Model year guide

1999 GMC safari

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1999 GMC safari is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.

1999 GMC safari — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1999 GMC safari at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints88
Combined15–16 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1999 GMC safari recalls 3

Fuel System, Gasoline NHTSA Campaign #06E043000 · 19/05/2006

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 CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE C…

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).

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E026000 · 23/03/2006

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 DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

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.

Seat Belts:front:warning Light/devices NHTSA Campaign #01V123000 · manufacturer #01036 · 10/04/2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 7 Oct 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1999 GMC safari common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

1999 GMC safari safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1999 GMC Safari 4x2. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1999 GMC safari MPG & running costs

Combined15–16 mpg
City14 mpg
Highway19 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,263
EPA size classVans, Cargo Type
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$9,313 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1999 GMC safari costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$21,315
Fuel only$21,315
Per mile$0.28

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1999 GMC safari trims & engines on record

Engines
4.3L 6-cyl

1999 GMC safari vehicles on record

1999 GMC safari 1999 GMC safari1GDDM19W2XB501548 1999 GMC safari 1999 GMC safari1GKEL19W7XB500718 1999 GMC safari 1999 GMC safari1GKDM19W3XB522661 1999 GMC safari 1999 GMC safari1GKEL19WXXB505041

Other GMC safari model years

2005 2003 2002 2000 1997 1996

1999 GMC safari — frequently asked questions

Does the 1999 GMC safari have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1999 GMC safari. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1999 GMC safari?

Across all 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are service brakes, hydraulic, power train.

What is the 1999 GMC safari safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1999 GMC safari crash-test ratings of frontal 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1999 GMC safari get?

The 1999 GMC safari has U.S. EPA estimates of 15–16 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.