2002 GMC SAFARI Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAFARI. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A 2006 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LOWER BACK PAIN, A BRUISED TOE, A FOREHEAD GASH, AND DAMAGE ...
Mileage: 100,000
FRONT BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT AND FAILED, NECESSITATING EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT. *TR
Mileage: 92,000
MY 2002 GMC SAFARI WOULD NOT START. I WENT AND REPLACED THE 2.5 YEAR OLD BATTERY (IT WAS LEAKING AT THE TERMINALS) IT STARTED ONE TIME AND THEN ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER IT WAS DEAD AGAIN. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. I WAS FIRST INFORMED THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM WAS O.K. AND THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS...
Mileage: 76,306
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAFARI. WHILE DRIVING 5 OR 6 MPH, IT TOOK 40-50 FEET BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD STOP THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS AND IDLER ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. GMC DENIED HIM R...
Mileage: 28,530
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAFARI. WHILE DRIVING 5 OR 6 MPH, IT TOOK 40-50 FEET BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD STOP THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS AND IDLER ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. GMC DENIED HIM R...
Mileage: 28,530
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAFARI. WHILE DRIVING 5 OR 6 MPH, IT TOOK 40-50 FEET BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD STOP THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS AND IDLER ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. GMC DENIED HIM R...
Mileage: 28,530
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIR REQUIRED THEM TO DISMANTLE SOME OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS TO BETTER ACCESS THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED...
Mileage: 28,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES SQUEAKED AND SHE HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED. THE PADS WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME AT 40,000 MILES. THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO SQUEAK. THE VEHICLE'S PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE I...
Mileage: 22,000
HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT 39,000 MILES. THEN AGAIN AT 131,000 MILES. NOW IT IS BACK IN THE SHOP WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS YET TO BE DETERMINED AT 149,000 MILES. JUDGING FROM THE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT THAT IS COSTING THE CONSUMER A BUNDLE OF MONEY. SO FAR I HAVE ...
Mileage: 39,000
WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE BRAKES FAILED AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO BRAKE PROBLEMS, BUT COULD BE ABS SENSORS RUSTED OR HAD DIRT BUILD UP. THE DEALER CLEANED ABS SENSORS AND SPRAYED A RUST INHIBITOR ON SENSORS AND HUBS , AND SAID THEY HOPED THIS WOUL...
Mileage: 43,514
WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE BRAKES FAILED AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO BRAKE PROBLEMS, BUT COULD BE ABS SENSORS RUSTED OR HAD DIRT BUILD UP. THE DEALER CLEANED ABS SENSORS AND SPRAYED A RUST INHIBITOR ON SENSORS AND HUBS , AND SAID THEY HOPED THIS WOUL...
Mileage: 43,514
I WAS VERY NEARLY BROADSIDED WHEN MY VEHICLE'S ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION OF A SECONDARY ROAD WITH A STATE HIGHWAY. MY VEHICLE PROCEEDED INTO THE INTERSECTION AT A VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED WHILE MY BRAKE WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOV...
Mileage: 43,500
2002 GMC SAFARI BRAKES WOULD NOT PERFORM PROPERLY. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT EACH TIME THEY CLAIMED THAT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE CONSUMER HEAR...
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE ABS ACTIVATED, AND VEHICLE LOST THE BRAKING CAPABILITY ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THERE WAS MORE BRAKING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER ...
Mileage: 58,000
ENGINE FIRE. STARTED BY A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE. *NM
Mileage: 36,000
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BOUNCES UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER . THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SWITCH TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULAR HAD SHORTENED OUT AND NEED...
Mileage: 23,544
THE RIGHT FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT IS DEFECTIVE ON THE VEHICLE, PER THE MANUFACTURE. YOU CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION OF THE ENGINE AS WELL AS HEAR IT. THE MANUFACTURE WILL TRY TO PLACE MORE INSTALLATION ON, HOWEVER THEY STATED THE DEFECT IS NOT REVERSIBLE.
Mileage: 200
THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR DOESN'T OPERATE IN HIGH HUMIDITY UNLESS I UNPLUG AND REPLUG THE CONNECTION AT THE MOTOR UNDER THE HOOD. IT IS AN 02 GMC SAFARI CARGO VAN WITH 48K MI. *JB
Mileage: 45,000
BRAKES SOFT AND NOSIE AT TIMES. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. BRAKES JUMP WHEN STOPPING AT TIMES. BATTERY GOES DEAD. JUMPED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. GM TOLD ME TO REPLACE BATTERY. I DID AT WALMART FOR $50. INSTEAD AT AUTOWAY FOR $150. OVERHEAD INFORMATION (COMPASS, MILE PER GALLON ETC REPAIRED ABOUT SIX TIM...
Mileage: 200
BRAKES SOFT AND NOSIE AT TIMES. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. BRAKES JUMP WHEN STOPPING AT TIMES. BATTERY GOES DEAD. JUMPED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. GM TOLD ME TO REPLACE BATTERY. I DID AT WALMART FOR $50. INSTEAD AT AUTOWAY FOR $150. OVERHEAD INFORMATION (COMPASS, MILE PER GALLON ETC REPAIRED ABOUT SIX TIM...
Mileage: 200
BRAKES SOFT AND NOSIE AT TIMES. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. BRAKES JUMP WHEN STOPPING AT TIMES. BATTERY GOES DEAD. JUMPED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. GM TOLD ME TO REPLACE BATTERY. I DID AT WALMART FOR $50. INSTEAD AT AUTOWAY FOR $150. OVERHEAD INFORMATION (COMPASS, MILE PER GALLON ETC REPAIRED ABOUT SIX TIM...
Mileage: 200
WHILE DRIVING DURING FOGGY CONDITIONS AT 20 TO 25 MPH, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER BROKE HER BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *PH
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE SHUDDERED, THE ABS KICKED IN, AND A COLLISION OCCURRED. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Mileage: 20,000
THE VEHICLES FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVERS TIRES TO WEAR PREMATURELY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. M PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM.
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING POWER LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY POPPED UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN. RIGHT SIDE WINDOWS WILL GO DOWN, BUT WILL NOT COME BACK UP WITH OUT PHYSICALLY PULLING THEM UP BY HAND. DOME LIGHT POPPED ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUM...
Mileage: 2,000
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING POWER LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY POPPED UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN. RIGHT SIDE WINDOWS WILL GO DOWN, BUT WILL NOT COME BACK UP WITH OUT PHYSICALLY PULLING THEM UP BY HAND. DOME LIGHT POPPED ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUM...
Mileage: 2,000
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING POWER LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY POPPED UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN. RIGHT SIDE WINDOWS WILL GO DOWN, BUT WILL NOT COME BACK UP WITH OUT PHYSICALLY PULLING THEM UP BY HAND. DOME LIGHT POPPED ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUM...
Mileage: 2,000
VEHICLE HAD BRAKE FAILURE WHILE GOING DOWN AN INCLINE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT DIDN'T HOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER FELT GM SHOULD REPLACE THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB *JB
Mileage: 19,231
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES OUT WITH OUT WARNING AT NIGHT. THE OVERHEAD INFORMATION PANEL HAS NOT WORKED SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. MR THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED DUE TO ELECTRICAL LOCK FAILURE. THE RIGHT PASSENGER WI...
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES OUT WITH OUT WARNING AT NIGHT. THE OVERHEAD INFORMATION PANEL HAS NOT WORKED SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. MR THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED DUE TO ELECTRICAL LOCK FAILURE. THE RIGHT PASSENGER WI...
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES OUT WITH OUT WARNING AT NIGHT. THE OVERHEAD INFORMATION PANEL HAS NOT WORKED SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. MR THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED DUE TO ELECTRICAL LOCK FAILURE. THE RIGHT PASSENGER WI...
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES OUT WITH OUT WARNING AT NIGHT. THE OVERHEAD INFORMATION PANEL HAS NOT WORKED SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. MR THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED DUE TO ELECTRICAL LOCK FAILURE. THE RIGHT PASSENGER WI...
WHILE DRIVINGF 60-65 MPH POWER ASSIST PUMP FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING, THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE IT ACCELERATED FORWARD UNTIL APPLIED BRAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND MECHANIC STATED THE RPMS HAVE BEEN LOWERED THAT WAS WHY VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING.*AK
FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME UNSTABLE OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. CONSUMER CANNOT CONTROL VEHICLE AT TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANY WORK.*AK