Most common 1997 GMC Safari problems
Share of the 135 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 →
1997 GMC Safari recalls (4)
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…
Seat belts › Front › Warning light/devices
Vehicle description: Mini vans. Some of these vehicles fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS no. 208, "occupant crash protection." the "fasten safety-belt" audible warning occasionally May not come on or May terminate in less than four seconds as required by the standard.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new alarm module. Owner notification began June 27, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Child seat
Vehicle description: Mini vans equipped with integrated dual child seats. Some of these vehicles May be missing a seat belt retractor clutch spring and/or pawl spring in the child seat. If the clutch spring was missing, the seat belt would lock in the retracted position and could not be used.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belts on the child seats, and if necessary, replace the child seat.
Seat belts › Rear/other
The outboard safety belt webbing on the right-hand rear bucket seat can separate during a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protector on the rear seat cushion frame.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 GMC Safari:
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 1997 GMC Safari owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 29 →
Windshield wiper module failure, approximately in early 2006 on 1000K trip. Parts purchased module n12463 part number 12463090 from dealer in edmonton at cost of $64.87 including gst.. Returned home 1000K as dealer too busy too fix, and paid $36.00 labor to have installed. Total cost for module and labor: $100.87. My request is for GM to pay this $100.87 as this should have been covered under a recall notice at any time in the life of these vehicles.
September 1, 1999: ac problem (not cooling) repaired under warranty. November 3, 1999: left driver s door window motor replaced under warranty (not passenger side as documented on the invoice). January 31, 2003: I wrote to GMC customer service via email, detailing some problems that had developed with my van. I complained that the driver s window motor was intermittent at best. I mentioned was the windshield wipers worked erratically. My low setting on the ac fan was inoperable, and eventually all 3 levels stopped. I had been living with it for over a year, because I am a single mom, work full time and couldn t afford to be without my transportation. The reply I got was that my van was too old, and things break. Three months later, I received a recall campaign in the mail for the windshield wiper motor. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 21 →
The battery cable line hanging over the the top of the transmission cooling line going into the intake/outtake maniford, which cut it in half. The transmission caught on fire.contacted the dealer.
97 Safari consistently sets p1870 code, transmission slips when warmed up. The vehicle shift extremely hard (actually slip)1st-2nd-3rd. Hard enough a significant chance of u-joint breakage, uncontrolled tire spinning on ice/slick roads, (I have experienced),whiplash type experience under moderate acceleration. This sudden shift also attributed to causing interior components such as center console to shake loose. Several instances have caused items in center column cup holder to fall out and spill. GM has TSB on record and recognizes this affects 96-02 GM vehicles with the 4l60e trans(vans, SUV's, rear wheel drive cars and front wheel drive cars with similar transmission). GM recognizes in their TSB of an ineffective valve body and that this is a "possible" problem and goes on to state it was corrected in late '02 mfg vehicles and there are no "recalls". …
Engine & cooling
A/C/heating: rear heat went out and had to be rewired engine: the water pump went out and had to replace it, that was covered by warranty. But still has a front oil leak some where in the front. Other: I heard a grinding noise while going down the road I took it in to the dealer I bought it from and they looked it over and said nothing was wrong. Shortly after warranty ran out the transfer case went out so we had a used one put in and it only lasted four months now it sits in the garage there should be something to do about the transfer case they should last longer. Brakes: been having trouble with the ABS brakes since we bought it took it in to a dealer and they said nothing was wrong with it. I ended up doing the brakes and found they had cracked pads causing the noise in the brakes. …
The throttle body on our 1997 GMC Safari came apart sending pieces into the engine and failing in a wide open throttle condition that was not controllable by the driver. This occurred when the driver entered the freeway and the car accelerated through 85 miles per hour without any depression of the accelertor. The driver had to continuously apply brake pressure to keep speed somewhat under control. The only means to control the engine was to turn it off.
1997 GMC Safari engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Van.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 GMC Safari a good car?
Based on 135 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Safari rates avoid: 2.1× 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 1997 GMC Safari?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 29 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about windshield wiper/washer. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (21) and engine & cooling (18).
How many recalls does the 1997 GMC Safari have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1997 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 1997 GMC Safari problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 21% 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.