Most common 1995 GMC Safari problems
Share of the 195 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Safari complaints by model year
Best Safari years: 2004, 2003, 2002. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998. Compare all years →
1995 GMC Safari recalls (3)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor May fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on June 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
These vehicles were assembled with the left-hand lower control arm-to-frame rear nut not tightened to the specified torque.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the left-hand lower control arm-to- frame rear nut to the proper torque specification.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
The fuel lines attached to the fuel tank were not properly tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will lower the fuel tank and tighten the fuel tank lines to the proper torque value.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1995 GMC Safari:
Windshield wiper
Windshield wiper failure
As a result of this, and the precedinginvestigation, rq99-003, GM has expanded the population of safety recall 98v-150 (replacement of the windshield wiper control module) to include an additional 1.77 million vehicles.included are various 1994-1997 my m/l vans, s/t trucks and suvs, & c/k trucks and suvs.see attached technical report for details.
What 1995 GMC Safari owners say
Brakes all 60 →
My daughter was involved in an accident on the evening of 8/24/2000. She was coming to a stop at a red light on wet pavement and reported that the van would not stop. It continued into the intersection. It was struck by a car on the cross street and was pushed into the opposite lane where it was struck by a third car. I have heard reports of similar problems with GMC vehicles equipped with anti-lock brakes. Also, other family members have reported intermittent problems with the brakes. GMC issued a recall of some vehiclees last year to correct a problem with their anti-lock brake system. I have contatced GM and was told that this van is not involved in the recall. Nevertheless, I am concerned that it exhibiting the same problem.
While driving on two different occasions experienced ABS failures which resulted in accidents; when attempting to stop pedal went to floor at 20mph, rearended a vehicle,. Also, at 10mph hit a wall, dealer can't find anything wrong with brake system, problem persists.
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 37 →
Has been repossesed by becu and will be sold by collatoral recovery services inc located at: 621 37th at wa auburn, wa 98002. They have been informed of the following defects: 1)none of the turn signals work. This has been an intermittent problem since purchasing the vehicle. The several fuses have been replaced, but the malfunction continues. 2)the warning sound, for the headlines being left on when the door is open, no longer functions. The fuse has been tested and replaced, but the malfunction continues. 3)the warning sound for the driver s seatbelt, to remind to fasten them, no longer works. The fuse has been tested and replaced, but the malfunction continues. 4)with all the problems regarding the fuses listed above, there May be the possibility that the fuse box is defective or there is a problem in the wiring. …
The wipers have an int. Problem. It sounds just like the one in bulletin # 98V150000. I see there that it covers the trucks and not the vans. Also the a\c clutch has some diagonal bands on the front, they broke away from the center and opened up like flail knives and cut every belt, hose, and wire near the clutch until one of the bands broke off and went flying around under the hood causing alot of dammage and a big mess. My a\c has never worked right since. Sorry about the VIN I do not have access to the van at this time, if you would need it at a latter time I could get it. I do not wish to give my dealers name because they have treated me well its just that their hands are tied.
Suspension all 33 →
Right torsion bar broke overnight in my garage.only has 66K miles, parked in a garage at all times. Most astro/Safari vans break on the left side. The dealer informed me that I can no longer buy the 41 inch bar, I must buy the new 36 inch bar and adjuster arm for both sides. The adjusters are welded into the frame which must be cut out and rewelded in. I liked our van until I starded dealing with this problem. I have found a GM replacement kit from overlandvans.com for much less than the dealer is asking. I do not understand why the NHTSA does not issue a recall on this and the only thing GM can say is "your van is not under warranty". No one seems to care about all the families traveling in these vehicles. I hope that no one gets hurt, there will be more failures. I feel there must be a recall issued for this known defect. …
When right front torsion bar on all wheel drive minivan was replaced two years ago, van began exhibiting unstable, extremely sensitive, and dangerous handling characteristics at highway speeds. Replacement of tires, two sets of shock absorbers, and multiple realignments at my expense did not solve this problem. If I had needed to make an emergency evasive maneuver under these conditions, my van would very likely have rolled over. When left front torsion bar was replaced this week, I was informed that GM had developed a new torsion bar design, and that I was now required to replace both left and right bars if either failed. This dual replacement finally solved my handling problems. The manufacturer should recall and replace such defective parts free when they endanger passengers! I have paid for replacing three defective torsion bars over a two year period.
1995 GMC Safari engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Van.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1995 GMC Safari a good car?
Based on 195 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1995 Safari rates avoid: 2.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Safari at the same age. It is one of the Safari years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1995 GMC Safari?
The brakes — 60 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (37) and suspension (33).
How many recalls does the 1995 GMC Safari have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1995 GMC Safari, the most recent from April 28, 2003 (windshield wiper/washer). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Safari?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2003 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. See the full GMC Safari years comparison.
At what mileage do 1995 GMC Safari problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 112,000 miles; 5% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.