Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 GMC Safari owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
There were two cases: first I was involved in a wreck with a car hitting me in the rear so hard that my back compartments wont open and now the air bag light is on and wont go off. Another case was as I was driving slowly to the laundry matt my power steering quit while my brakes went to the floor. It scared me to death and is broke down now. My three children are usually with me always. I have an 18 yr old autistic girl, a 13 yr old boy and a 4 year old boy. I'm a stay at home mom and used my ride for the children. Now I'm scared to drive it and dont know if anyone can help me.
Dt*: the contact stated while applying brake pressure at low speeds of 5-10 MPH the ABS activates and there is decreased braking power and the pedal pulsates. There was an accident relating to this. While parking the vehicle, when applying the brakes, the vehicle rolled off of the parking area and down the hill and hit a tree. There was property damage. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership and is awaiting inspection. In 2003 with 75,000 miles, the vehicle had the same decreased braking power. At that time, the dealership replaced two front ABS wheel speed sensors.
I was driving the vehicle and applied the brakes for a red light. The brakes failed to respond and actually surged causing me to hit the person in front of me and resulted in an accident. The brakes are locking and burning. Took vehicle to dealer and they cannot find the problem. They say it needs brakes but I had the brakes checked by a mechanic and I know that it is not the problem. He told me to take it back to the dealer. I thought it could be the calipers or something in the braking system. The vehicle is making pinging noises and pulling to the right. It will indeed cause another accident unless it is resolved.
In this particular circumstance my husband was pulling into our driveway, when he hit the brakes to stop we did not have brakes, our vehicle rammed into our garage door. On numerous occasions my brakes have went out when driving the vehicle, I have personally went through stop lights and stop signs because my brakes were ineffective.
ABS failure at low speeds. Traveling at a speed of 25 MPH applied brakes to stop vechile, pedal started pulsing and dropped to floor. Brakes never slowed vechile and crashed into rear of another vechile. Had about 4 car lenghts to get vechile stopped.
Pulling into a parking slot, without warning brakes failed and hit parking meter. Took it to mechanic who could not replicate the problem and couldn't find anything wrong. Vehicle drove fine for awhile, and then again, without warning brakes failed... Again in a parking lot and another vehicle was hit. Took to a different mechanic and the wheel sensors were found to be the problem. After experiencing this problem, I did further research and see numerous others have had this same problem. It is a very dangerous safety issue for which GMC has not acknowledged and issued a recall. Because of the incidence of brake failure without warning, it has made me psychologically afraid to drive or even be a passenger in this car. It is supposedly "fixed" right now, but I do not feel comfortable that it won't happen again. …
The brakes on my year 2000 GMC Safari passenger van failed while I was coming to a stop and an intersection. I was traveling at approximately 10 MPH. I narrowly avoided a collision by turning onto a grassy median. The brake pedal pulsated several times and the pedal then dropped. I could not stop the vehicle using the brake pedal. The van is well maintained and has 36,000 miles logged. The repair shop diagnosed the problem as a failed wheel speed sensor. The hub and bearing assembly and the speed sensor were replaced. It has now come to my attention that a recall is in effect for this part - front hub/bearing assembly and the wheel speed sensor - on 2002 model year chervrolet tahoe vehicles (letter dated October 2005 from Chevrolet). I strongly recommend investigating these questionable parts on all gems vehicles. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 GMC Safari. The contact stated that vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the brake line was severely rusted and would need to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure was continual and the brake lines were patched three times. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was approximately 69,000. The vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic who informed the contact that the brake lines needed to be replaced due to rusting. This has occurred on a intermittent basis for 18 months where he had them replaced 3 different times. The vehicle was repaired for the brake lines. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was approximately 69,000. Updated 02/23/11 the consumer stated all the brake lines have since been replaced. Updated 02/28/11
Dt*: the contact stated that while backing out of the driveway at 3 MPH, there was a loud popping noise, followed by failure of the brakes. Upon inspection, all the brake fluid was observed to have leaked out of the vehicle. When the master cylinder was removed, there was a large crack observed in it. The master cylinder was taken to a service dealer, where they were unable to determine the cause of the problem. The vehicle was not taken to a licensed mechanic or a service dealer.
Dt: the contact stated the ABS sensor and hub bearings had to be replaced. The ABS was activating at low speeds at 5 MPH. This has been a problem for the past year. The ABS light on the dashboard kept coming on. She has taken the vehicle to the dealer once. The dealer replaced the wheel speed sensors on the front of the vehicle. There had been corrosion in the bearings. The vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense. .the manufacturer was not contacted.
Brake complaints in other Safari years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 GMC Safari?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 GMC Safari, 41% of the model year's 68 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 GMC Safari brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2000 GMC Safari. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 GMC Safari brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.