Head-to-head reliability
GMC Safari vs FORD F 150
How the GMC Safari and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
GMC Safari vs FORD F 150: Over 6 years, the Safari had 207 complaints (34.5/year) and 15 recalls, with brakes and hydraulics most reported. The F-150 had 11,621 complaints (1,162.1/year) and 151 recalls over 10 years, led by power train and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the GMC Safari or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
GMC Safari
The GMC Safari is a full-size van that, based on owner complaints, tends to develop brake and hydraulic problems as it ages. Over six years, NHTSA logged 207 complaints, with 77 about service brakes and 69 about hydraulic issues, often involving ABS engaging at low speeds and increasing stopping distance. Electrical and steering complaints also appear, including dash lights going out and steering wheel lock-up. With 15 recalls and 64 injuries reported, a used Safari needs a thorough brake and steering inspection before purchase.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that, according to NHTSA data, generates a very high volume of complaints—11,621 over ten years—with power train and electrical issues dominating. Owners frequently report transmission problems like limp mode, stuck gears, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden downshifts or near-collisions. Electrical complaints include rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the back glass. With 151 recalls and 297 injuries, a used F-150 demands careful checking of transmission and electrical systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | GMC Safari | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 207 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 21 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 34.5 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 64 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
GMC Safari
- 01SERVICE BRAKES77
- 02HYDRAULIC69
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22
- 04STEERING21
- 05STRUCTURE14
Owners report the ABS engaging at low speeds, which greatly increases stopping distance and can feel like the brakes are failing. This is a serious safety concern because it affects your ability to stop in everyday driving.
Complaints often mention charging system and battery drain issues that are grouped under hydraulic, such as a leaking battery and repeated no-start conditions. These electrical gremlins can leave you stranded and are costly to diagnose.
Reports include all dashboard lights going out, the steering wheel locking up, and the brakes failing simultaneously, leading to loss of control. Such sudden electrical failures at speed are extremely dangerous.
Owners describe shaking in the steering wheel, unusual noises, and difficulty making U-turns, often traced to worn wheel bearings and idler arms. These issues can make the van hard to control and may worsen over time.
“MY 2002 GMC SAFARI WOULD NOT START. I WENT AND REPLACED THE 2.5 YEAR OLD BATTERY (IT WAS LEAKING AT THE TERMINALS) IT STARTED ONE TIME AND THEN ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER IT WAS DEAD AGAIN. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. I WAS FIRST INFORMED THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM…”
“I OWN A 2003 GMC SAFARI WHICH I PURCHASED IN UTAH. EARLIER THIS YEAR I EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BAKING SYSTEM WHERE THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE AT LOW SPEEDS, INCREASING MY STOPPING DISTANCE GREATLY. I CONTACTED GM AS THIS SEEMED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND WA…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden downshifts or near-collisions. These issues often recur even after repairs, making the truck unreliable.
Complaints include rear window defroster shorts that cause the back window to shatter, as well as output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. Electrical faults can disable safety features and lead to expensive fixes.
This category captures miscellaneous issues like the rear window exploding outward after using the defroster, which owners say happens without impact. Such unexpected failures pose a risk of injury from shattered glass.
Although specific complaint text is not provided, exterior lighting is a top component with 1,224 complaints, suggesting frequent bulb or wiring failures. Poor lighting can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
GMC Safari — 15 recalls
The defect: 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 C…
The 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.
The 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).
The defect: 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…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The 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.
The defect: 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 C…
The 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.
The 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).
The defect: 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…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The 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.
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
GMC Safari or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The GMC Safari has far fewer complaints per year (34.5) than the Ford F-150 (1,162.1), but the Safari's issues often involve critical safety systems like brakes and steering. The F-150's much higher complaint volume means you are more likely to encounter recurring transmission and electrical problems. In practice, the Safari may have fewer overall problems, but each one can be severe, while the F-150 may have more frequent but sometimes less immediately dangerous issues.
Key differences
- The GMC Safari's most common complaints are about service brakes and hydraulic systems, with owners reporting ABS engaging at low speeds and increased stopping distance, while the Ford F-150's top complaints are power train and electrical, including transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The Ford F-150 has a much higher complaint rate per year (1,162.1) compared to the GMC Safari (34.5), but the Safari's complaints often involve sudden loss of braking or steering control.
- The GMC Safari has 15 recalls over 6 years, while the Ford F-150 has 151 recalls over 10 years, indicating a higher recall frequency for the F-150.
- Injury counts are higher for the Ford F-150 (297) than the GMC Safari (64), but the Safari has 0 deaths reported while the F-150 has 1 death.
- Test the brakes at low speeds to see if the ABS engages unexpectedly, which owners say increases stopping distance.
- Check the steering for shaking, noises, or difficulty turning, as worn wheel bearings and idler arms are commonly reported.
- Scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive to feel for limp mode, rough shifting, or getting stuck in gear, which owners frequently report.
- Inspect the rear window and test the defroster for any signs of shorting or prior shattering, as owners report the glass exploding after use.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the GMC Safari's fuel system and exterior lighting recalls and the Ford F-150's engine and air bag recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the GMC Safari's brake system, including ABS function, and the steering components like wheel bearings and idler arms.
- For the Ford F-150, have a mechanic check the transmission for lead frame issues and scan for output speed sensor codes, and inspect the rear window defroster wiring.
- Test drive both vehicles extensively, including highway speeds and low-speed braking, to reproduce any symptoms owners describe.
- Budget for potential repairs: the GMC Safari may need brake and steering work, while the Ford F-150 could require transmission or electrical fixes.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific GMC Safari or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- GMC Safari vs FORD F 150
- GMC Safari total complaints
- 207
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- GMC Safari total recalls
- 15
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- GMC Safari avg complaints/year
- 34.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- GMC Safari
- GMC Safari top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN