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1985 GMC Truck Safari

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1985 Safari.

The 1985 GMC Truck Safari specifies a 3-quart fill of 10W-30 or 5W-30 engine oil, and its reliability record is anchored by just 3 owner complaints—centered on Engine & Engine Cooling and Latches/Locks/Linkages—alongside 3 recalls. While the model’s formal complaint history covers 1990 to 2005, a span that surged to 201 complaints in 1995 before dropping to 5 by 2005, this 1985 model predates that tracked window entirely. With only 3 reported complaints, it sits below even the lowest tally in that later dataset, meaning it carries a lighter documented owner burden than the lowest-recorded year in the 1990–2005 range.

Model year1986 1985

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737092. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12737092 alt 12731175
Engine air filter	25040929 alt 25040881
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued · alt 5651803
Spark plug	05614046 alt 19300382
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	15599208 alt 09433720
Thermostat	03050922 alt 10017079

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	3 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	6 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 15,000 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 30,000 mi	Early Fuel Evaporation System (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Assembly (inspect) · Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace)
At 45,000 mi	Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect)
Every 45,000 mi	Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect)
At 60,000 mi	Distributor Vacuum Advance (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Carburetor Mounting Fasteners (inspect) · Throttle Body (torque) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

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 1985 GMC Truck Safari dominate in one area — the engine & engine cooling,latches/locks/linkages, 1 of 3 reports (33%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the engine & engine cooling,latches/locks/linkages, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling,latches/locks/linkages 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

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 1 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 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling,Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Seats1

Steering1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 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…

93V187000SeatsReported 16/11/1993

THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
01667	2004-01-01	Visibility	WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR DOES NOT FIT. *TT

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Safari. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 3 qt Engine oil filter 12737092 Engine air filter 25040929 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 05614046

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1985 Safari take?

3 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1985 Safari have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.