1999 GMC Safari SLE (All Wheel Drive) from North America - Comments

Rear door electic lock solenoid is weak and won't lock or unlock the doors, although you can hear it try.

Rear axle shows some rust, wonder where it got delivered to look like that, I'll have to clean that up and give it a fresh coat of black Rustoleum paint and keep an eye on it.

Previous service idiot broke the mount for the aircleaner on the radiator shroud, I'll have to super glue it to fix it, no way am I taking that radiator out.

Had to tighten the driver's side door handle (inside).

Other than that, it runs & drives great!

The engine will be difficult to service, but I knew that going in. This van is a nice alternative to the Dodge Caravan/Ford Windstar crowd that are built on auto chassis and are primarily light duty grocery getters. This is a MAN'S VAN, GRRRRRRRR.

But I digress. Nice van, plenty of room, today we carried a 23 cu ft refridgerator off to the recyclers in it with no trouble. I can't wait to see what else fits in it.

Kids dig it because everyone has a cup-holder and plenty of room.

Bought ours two years old and saved $7000 over thr new price, and it looks brand new.

GRRRRR, you're right this is a MAN's van. Women generally have enough smarts not to pour money into what is generally regarded as the worst AWD vehicle on the market. Look it up on any of the review sites... How about that transfer case problem... No real MEN complaining about that. Tires / brake pads / rotors every 20,000 miles.. Idler arms / alignments / more tires... GRRRRRRR reach for that wallet!!!

99 Safari AWD towing package. Plenty of power.. I owned a ski / board shop and we removed the 2nd 3rd seats and hauled.. tons of skis, boots, boards, tuning equipment.. (packed full!?!) and towed a trailer of stuff in addition... many many times over.. it NEVER..ever blinked.. A GREAT VAN.. We towed a camper to the grand canyon from eastern PA... family of five... no problem... recently tho at 55k we have a little trans problem.. having it check out next week.. slams into 2nd gear...sometimes.. and ocassionally has no power starting out.. even tho floored... I think its just maintenance... I would buy another in a heart beat...

There is no section that I can find here for reviews of 1996 GMC Safari vans so I will add mine right here. Someone said that this is a man's van. In a way I do agree (it has always been a man who fixed it and a man who paid for the repairs). Over 6.8 years of ownership I have grown accustomed to this POS. It is funny how you just get used to something and before you know it some mechanic says ' if you want my advice, sell it to a junkyard, cut your losses, maybe you can get $1000 for it'. The sad part is that this mechanic was probably right.

I consider this a newer vehicle, certainly not ready for the scrap heap, but here are some of the reasons, after 150,000 kms that make what that mechanic said true.

1. Passenger window control would stick and go up by itself. Frequent trips to dealer during warranty period for temporary repairs of an EXTREMELY dangerous fault. Finally repaired

after 4 or 5 tries.

2. Passenger window motor failed AFTER warranty was up. $300 plus.

3. Rear hatch struts fail.

4. Belt tensioner falls out of engine compartment one day. $90.

5. Rear window defroster quit working.

6. Ignition coil problem. After several tows to dealer, problem was solved. $400 plus.

7. Air conditioning quit working over 2 years ago. $1400 to repair. I don't need it that badly up here.

8. Plastic lumbar support knobs fell off, even with the little use they received.

9. Spring wire poked through back of rear seat. Ouch!

10. Had to change 2 idler arms. $450.

11. Heater starts acting up. Vacuum controlled temperature control valve decides not to allow warm air into passenger compartment on the coldest days. Other times it works fine.

12. Heater motor or motor control fails intermittently. Always works when needed to show repair person.

13. ABS brakes quit working. Mechanic's initial assessment - module gone, $1800 to replace.

Service desk response 'yes the module is gone, but mechanic is misinformed - $1800 is way too high. Only $1400 to repair!' I drive without ABS.

14. Intake manifold gasket leak. $500 to repair.

15. Driving home from 2003 March Break weekend with my son, connecting rod blows through bottom of oil pan. No one knows why. Oil level good, no water in engine compartment from gasket leak, most likely oil pump failure. New engine required. $6300 PLUS through dealer.

At this point I get a mechanic known to family to make assessment. Rebuilt or scrapyard engine will be $4000 plus to install. He says 'cut your losses, take $1000 for it and get another vehicle.

I can't accept this. Hurts too much so I go ahead with job. $4450 for rebuilt with 1 year warranty, but I am afraid mechanic was right. Van runs good now, but still no air or ABS.

This van has the heavy duty suspension and is supposedly rated to tow 5500 pounds. I have towed a 3700 lb. travel trailer a couple of times a summer for maybe 100 miles each time. It never seemed to have enough power for this job.

One time I was driving up a steep hill on the highway, 4 people in van (no trailer) and I am doing about 70 mph. A Caravan, one of those 'women's' vans, passed me like I was standing still. I tried to catch it, but no way could I come close.

In closing, I loved this van for the first few years I owned it, but then it became apparent that it was something of a lemon. I don't change vehicles every 3 years, I try to get my money's worth out of them. Before this one I had a 'woman's' van, a 1985 Caravan which lasted 11 years!!

Sadly, I would not buy another GMC vehicle.

Canadaian "A".

In 1996 I got myself a used 95 Astro, 77,000km, for 16,000CDN (ex-rental). Most 1994's with 24-30km were going for around 20,000. Mine did not have any options. In my view, they are only more items to have problem with.

Towing a 20 ft travel trailer at around 4,000 lbs I could not complain. I found it easy to tow on the level, but yes, it did strain when going up grades. I just take my time after a good run at the bottom and let it fall back to 60 kms and pull the shift down to second gear. (note: no tow package and only 2 wheel drive). I did treat the engine with a teflon treatment. And also used a water wetter in the rad. (water wetters WILL, yes they WILL, make you run at least 10 degrees cooler) The teflon, saved me once on my Honda when I lost my water pump miles from home, and it also saved my Astro one time, but I will not get into that now (just do not buy the "oil additves" on the market today)

I say, if you cannot aford a full size truck too do your towing, you have "no choice" but to buy a Astro. I have towed a lot more than the average guy, and I tell you, I have towed the same tralier with a full size trucks (150s and 250s) that even had a hard time. The big motors in truckes do made it easier up the grades, but they too will have trouble if you don't keep then maintained.

Last year, I had a right rear blowout on my Astro with my trailer in tow and lost it all (at 100kmh). The van had 197,000 kms and still ran good up to last day. I how have a 1997, (134,000km). I looked for a long time before I found this one. Most of the used vans I looked at did not apear to be taken very good care of, as compaired to my old 95. Not that I babbyed it, maybe I was just luckey with mine.

I hoe have a 24ft tariler, at 4,200 lbs empty. So I put the teflon treatment in the motor and put on a big tranny cooler. I had the rear end gears changed out (lower gear ratio). But one of the new rear end bearings let go, and I had to get it done again (warranty). My speedo is now out by 20 percent, but it is easier on the motor to tow my trailer now.

I know Astros drink gas (20mpg) but trucks drink more. The van is a good all around good unit. Yes I did lose an airconditioner in my 95 and also had problems with AirCare. But all cars will have some trouble. (my old 86 Honda was the best unit I ever owned. I have owed a lot of cars in my time (69 Fury III, 77 Volire, 79 VM GTI, 85 pony, 85 Olds Wagon, 86 VW Jetta, 85 Caviler, 86 Honda Accord, 1993 Chev S10, 1995 Astro, 1999 Sunfire, 2000 Honda Civic, and yes, my driveway is full with 5 cars parked in it, even now) I suggest if you want to see how good a car or van is. Take then out for test drives when they are 10 year old. Time is the best test, no matter who owed it.

The van is a good product for a domestic unit. You may try, but without going import, you will not be able to get as good a package.

Final note: A lot of Chev and GMC vans at my work (an aircraft maintenace and engineering company), also a lot of truck drivers. If only the Van came with a little bigger motor, (a V8), they would sell a lot more units.

Robbie.

If cupholders are all you are concerned with then this is a grrreat van.Otherwise, speaking from experience, this is the worst vehicle I ever had the displeasure to purchase. I have to agree with the comment of selling it to the junkyard,unfortunately mine was only 2 years old and I took a fifty percent loss on the lemon just to get rid of it. Poorly made, poorly inspected at the factory and poorly serviced by the dealer.

Well this is real cool... it's not just that I beat the snot outta my vehicles... I have a 98 Safari... just started with the bucking thing as the tranny shifts... but only after I've been driving on the highway for a length of time... I was convinced it was gonna be a tune up thing... something to do with a sensor that was screwing up the computer or something... I'm changing the oil in the transfer case TONIGHT!!! I love my van... most of the time... it's faster (when it's running well) than some of the eight cyl cars I've owned... the interior is trashed cause of all the stuff I haul with it... band gear, motorcycles, loaded with firewood in 6 inched of mud... I bought it in 2000 with 17k on it... now just turned 122k... always use synthetic oil and tranny fluid stay on top of the filter changes... the reason I searched out this site was because of the bucking... and (here goes) I've replaced both window motors, the wiper motor, the in-tank fuel pump, two door handles and now the heater/ac fan controls are porked... also have replaced both idler arms twice... I could see why this would bother someone that doesn't do their own repairs... probably would cost 50 to 75% more in labor... are rotors for this thing really 200 bucks??? or is that someone else doing the work also... thanks to the rest of you for the valuable info... Chris-cah.

I Have a 99 Safari and I have to admit that I think it was a good buy. We are a family of 7 and always had enough room to get everyone in the van. We live in eastern Canada and the the winters can sometime be fierce. The AWD comes in handy when we have a snow storm. I have owned the van for 6 years now with some minor problems. Idle arms have been replaced twice. Regular maintaince, brakes etc. It seems as though the doors in the front need to be lifted from years of abuse from the kids hanging on the doors when opened. I had to fix the AWD at one time. I little part on the transfer case cost me $800 but once that was installed it was back to normal again. I am considering buying another one becasue it's chassis is from the trucks and with the current road conditions when we live I don't think a van with a car chassis could handle the abuse it goes through. I Usually purchase another car because of a problem I have with the one I currently own. Now I don't have a problem with this one other than it's fun to drive a new van with that new car smell. I have about 185,000 klm on this van.

I have a 1988 Safari and I have to admit I was one of these people who believed what I read in consumers guide. Three years ago I married my wife and we bought this van as a present for ourselves (I was very reluctant at first, but my brother, who we bought it from, convinced me it was a good deal) Convinced that it came from one owner we bought it and I drove home from Coer D' Alene Idaho to Sacramento California. It drove great and I only had to fill it twice, I was even towing a trailer.

The van, which we call "Red" has been in our family now for three years and the body is wearing out, but the motor and power train are still very strong. The worst problem I had with it was I had to replace the Distributor, it was just a bad pick up coil, but I apted to change the whole thing due to my happiness with its performance. I also failed to mention that when I purchased this van I didn't know that it had a " Salvage Title " on it. As time went on I didn't even care... Now I bought a newer 1999 AWD Safari and I have someone who can't wait to take my old one of my hands.

To sum it all up, I am definitely sold on these vans now. KC in Sacramento.

I have a 1993 GMC Safari van, and I am not complaining. When I bought it, it had 149,000 miles on it. I bought it for my business use. The ABS light comes on, the air does not work, the rear heater does not work, the electric locks have trouble, the rear hatch sticks, the fuel door sticks, the front brakes squeal at times, but I am not complaining! I bought this van for its durability, and reliability. This van goes through grueling driving conditions everyday. The reliability is better than my old car, a 1977 Chevrolet Impala sedan. If I bought a Caravan or Windstar, I would have had problems worse than this. If I did not use it for business, I would have not had any problems. I knew I would have problems with a vehicle that had high mileage when I bought it. (intake gasket, rear axle, etc.) But, I have not replaced the engine or transmission! These days, I think a car is great if you get 150,000+ miles out of the engine or transmission.

I've owned a 1995 GMC Safari since they came out, In my oppinion there an all around good van for that time, if ur short on cash not a bad buy (maybe you other people are setting your standards too high), anyways, besides the obvioous maintenence, smoot running altho ido admit it does kick into 2nd pretty hard, but that was fixed by my mechanic (loose tranny bolt) after that was fixed 5 years ago NO tansmissions problems, The susspension is still hard as a rock 12 years later, the body that's a different story, I've beaten the S*** out of the body, sides r scratched to hell (thanks to the neighbor's kid, but I don't mind) the dents HA...don't even get me started on the dents, the exhaust had a huge slice in it few years ago, but it was no big deal just made it sound louder, got annoying on those cold winter morning's the neighbors didn't like that. So I said wth ill fix it $30.00 for a quick weld, theres been a few problems, but nothin to get into, althout there top speed aint that great the over all power of this van is inpressive for that lil 4.3 V6, I've loved it since it came out 12 years ago and its running great, so in the end ide say if ur short on cash even used it's a great buy.

Ode to a Really Nice van... Until 2pm this afternoon it WAS a 1999 Safari SLE AWD.

This thing drove us everywhere, moving inventory for the business to moving furniture when we moved, to regular Saturday morning dump runs. You'd never believe the stuff you could get in the back. It wasn't just a man's van either... as woman I loved driving it. I could see everything around me and felt very safe in it. (when it worked)

So... The repairs, well that's another story. Fuel pump went 1 year in - never got to work that morning (darn). Fuel pump went again a week after warranty did - luckily in a parking lot in daylight. Fuel pump went again - $800 don't' remember where, just the price. Fuel pump went again on the highway... try a 2 mile walk to the closest phone at 4:30 am - lucky I hadn't worn heals that day - got a rebuilt this time - much cheaper.

The passenger window stopped working about 5 years ago, the driver window only worked when it wanted to - never when you needed it to. It always seemed to stop about 2 inches from the top if it was really cold or rainy.

The rear top lift part of door - stopped lifting up on it's own and needed a 2x4 to hold it up. (or if it was a short load up (groceries or such) a kid worked well to stand there and hold it too.)

As for the heater - my feet get cold just thinking about it, but the window always defrosted thankfully.

And then today... the final chapter - talk about going out with a bang... we apologize to the operator at the towing company we're sorry we had to hang up on you, but when flames erupted from under the hood we thought it prudent to call 911 first.

I miss it already... it may have gone out with a bang and it could be a real pain in the neck, but overall. It was a fantastic van and I would do it all over again.