alternator,
new water pump,
replaced air conditioner tubing,
window motor,
three brake pad replacements,
two sets of tires,
fan belt,
and a vacuum connector.
Almost all under extended warranty.
Would I buy another one? Remarkably the answer is yes! But I would suggest buying an extended warranty. It is comfortable, tows well - except get significant sway (until put in a sway bar and powerful Monroe Sensatrac rear shocks). It uses a lot or gas - but after all it is a powerful engine...
We are at 78,500 on our 1998 Safari. I would not buy another. I admit we didn't research the van much prior to purchase, and most definitely agree with another poster that we should have purchased the extended warranty. We have had serious problems with the front end, needing an alignment about every 15k-20k miles because the shims drop out. I can always tell when it's about to happen by the clattering noise at the right side. The van doesn't feel stable (feels like it floats) running down the freeway - comment from the dealer was "they all do that". Needless to say, the dealer hasn't been any help at all with this issue. In addition, we've replaced the fuel pump (BIG ticket item), water pump and think we're probably going to need to replace the alternator due to difficulty starting and there's no charge indicated on the gauge. Whoever bought a Safari from the same batch that came off the line the day our's was manufactured must be having the same problems. I'm sorely disappointed with this GMC product. It's the worst vehicle I've ever owned.
I have a 1998 Safari AWD SLX at around 81,000 miles.
Praises: This vehicle is well-matched for a large, active, and practical family. It is built on a truck chassis to handle your family, their stuff, and still tow the boat. The AWD and significant ground clearance places it more qualified to handle rough conditions than some SUV's and much better than other minivans. I should know since I live in the Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia mountains. Every year I am amazed at the AWD's ability to handle snow/ice conditions on sharp mountain roads. Also been to the Rockies on AWD/4WD vehicle only roads. The reliability has been decent as well, with only one major problem.
Complaints: Bit of a gas hog (but it is a giant box). One major problem was having to replace idler arms once; apparently a common problem on these vehicles. Replace brake pads often, but the pads are covered by their manufacturer's warranty. Top-heavy and "boxy" vehicle that really sways around turns when loaded. Not-so-smooth work vehicle feeling. Seems a bit underpowered for such a large vehicle, but the engine still gets the job done. I'm tall and could use more leg room in the driver's seat.
I have a 1998 Safari, and it is by far the absolute worst vehicle I have ever owned in my life. I couldn't begin to list all the parts I have been through, many of them multiple times. Things you would never dream of going bad on a new vehicle (these problems started at about 12,000 miles).It has just been one thing after another. Even when some of them were covered by warranty, you still had the inconvenience of being without a vehicle while repairs were made, which usually took two trips to the dealer to convince them to fix it right. My biggest complaint is faulty wiring that has melted a.c. switches more than once in the dash and engine compartment. There are wires that get so hot you can't touch them with your hand. Window motors, catalytic converters, alternators, front end problems, a.c. switches and system problems, wiper motors, mirror switches (burned). GMC blew it on this vehicle.
I bought a used GMC 1998 AWD safari 2 yrs ago and use it for traveling. I've really enjoyed it and look forward to another road trip this fall in it. However I couldn't agree more with lot of theses comments on the problems with this van. Front end etc. I've had to have extensive front end work done. brakes/ front end parts had to be replaced and now I worried about the front alignment going out. If the front alignment goes out it will ware out the driver side front tire so fast it isn't funny.
Jim from
N.e Ohio.
Beware and avoid the GMC Safari or GM vehicles from 1996 to 2000+. We bought one new in 1998; it had a random missfire in the engine that wasn't noticeable until it had over 50,000 miles.
The engine light would come on and it would run rough at random, then snap out of it. Then at 97,000 miles it started running rough and missing, and the shaking of the van knocked the transmission out, so it cost 2500.00 to get another one.
One week later it wouldn't start. I was told all the fuel injectors and valves and wiring harness would have to be replaced. The code was rp300 which was a random misfire of over 30,000 times since it left the factory, and to get it fixed would cost 3 to 5 thousand dollars on top of the 2500.00 I just spent. I was told it happens in 1996 up to 2000+ GM motors, so we called GM and they said to take it to an authorized dealer and have it fixed, then call them with the total and they would maybe pay labor and parts or a portion of the bill.
Well GM would not help in any way to make it right, but said they would give a discount on the purchase of a new van. I guess they don't want to make recalls becouse there are so many with this problem.
I truly believed Chevy was #1 until this happened and they wouldn't back up this problem with under 100 thousand miles on this vehicle.
THIS IS A BAD DEAL WITH THE RANDOM MISSFIRE AND ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND COST, AND THE MECHANIC SAID EVENTUALLY THE GAS COULD GET INTO THE COMPUTER AND COUSE A FIRE. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL ON A PROBLEM THEY KNOW EXISTS IN MANY GMC VEHICLES? A FIRE TRAGEDY OF A INNOCENT PERSON OR FAMILY IN ONE OF THESE DEFECT VEHICLES???
So I guess my next vehicle won't be a Chevy of any sort. THANKS GM.
If you wonder how I got to this page, let me tell you that in all my entire existence, I've never been so discourage, upset, disapointed, furious, angry, frustrated and mad of buying a GMC safari 1998, from day one it broke down, continuous problems with fuel injection, gas pump, no ignition on cold and every time I went to the car dealer, they try to charge me a ridiculous price on repairs, right at this very moment that piece of junk is seating in my driveway useless bad piece of junk.
I didn't want to buy Japanese, but I got no choice ASTA LA VISTA GMC.
Potential buyers good luck.
Pros - Vortec V6 runs forever!
Con's - Everything else sucks.
Under-dash wiring is bad.
Window motors have been replaced. Passenger side twice.
Window switches have a mind of there own. Windows roll down half way and stop. I have to shut the ignition off and turn it back on to get the switches to work again.
Exterior electric mirror switch is works sometimes.
Wiper switch has a mind of its own... sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. I try not to drive on days when I know it is going to rain.
Turn signals work sometimes.
AC blows only thru the defroster vent. Been fixed once under warranty and then started to blow through the defroster vent again after 6 mos.
Ignition switch is bad. Sometimes it starts and sometimes nothing.
Fuel pump just shut off one day while I was sitting at a stop light. Been replaced, but now makes a whining noise.
Windshield seal leaks on passenger side.
Rear door handle has been replaced twice.
Rear door locking mechanism failed. Could not open door.
Drivers door handle has been replaced.
Side sliding door interior panel came loose and was crushed when I tried to open the door. Now it just hangs there.
Sliding door weather stripping comes off sometimes when the door is opened.
340,000k and still going strong. Haul rally cars all over North America. Because it hauls so much it is serviced constantly so that may be why it has been so reliable. Hasn't been to a GM dealer since it was new.
In July of 2008. I bought a 96 Safari with over 180,000 miles, started easy, ran smooth, all gauges were where they should be and it passed the emission test. I replaced the glass in the rear hatch and then found out it was AWD when I got ready to change the brakes (AWD uses small pads, why I don't know) and also the rotors are different as well.
It's quite a bit smaller than my full sized Chevy conversion van, but better mileage and handling, mileage went from around 12 mpg to 18 or better, when I think about mileage when driving... and drive accordingly.
Brakes were basically useless when I got it, I had to engine brake on a few occasions until I replaced the pads, I should have replaced rotors as well, shakes from left to right when braking now, although stops in half the distance as it did before the new pads... I returned the set I bought for it, when I was thinking it was a RWD (as it didn't have AWD emblems anywhere on it, like my 94 Astro ext/AWD does) and exchanged the rotors for AWD set, which I will be changing as soon as I get around to it.
I converted it from conversion van to cargo van, by pulling out rear seats and putting in plywood floor, and then installing a carpet cleaning unit, hoses, portable extractor, chemicals and other equipment, basically filling it from front seats to rear door.
The shift speeds have me a little perplexed... at 30 mph it's already in overdrive, which is probably better for city mileage, but has to be limiting the high mileage... you would think it would be near or over 40 before over drive is engaged, or at least have the ability to adjust it. like the older buses had, 3 speed rear end, which could be adjusted for city or highway driving... although with the AWD version, I'm sure it would have been a bit of a problem, although computers can adjust for most things now days.
It has a lot of bounce in it on uneven roads, but struts or shocks should cure that, I like the size of it, although high top would have been better. Not the best van I've owned, and no where near the worst.
I would and definitely will buy another, although I will be looking for mid 2000 next, and definitely a high top to make up for narrower and shorter body than full sized van.
It does suck that Chevy/GMC discontinued it 2006, replacing it with?
Instead of modifying and improving a very useful van, another gear in the trans or adjustable shift locations could easily have improved mileage and usefulness.
Still can't decide whether to keep my Safari 2000 and use as a camper van or ditch it for whatever I can get. I want to drive a smaller car because of gas consumption, but there are many things about the Safari I will miss. I love sitting up high and feeling I am driving a solid vehicle with a bumper made of metal. But I am now not that confident that my vehicle will actually make it to my destination. In my 5 years of owning this vehicle I have replaced the fuel pump which just gave up without warning.
Then I had major repairs on the differential. Then there was some gasket in the engine area which was big bucks because of the engine being so hard to get to. That is the main thing I hate about the van, it is a major job to even get to the engine, and I could never change my own spark plugs. The vehicle has over 200,000 kms so perhaps has been reasonably reliable, but does not compare to a Toyota station wagon I had that was still driving well at over 400,000. There are many good features to this van -- the room inside, the truck chassis. Mine is a 2WD, unfortunately it is awful in the snow. Somehow GM got close but missed the mark of a really memorable vehicle.