U.S. public vehicle records

Gmc SAVANA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

301 owner complaints analyzed

58 distinct recall campaigns

53,900 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1994 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 119 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 301 complaints (10.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	77	25.6%
Steering behavior	27	9.0%
Transmission and shifting	19	6.3%
Electrical and battery issues	13	4.3%
Engine operation	10	3.3%
Fuel system concerns	10	3.3%

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Tires

Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments

Steering

Electrical System

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Air Bags

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	31
Tires	20
Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments	17
Steering	14
Electrical System	13
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	12
Air Bags	9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads	9

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 31; Tires: 20; Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments: 17; Steering: 14; Electrical System: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Air Bags: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 9

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 34; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 3

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 182 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.

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

1996: 2; 2000: 43; 2001: 42; 2002: 29; 2003: 30; 2004: 31; 2005: 18; 2006: 14; 2007: 5; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 6; 2013: 5; 2014: 12; 2015: 7; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 8; 2020: 3; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 7; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 77 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 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 739999 · 2001-01-26 (January 26, 2001)

THE GMC DEALER SAID THE COMPUTER FAILED FROM CORROSION AT THE COMPUTER CAUSING THE ABS SYSTEM TO KICK IN ON DRY ROADS. THEN THE ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THIS COST ME OVER $700 TO GET FIXED AND THREE DAYS WITHOUT THE USE OF MY VAN. THE GMC DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE BRAKES WORK PROPERLY. I CAN SEE THIS AS A BIG SAFTEY PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS! *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 739999 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8003198 · 2002-01-30 (January 30, 2002)

ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON WET AND DRY ROAD CONDITIONS AND BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATES AND GOES TO THE FLOOR. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8003198 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10040566 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHICH MADE IT HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER MANAGED TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CONTACTED A TOW COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NLM *PH *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 30,463 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040566 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10064954 · 2004-03-26 (March 26, 2004)

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE MAKING A SLOW LEFT HAND TURN AFTER BEING STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. (NAR) *PH *CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064954 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 869783 · 2000-09-06 (September 6, 2000)

ENGINECHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR THREE DAYS. THEN IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT OF GEAR. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FLUSHED OUT. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT AT 40,000 MILES SHE HAD SEVERE SHIFTING PROBLEM.*AK RUST IN TRANSMISSION FLUID, METAL FILING WAS FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION POSSIBLY FROM COOLANT LEAK INTO IT. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 869783 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10240448 · 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)

1997 GMC SAVANA ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COMPARTMENTS CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS EARLIER IN THE DAY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0256-89) *JB UPDATED02/24/10 *BF

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10240448 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 867816 · 2000-08-15 (August 15, 2000)

ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS HAVE ALL CORRODED DUE TO MOISTURE, POSSIBLY CAUSING FIRE OR ELECTRICAL FAILURES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 867816 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 552990 · 2000-07-12 (July 12, 2000)

THE VEHICLE'S DELCO BATTERY (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) HAS BEEN LEAKING ACID ON THE SIDE CONNECTION, CONSUMER LOST CURRENT THREE TIMES IN APP 75 FEET OF TRAVEL. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 552990 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 556389 · 2000-12-01 (December 1, 2000)

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED CAUSING LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING, CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL, THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED A LOOSE BATTERY CABLE WHICH CAUSED THE STALLING PROBLEM, HOWEVER AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE STALLED A SECOND TIME, CONSUMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH FOUND THAT THE DELCO BATTERY HAD A SPLIT IN IT, DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY AND INDICATED THAT THEY HAD SEEN MANY DEFECTIVE A.C.DELCO BATTERIES. *MJS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556389 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10049234 · 2003-12-05 (December 5, 2003)

1996 GMC SAVANA VAN- FUEL PUMP FAILURES AT 40,000 MILES AND 75,000 MILES. $600 REPAIR EACH TIME. HIGH FAILURE ITEM LASTING LESS THAN A SET OF TIRES, MAJOR REPAIRS NEEDED. THIS *HAS* TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE PER THE GM DEALER.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049234 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 783948 · 2000-01-21 (January 21, 2000)

CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL G99066 REGARDING THE FUEL INJECTOR, THE CONSUMER HAD THIS COMPONENT FAIL PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, THE PART HAS FAILED AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 783948 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.