Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 GMC Safari, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 14 | 38% |
| Seats | 5 | 14% |
| Structure | 5 | 14% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 8% |
| Steering | 2 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 5% |
| Visibility | 2 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 3% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER DRIVER SEAT WOULD ROCK BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOO QUICKLY, CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT A MOUNTING BOLT WAS LOOSE, HE THEN TILTED THE SEAT BACK AND INSPECTED THE FRONT MOU
NHTSA complaint: Seats
CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER DRIVER SEAT WOULD ROCK BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOO QUICKLY, CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT A MOUNTING BOLT WAS LOOSE, HE THEN TILTED THE SEAT BACK AND INSPECTED THE FRONT MOU
NHTSA complaint: Seats
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ALONG AND MADE A STOP; THEN, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT MADE A LOUD NOISE, LATER SHE WAS TOLD THAT IDLE ARM HAD FALLEN OFF.*AK VEHICLE ALSO WOULD VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. STEERING COL
NHTSA complaint: Steering
CONSUMER HAVE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 93V187000 FOR FRONTAL SEATS. REAR SEATS ARE THE SAME TYPE OF SEATS WITH A DIFFERENT PACKAGE. BUT, MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS STATED IN THE RECALL FOR THE REAR S
NHTSA complaint: Seats
THE 2 FRONT SAFETY BELTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, IF YOU LEAN FORWARD THE SHOULDER BELT STAY LOOSE AND DON'T COME BACK AGAINST THE PASSENGER, ALSO A REAR LAP BELT WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO RETRACT AND LOCK INTO PLACE A
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
AFTER A HARD BRAKING INCIDENT, THE ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON. SYSTEM WAS RESET BY MECHANIC, WORKED FOR 4 OR 5 BRAKE APPLICATIONS BUT HAD ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE UNDER HOOD, THEN PROBLEM RETURNED. REGULAR BR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS COMES ON, INDICATING THAT THE ABS DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND RESET THE ABS CODE. PROBLEM EXSITS AGAIN. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & STAYING. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES (ABS), VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE. VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC RESET COMPUTER FOR BRAKES. THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE H
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1990 GMC Safari. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
FUEL RETURN HOSES MAY BREAK AT EITHER CRIMPED COUPLING, CAUSING A LEAKAGE OF FUEL.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A FUEL RETURN LINE SEPARATION, A FUELLEAK OCCURRING IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
Fix: INSTALL A PROPERLY CRIMPED FUEL RETURN HOSE.
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Risk: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE N
SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.
Risk: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.
Fix: REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Risk: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 85 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 14 of them (38%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.