2000 GMC Safari Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year centre heavily on the brakes, particularly antilock-brake behaviour at low speed where owners describe the pedal pulsing or dropping and stopping distance growing. A smaller but consistent group covers body and door hardware — sliding and rear doors that are stiff, rattle, or fail to stay open — and a handful describe stalling or a sticking accelerator pedal.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS activates at low speed, pedal drops, longer stops

   • 23 complaints (34%)
   • median 59,500 mi at 5.9 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2017

   Owners describe the ABS engaging during gentle stops at walking-to-parking-lot speeds, with the pedal pulsing or sinking toward the floor and the van taking longer to stop than expected. Several say a wheel speed sensor or the hub and bearing assembly was the diagnosed cause, and in some cases the ABS light did not come on and no fault codes were stored. Some report that dealers could not reproduce the condition or found nothing wrong, while others had sensors replaced at their own cost. Mostly reported from roughly 25,000 to 75,000 miles, typically during low-speed stopping in parking areas.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the wheel speed sensors and front hub bearings have been replaced, and have a mechanic scan for stored ABS codes and test the brakes at low speed on a quiet lot.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10140286, filed 2005-10, 36,000 miles

   “2000 Gmc Safari ABS system - at low stopping speed ABS activates for no reason and increases stopping distance. Only 26,000 miles on vehicle. Had several near miss crashes in parking lots. Most likely due to corroded ABS wheel sensors. No brake light, ABS warning lights or fault codes appearing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10162294, filed 2006-07, 26,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal moves or applies on its own in full turns

   • 19 complaints (28%)
   • median 49,500 mi at 5.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2011

   Complaints describe the brake pedal moving by itself or the brakes grabbing while the steering wheel is held at full lock, such as during a slow turn or when parking. Owners report having to press harder or pump the pedal to stop, and that dealers were often unable to duplicate the complaint. Service bulletins describe the same symptom and state that the hydro-boost unit is not serviceable and is replaced when the pedal moves or applies at full turns. Reported at varied mileages, from near-new to well past 100,000 miles, usually in slow-speed manoeuvring.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the brakes while holding the wheel at full lock in both directions on a quiet surface, and ask whether the hydro-boost unit has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Upon depressing brake pedal whenever there is a bump in road surface consumer heard a loud noise, and brakes failed to respond, causing extended stopping distance. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer unable to determine cause of problem. Please provide any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #881336, filed 2001-02

   “When approaching a stop driver applied the brakes, vehicle did not stop, and proceeded through an intersection. Also, power steering and power brakes were lost. This happened without any kind of warning. Van was towed to the dealership for repairs.”

   NHTSA complaint #861662, filed 2000-05
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Sticking or surging accelerator, stalling

   • 10 complaints (15%)
   • median 29,300 mi at 5.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2007

   Owners describe the accelerator pedal becoming stiff and then jerking the van forward when extra pressure is applied, sometimes while using cruise control. Others report the engine shutting off while driving or at low speed, with dealers often unable to reproduce the stall. A service bulletin describes a fuel-injection cleaner kit for rough idle, extended crank, misfire and related codes, and advises Top Tier fuel to reduce deposits. Reported from as little as 5,000 miles up to about 60,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or pedal assembly has been cleaned or replaced and whether the fuel filter and pump have been serviced; note any hesitation or sticking on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Throttle sticks when driving on cruse control and upon start up after sitting all night. My GM delaer blames upon the cheep blend of fuel. I was told by another mechanic that GM replaced and repaired may of the throttle bodies with this condition. My vehicle was not recalled. I could clear this condition by taping on the accelerator. My last trip had the acellerator stick and I was unable to clear the condition.”

   NHTSA complaint #10128705, filed 2005-07, 5,000 miles

   “2000 Safari accelerator pedal becomes sticks intermittently.***no answer required***. The consumer has to use excessive effort to press the gas pedal at which point the vehicle would jerk forward.”

   NHTSA complaint #10128020, filed 2005-01, 33,000 miles
4. 4
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Rear and sliding door handles stiff, cracking, doors not

   • 8 complaints (12%)
   • median 31,188 mi at 3.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2006

   Complaints describe the rear door and sliding door handles becoming stiff and hard to open, then cracking, with the door eventually unusable. Owners also report the sliding door not staying open on an incline and doors that rattle or feel loose, and some say dealers could not fix the handle properly. A separate group describes the lift gate struts failing so the hatch no longer stays up. Reported from within months of purchase and under about 40,000 miles for handles, and up to 100,000 miles for door track failures.

   What to check: Open and close the sliding and rear doors several times, including on a slope, and check handle feel, latch security and whether the hatch stays up on its own.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The lift gate strut(s) had snapped with no warning, causing it to become hard to open and close. The dealer was notified. Ts the hatch didn't stay open when lifting, due to a worn right strut assembly. Scc”

   NHTSA complaint #10002199, filed 2003-01, 31,188 miles

   “Passenger's side and the sliding door rattle as if they are not closed. Also, passenger door bounces up and down when hitting a bump. Contacted Gmc, and Gmc stated this was normal. Consumer is concerned that the door will come open if vehicle hits a bump or is involved in a minor crash.”

   NHTSA complaint #894343, filed 2001-08
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights, headlights and dash lights failing

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report brake lights and hazard lights quitting without warning, headlights and dash lights going out, and automatic headlights that do not come on with the switch. Some describe power windows, locks and cruise control working intermittently alongside the lighting faults, with dealers replacing switches and checking grounds without fully resolving it. Others mention corroded connectors or shorting in the lighting circuits. Reported at widely varied mileages, from around 51,000 up to about 168,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the engine running, walk around the van to confirm brake, tail and head lights work, and check dash illumination and window and lock switches for intermittent operation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 #11043232, filed 2017-11, 154,000 miles

   “- the contact stated that while driving the 2000 Gmc Safari at 55 MPH on cruise control. He came to a traffic light and contact pressed on the brake pedal trying to disengage the cruise control, but the cruise control did not disengage. The contact had to use the on and off switch to shut off cruise control. The contact stated that since the cruise control incident cruise control could not be used. Also, all of his electronic gauges displayed erroneous readings.”

   NHTSA complaint #10181146, filed 2007-01, 99,900 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic inspect the brake system closely — especially the ABS wheel speed sensors, lines and hydro-boost — and test low-speed and full-lock braking, then check all doors, latches and lights before committing. Service history showing recent brake work and door hardware repairs is worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.