1987 Pontiac Safari problems
The Pontiac Safari is a line of station wagons that was produced by Pontiac from 1955 to 1989. Initially introduced as the Pontiac counterpart of the two-door Chevrolet Nomad, the division adopted the nameplate across its full-size wagon range in 1957. Through its production, the Safari was positioned between Chevrolet full-size station wagons and below its Buick and Oldsmobile counterparts. During the mid-1960s, the Safari added simulated woodgrain trim to the exterior, becoming a feature associated with the model line.
The name "safari" is derived from the Swahili word safari, which means journey, originally from the Arabic سفر (safar) meaning a journey; the verb for "to travel" in Swahili is kusafiri. As General Motors expanded into the intermediate, compact, and subcompact segments, the Safari nameplate saw a similar usage as the Estate (Buick, Chevrolet) and Cruiser (Oldsmobile) nameplates, denoting the highest-trim station wagon in each model range.
After 1989, Pontiac became the first GM division to discontinue its full-size wagons; along with model overlap between its divisional counterparts, demand for full-size wagons had been overtaken by minivans. For 1990, the Pontiac Trans Sport was introduced as the first Pontiac minivan. After 1991, Pontiac ended its use of the Safari nameplate (and production of station wagons) entirely; the GMC Safari continued through the 2005 model year.
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Common 1987 Pontiac Safari problems
The 1987 Pontiac Safari, a rear-wheel drive station wagon, is known for its spacious interior and cargo volume. However, it has some common problems that owners have reported.
- Fuel Efficiency: The 1987 Pontiac Safari's fuel efficiency is lower compared to other vehicles in its class, with an EPA rating of 17 mpg combined, 15 mpg city, and 22 mpg highway. This can be a concern for owners who use the vehicle for long commutes or frequent road trips.
- Engine: The Safari's 307 Olds engine isn't known for its performance or fuel efficiency. It's not uncommon for owners to replace the engine with a more powerful or fuel-efficient option.
- Handling: The Safari's handling isn't one of its strong points, and some owners have reported issues with handling and stability, especially at high speeds or in tight turns. This can be a safety concern and may require suspension upgrades or modifications.
- Body and Paint Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the Safari's body and paint, including rust and corrosion, especially in areas where the vehicle is exposed to road salt or other harsh conditions. This can be a significant concern for owners in regions with harsh winters or coastal areas with saltwater exposure.
- Interior Comfort: While the Safari's interior is spacious, some owners have reported issues with comfort, particularly in the rear seats. This can be a concern for owners who use the vehicle for long road trips or for transporting passengers frequently.
- Electrical Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the Safari's electrical system, including problems with the battery, alternator, and wiring. These issues can be difficult to diagnose and repair and may require professional assistance.
- Transmission Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the Safari's transmission, including problems with shifting, slipping, and leaks. These issues can be expensive to repair and may require professional assistance.
- Braking System Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the Safari's braking system, including problems with the brake pads, rotors, and master cylinder. These issues can be a safety concern and may require professional assistance to repair.
- Suspension Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the Safari's suspension, including problems with the shocks, struts, and springs. These issues can affect the vehicle's handling and stability and may require professional assistance to repair.
- Wheel and Tire Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the Safari's wheels and tires, including problems with the wheel bearings, tire pressure monitoring system, and wheel alignment. These issues can affect the vehicle's handling and safety and may require professional assistance to repair.
1987 Pontiac Safari car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Pontiac Safari problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Visibility problems
- Steering problems
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Pontiac Safari vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1987 Pontiac Safari complaints
The NHTSA has received 4 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Pontiac Safari.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-09-01
- VIN: 1G2BL81Y6HX
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) BEGAN FAILING AT APPROXIMATELY, THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT SOON WOULD SPORADICALLY COME ON. CAR WOULD RUN ROUGH AND STALL WHEN IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER BRAKES. TPS REPLACED FOUR TIMES.
VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1992-01-01
- VIN: 1G2BL81Y5HA
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROLS TURN ON AND WORK FINE AT ALL SPEEDS. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN THE WIPERS OFF, (TURN THE WIPER CONTROLL TO THE "OFF" POSITION, YOU CANNOT DO SO UNLESS YOU STOP THE CAR AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. THEREFORE ONCE YOU TURN THEM ON AND THEN IT STOPS RAINING, YOU CANNOT TURN OFF THE WIPERS BY JUST SETTING THE WIPER CONTROL TO "OFF". YOU MUST INSTEAD SET THE CONTROL TO "OFF" STOP THE CAR, AND THEN TURN OFF THE ENGINE COMPLETELY. WHEN YOU START THE CAR AGAIN, THE WIPERS WILL BE STOPPED UNTIL THE NEXT TIME YOU USE THEM, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCEDURE AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR INTO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE IS THE ONE WHO THINKS IT IS IN THE RELAY BOX AND NOT THE MOTOR. HE THINKS IT IS NOT MAKING A GOOD CONTACT SOMEWHERE AND THAT IS WHAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM. HE DID NOT KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE SYSTEM SO HE WAS HESITANT TO TRY AND FIX IT. I THEN CALLED EVERHART O'LEARY MOTORS, BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE $32.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT, AND ARE GUESSING THAT IT MIGHT COST APPROXIMATELY $150. TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DON'T RECALL EXACTLY WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED (I ONLY GUESSED AT THE DATE), BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE SYSTEM WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ADDRESS. YOUR HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G2BL81Y6HX
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: THE TILT WHEEL COLUMN IS VERY LOOSE AND MOVES LEFT AND RIGHT.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-08-04
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1G2BL81Y7HX
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, UNKNOWN CAUSES. TT
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