Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 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 | 27 | 31% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 8% |
| Structure | 6 | 7% |
| Steering | 5 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 5% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 5% |
| Suspension | 4 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 3% |
| Tires | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO DO LAUNDRY. I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES WERE GONE. THIS SCARED ME TO DEATH ALSO MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON PLUS THE BATTERY LIGHT AND BRAKES
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN YIELDING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT NIGHT. THE CAR WHO HIT ME WAS TOTALED. ALSO MY HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS R ALWAYS SHORTING OUT. MY DASH LIGHTS DON'T WORK NOW
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
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 SLOWL
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TOWING A BOAT, UPON PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PER
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HE WOULD MAKE A TEMPORARY REPAIR. THE MANUFACTUR
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
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,
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
ABS, WHEN BRAKING AT SLOWER SPEEDS THE ABS ACTIVATES AND BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES MAKING IT VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE STOP IN GOOD OR BAD WEATHER. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2000 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 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).
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 27 of them (31%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) 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 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. 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.