2003 GMC Savana 2500

Routine

Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Wheels1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
100
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000
Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline06E043000
Filed May 19, 200688,303 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. 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, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

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 1).

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Mar 1, 2011110,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SAVANNAH 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL IN REVERSE WHEN THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE WITHIN THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC YET THE MECHANIC WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A BRAKE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FURTHER BRAKE FAILURES SINCE THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Dec 31, 2009170,000 milesRI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SAVANA 2500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HE HAD TO INCREASE HIS STOPPING DISTANCES DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SEARS REPAIR FACILITY AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights
Filed Aug 21, 20066,000 milesLA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED. AFTER 90,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION CEASED TO OPERATE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT SERVICE DEALER WHO OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IF A WARRANTY PACKAGE WAS PURCHASED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. DURING THIS VISIT TO THE 2ND DEALER, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHERE THE TAIL LIGHT WAS DISCOVERED NOT TO BE WORKING. THERE WAS NO REPAIR WORK PERFORMED FOR THE TAIL LIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPRESSED THAT ONE DAY THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCHED SO THE SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN TO RELEASE THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR RECALL REMEDY #05113 PERTAINING TO THE SEAT BELT. WHILE AT THE DEALER THE REMEDY REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUT NOT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT. AFTER THE REMEDY REPAIR TO THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT, IT NO LONGER WORKED PROPERLY. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER THE SERVICE DEALER HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE LUG NUT ON THE HUB CAP DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE PLASTIC LUG NUTS WERE INSTALLED AND THEY DETACHED AGAIN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, THE SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED THE LUG NUTS BE GLUED ON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE COMPANY WHO INSTALLED BRAND NEW TIRES AND LUG NUTS.

Wheels
Filed Jul 7, 200666,054 milesPA

I HAVE SEVERAL 2003 GMC SAVANA CARGO VANS THAT ARE USED AS SERVICE VEHICLES FOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD THREE INCIDENTS WHERE THE OUTER SECTION OF THE OEM WHEELS (RIMS) HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE CENTER SPOKE SECTION ALONG THE WELD LINES THAT JOIN THE TWO. THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLES AFFECTED HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND I HAVE THE OTHERS INSPECTED FOR POSSIBLE SIGNS OF FAILURE. I HAVE ONE OF THE WHEELS THAT SPLIT IN MY OFFICE. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS 6/23/2006. *NM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 14, 200625,000 milesCA

ALL 4 BRAKES LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. BRAKE PADS DRAGGING 1 DAY PRIOR TO LOCK UP. BRAKE PEDAL GOES HARD. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. TOLD COMPUTER ERROR IS PROBLEM FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME ANSWER PENDING. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO FOREWORD. BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY ONTO PUBLIC STREET-LAG TIME, DANGEROUS. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. NO RESOLUTION FROM DEALER. *NM

5 of 5 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20151000Routine
20101010Routine
20092000Routine
20081000Routine
20072000Routine
20061000Routine
20054100Routine
20041100Routine
2003 — this page5100Routine
20022100Routine
20010100Routine
20001100Routine
19991100Routine

Compare every Savana 2500 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 19, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.