GMC TruckSafari 2WD1998Overview/gmc-truck/safari-2wd/1998/base/

1998 GMC Truck Safari 2WD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Safari 2WD.

Body VAN

The 1998 GMC Safari 2WD is a rear-wheel-drive van whose service baseline is built around a 4.5-quart oil sump filled with 5W-30 API lubricant. Within the model's reliability history, this year carries 112 total owner complaints and five recalls, with service brakes and hydraulic issues standing out as the dominant complaint area. That concentration gives the 1998 a clear identity for researchers—one where the failure pattern is anchored in a single subsystem rather than dispersed across the vehicle. The takeaway is a van whose documented issues are concentrated rather than scattered, which carries direct implications for anyone tracking the Safari's dependability over time.

Model year20041999199819921991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
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 Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter19210286
Engine air filter19259086
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug12681665
Front wiper blades15184702
Serpentine belt12576572 alt 19355374
Thermostat12632948 alt 12551507

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. 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.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts74 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts8.85 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)74.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket74.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle103.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket74.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub147 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11-14 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum66.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)60-66
RPM50-63 @ Idle rpm
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi
Engine Compression215 Nominal psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.04 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.04 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.98 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
1all bolts22 ft. lbs
2long bolts75 degrees
3medium bolts65 degrees
455
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1all bolts22 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0

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 miAxle 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 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 50,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine 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 1998 GMC Truck Safari 2WD top in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 14 of 112 reports (12%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 5 recall campaigns target the service brakes, hydraulic, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 15 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes, hydraulic 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.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
79
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
112
Owner complaints
15 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 112 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic14
Visibility8
Vehicle Speed Control8
Power Train6
Electrical System6
Steering6
Suspension5
Fuel System, Gasoline5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 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 79 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3665M2023-05-19Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Hydro-Boost is…
17-NA-0732023-02-21EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIT3665L2022-10-18Service BrakesThis Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Hydro-Boost is…
PIP4723F2022-01-14Service Brakes, HydraulicThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT3665J2020-06-26Service BrakesThis Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Hydro-Boost is…

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 2WD. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1998 Safari 2WD take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 Safari 2WD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.