Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 GMC Safari, and it carries 2 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 | 30 | 41% |
| Power train | 7 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 8% |
| Suspension | 5 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 4% |
| Steering | 3 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 3% |
| Tires | 2 | 3% |
| Seats | 2 | 3% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
CUSTOMER HAS A CONCERN ABOUT AIR BAGS**NAR**CC THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH OUT OF WARRANTY AUTOMOBILES. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE GENERAL PUBLIC MAY BE AT RISK OF AIR BAG MALFUNCTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONSUM
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
1993 GMC SAFARI ALL WHEEL DRIVE 7-PASSENGER STANDARD WHEEL BASE VAN WITH 42" TORSION BAR FRONT SPRINGS AND 182,000 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TORSION SPRING BROKE INSIDE THE ADJUSTER SLEEVE AT THE FRAME CROSSMEMBER,
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
VEHICLE IDLED AND STARTED ROUGHLY. ALSO, BLACK SMOKE CAME FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE UPON STARTING. THIS WAS CAUSED BY MALFUNCTIONING COMPONENTS LOCATED IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THERE WAS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE (NOT F
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
THE BRACKETS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH HELD THE FRONT AXLE IN PLACE. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSFER CASE DROPPING WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.*AK *PH *JB
NHTSA complaint: Power train
SIDEVIEW MIRROR SHAKES WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE MIRROR WOBBLED AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE PROBLEM CAUSED THE IMAGE TO BE DISTORTED. (HEAD LOOSE IN HOUSING) REFER TO ODI#
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS SPONTANEOUS SHEARING OF FRONT LEFT TORSION BAR. GMC MUST KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE COMPLETELY REDESIGNED THE TORSION BARS, REQUIRING A MAJOR RETROFITTING (AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE) OF
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
BRAKES PULSATE INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND WILL NOT STOP OR GRAB. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
LAST INCIDENT WAS ON HIGHWAY BLOWOUT ON RIGHT REAR TIRE . WE HAD CHECKED AIR PRESSURE ON TIRES PRIOR TO TRIP AND WERE GOOD. FIRESTONE DEALER HERE IN MCPHERSON WHERE THEY WERE PURCHASED WOULD NOT WARRENTY THE TIRE BUT WOU
NHTSA complaint: Tires
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1993 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.
CERTAIN R&B, INC. CENTRAL MULTIPORT FUEL INJECTION (CMFI) FUEL RETURN LINES, MODELS HELP 55163, NAPA BALKAMP 700-3270, AND THE CONNECTION 2560001, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL RETURN LINE HAS A MECHANICAL BLEED VALVE WHICH WAS NOT INSTALLED AT THE PR
Risk: A FUEL LEAK CAN OCCUR AT THE VALVE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: R&B, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AT THE CUSTOMERS REQUEST, EITHER REPLACE THE FUEL LINE OR OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT R&B, INC. AT 215-712-5330.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 30 of them (41%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (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 1993 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 72/100. 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.