GMC Truck›Safari 2WD›1997›Overview/gmc-truck/safari-2wd/1997/base/

1997 GMC Truck Safari 2WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Safari 2WD.

Body VAN

The 1997 GMC Safari 2WD is a van from the nameplate’s 1990–2005 model run, carrying 162 total owner complaints and six recalls on record. Visibility stands out as the top complaint area for this model year, distinguishing it within a generation that saw complaint volume peak at 201 in 1995 before dropping to just five by the end of the run in 2005. With its 162 complaints placing it well above the line’s later low-water mark yet below the mid-nineties peak, the 1997 model represents a high-complaint middle period in the Safari’s history, meaning researchers should approach it as a vehicle from the more troubled years of the nameplate rather than from its quieter final phase.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 19210286. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-75R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-, 6.5-JJ; 6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	19210286
Engine air filter	19259086
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	12681665
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	12576572 alt 19355374
Thermostat	12632948 alt 12551507

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-4-3-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	74 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	8.85 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)	74.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	74.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	103.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	74.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	147 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-5-4-3-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-5-4-3-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11-14 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	66.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	60-66
RPM	50-63 @ Idle rpm
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi
Engine Compression	215 Nominal psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle	38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.04 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.04 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.98 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	all bolts	22 ft. lbs
2	long bolts	75 degrees
3	medium bolts	65 degrees
4	55

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

all bolts

22 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

22.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (lubricate return spring) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Pedal Bushing (lubricate) · Clutch Pedal Clevis Pin (lubricate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1997 GMC Truck Safari 2WD top in one area — the visibility, 22 of 162 reports (14%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 6 recall campaigns target the visibility, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 9 of the reports describe a crash and 3 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the visibility pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

162

Owner complaints

9 involved a crash · 3 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96’97’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 162 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility22

Power Train16

Engine & Engine Cooling14

Service Brakes, Hydraulic11

Electrical System9

Fuel System, Gasoline8

Steering8

Vehicle Speed Control7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 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… Remedy: 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…

06E026000Exterior LightingReported 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… Remedy: 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 83 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
17-NA-073	2023-02-21	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
19NA273	2019-12-02	Electrical System	This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…