Gmc SAVANA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
44 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
54,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2015 model years. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 44 complaints (11.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 22.7% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Service Brakes: 5; Air Bags: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Tires: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Engine: 3; Steering: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 4; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10348134 · 2010-08-09 (August 9, 2010)
I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, I HAD NO BRAKING AT ALL. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP AND PULL INTO A GAS STATION; FORTUNATELY I WAS HEADING UP-HILL. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND COAST TO A STOP SAFELY. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED ANY PARTS; I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE IS A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE BRAKE LINE IS RUPTURED AT A POINT ABOUT 18' BACK FROM THE FIREWALL. THE TRUCK IS WASHED REGULARLY AND IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN ON-ROAD, NO EXTREME OR 'HEAVY-DUTY 'SERV…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10968174 · 2017-03-23 (March 23, 2017)
WHEN COMING TO A FULL STOP IN LIGHT TO MODERATE 35 TO 40 MILE AN HOUR TRAFFIC ZONES , USUALLY WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD OVER TRAVEL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR, THEIR WOULD BE A LOUD SCRUBBING SOUND. THIS HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO, AND I TOOK MY VAN TO THREE SEPARATE GM AUTHORIZED DEALERS/ REPAIR SHOPS ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEIR WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES. THIS WAS VARY FRUSTRATING. SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR PARKING BRAKE WAS ACTIVATED AND WOULD NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10968174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168376 · 2006-09-15 (September 15, 2006)
2000 GMC SAVANA VAN WITH CONVERSION PACKAGE. POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. I FOUND A RECALL NOTICE ON THE NHTSA SITE, CALLED GMC AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. AFTER I TOLD THE OPERATOR THE RECALL NUMBER SHE THEN FOUND A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SAFETY CAMPAIGN". I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WITH MY VEHICLE. MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO PARK THE CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS IS A LARGE HEAVY CAR IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER W/O THE POWER ST…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10401157 · 2011-05-16 (May 16, 2011)
HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIE RODS IN GMC SAVANA 2006 AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. SOMEONE SHOULD BE CHECKING INTO WHY THESE TIE RODS ARE BREAKING, CRACKING, LOOSENING UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL AND PULL TO ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS ALSO A CUSTOM HANDICAPPED VAN WITH A HEAVY LIFT AND CARRYING PRECIOUS CARGO : MY SON WHO IS MY LIFE. IF THESE BREAK THE STEERING WILL BE GONE AND TIRES WILL PULL TO WHICH EVER SIDE YOUR VEHICLE WAS LEANING TOWARDS AT THE TIME. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE ISSUED IN A RECALL IMMEDIATELY…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,626 miles reported. Look up ODI 10401157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10714738 · 2015-05-05 (May 5, 2015)
GAS TANK LEAKS WHEN FULL. THE SEAM WHERE THE FILLER NECK MEETS THE TANK'S NIPPLE IS CRACKED. GM DOES NOT MANUFACTURE A REPLACEMENT TANK, NO USED TANKS AVAILABLE. I'M FORCED TO DRIVE A VAN THAT LEAKS FUEL IF FULL, OR HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD. HELP! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10706277 · 2015-04-17 (April 17, 2015)
REAR DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE BEGAN LEAKING JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEEL CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO FAIL AND SHIFTING TO THE FRONT WHEEL BRAKES ONLY WHICH ENABLED ME TO DRIVE IT SLOWLY TO A GM REPAIR SHOP. SEEMS LIKE A VEHICLE WITH JUST 17,559 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING A FAILED BRAKE LINE. REPAIR COST WAS $443.62 WITH THE GM SHOP STATING THAT THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REMOVED TO FIX THE LEAK. SERVICE WRITER CLAIMS THE BRAKE LINE WAS CONTACTING OTHER BODY PARTS WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,559 miles reported. Look up ODI 10706277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10668391 · 2014-12-26 (December 26, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SAVANA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668391 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 0; 2007: 1; 2008: 0; 2010: 0; 2011: 2; 2012: 0; 2014: 0; 2015: 0