1994 GMC Safari Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 3%of 119 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 139,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1994 GMC Safari, 3% of the 119 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 139,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“We purchased this vehicle 2 years ago. Shortly thereafter, we had a problem in a mall parking lot wherein the electrical system (dash board, power windows, A/C, radio) failed at the very same time as the transmission, which would not shift out of 1st gear. The problem went away after we turned the car off and waited a few minutes. It happened only two other times. Recently, it happened again, but is not fixed by turning the car off and restarting. …”
NHTSA complaint #10071017, filed 2004-01, 123,000 miles“- the contact stated that while fueling the 1994 Gmc Safari (15 with the vehicle running the transmission switched gears from park to reverse,, resulting in striking the vehicle behind it. The contact reentered the vehicle, shifted the loose gear into drive and moved the vehicle forward to a parking space. The vehicle w2asa drivable, but the gear shift was loose.”
NHTSA complaint #10181090, filed 2007-01, 155,000 miles“Parked vehicle facing up a hill, and keys were not in the vehicle. Daughter was playing inside the van. She grabbed the gear shift, and vehicle rolled backwards. Consumer moved the gear shift slightly out of park and again the vehicle rolled backwards.”
NHTSA complaint #848574, filed 1999-09“Abs brake sensor worn out & replaced 2x - cause not identified but over 2 months,mechanics discovered axle nut loosened & lf wheel loose,wobbly & coming off axle(Gmc bad & potentially fatal design flaw - since there's no cotter pin used, typically found on awd/4wd vehicles). Mechanics notched axle spindle to hopefully prevent nut loosening, coming off & wheel flying off. Loosening axle nut traced to a supposedly bad wheel bearing(no typical warning noise at all & cost $930 to replace in june 1999). Potentially fatal design flaw regardless of mileage! …”
NHTSA complaint #708672, filed 1999-07Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 | 20% |
| 2003 | 2 | 11% |
| 2002 | 1 | 4% |
| 2000 | 5 | 7% |
| 1999 | 19 | 31% |
| 1998 | 8 | 9% |
| 1997 | 21 | 16% |
| 1996 | 3 | 2% |
| 1995 | 5 | 3% |
| 1994 | 4 | 3% |
| 1993 | 6 | 10% |
| 1992 | 3 | 5% |
| 1991 | 7 | 18% |
| 1989 | 2 | 11% |
| 1987 | 1 | 9% |
Other parts of the 1994 GMC Safari
39 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
30 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsEquipment
6 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsSeats
4 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1994 GMC Safari
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology