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GMC SafariModel year report

2003 GMC Safari Problems

Complaints
18filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
46,400miles, 13 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 4.3L 6-cyl RWD · 14 city / 19 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 GMC Safari (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2003 GMC Safari. The part named most often is brakes, with 7 complaints (39% of the total), followed by engine cooling (2) and transmission and drivetrain (2). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 54% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 46,400 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 355 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 15 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 44 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “. I would like to report the incident I had with my automobile: Gmc Safari wagon 2003. One day in july this year (2014) I applied the brakes of the above vehicle when I was approaching the red traffic light. The vehicle did not stop even through the brake system was recently worked on. I investigated the reason why it failed to stop and found out that the brake line was heavily corroded.”

NHTSA complaint #10639617, filed 2014-09, 67,000 miles

Engine cooling: “Dampner failed, purchase van with this problem 3 months ago and still have not received the dampner part from Gmc. The vehicle was purchased with only 60 miles on it. During the test drive, prior to purchase, there was a harmonic roar noise vibration coming from the rear.”

NHTSA complaint #10099916, filed 2004-11, 60 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “The transmission did not respond quickly enough to prevent the vehicle from rolling forward while in reverse. The GM technician stated that this is not a problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10011257, filed 2003-03, 3,500 miles

Air bags: “The contact owns a 2003 Gmc Safari. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, he crashed head-on into another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries reported. A police report was not filed. The failure and current mileage was 126,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10504464, filed 2013-03, 126,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

54% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 36,000 and 67,000 miles.

15%0–108%10–2531%25–5023%50–758%75–1008%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 46,400 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20034200442005200620072009201320142015
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 GMC Safari. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Safari · 3 DR not rated3 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 GMC Safari version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Safari 2WD (Passenger)4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141916$4,200
Safari 2WD (cargo)4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic152117$3,950
Safari 2WD Conversion (cargo)4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic131815$4,450
Safari AWD (Passenger)4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic121614$4,800
Safari AWD (cargo)4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141815$4,450
Safari AWD Conversion (cargo)4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic121614$4,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2003 GMC Safari → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 355 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 355 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Safari

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2004517,0000—16—Not enough data
20031846,4001—16—Stable
20022532,2651—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20013952,8251—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20006851,0000—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19996165,0001—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19988971,0003—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199713580,0004—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199613993,6154—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1995195112,0003—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1994119107,5001—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19936180,0000—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19925999,2501—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199139162,0003—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199035—4—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198918117,2603—18—Stable
19887—2—18—Not enough data
1987111,9121—18—Not enough data
19867—1—20—Not enough data

All GMC Safari model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 GMC Safari have?

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2003 GMC Safari as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 GMC Safari is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 7 complaints (39% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 2.

Has the 2003 GMC Safari been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 GMC Safari get?

The EPA rates the 2003 GMC Safari (Safari 2WD (Passenger), 4.3L 6-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 GMC Safari reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 46,400 miles and the middle half falls between 36,000 and 67,000 miles; 54% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.