1998 GMC Savana

Routine

Owners filed 33 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module4
000
Tires › Tread/Belt3
000
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components2
000
Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery2
000
Electrical System2
010
Air Bags › Frontal2
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor98V033000
Filed Feb 17, 19981,137 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OR BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTOR/HUBS WERE BUILT WITH AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION GRAY IRON THAT CAN FAIL DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.

Risk. IF A DRIVER CONTINUES TO DRIVE WITH A CRACKED ROTOR, THE CRACKS COULD CONTINUE AROUND THE WHEEL MOUNTING BOLT CIRCLE AND ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROTORS FOR A CORE DATE OF "287" AND, IF FOUND, REPLACE THE ROTOR.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Aug 9, 2022AL

GM theft system engaged leaving me stranded multiple times including on a remote mountain side. I was only able to get a cell signal by walking a few KM's down the road in the middle of the night to call for help. When I was able to get a hold of the dealer in the morning, they instructed me on how to "relearn" the key code and drive the van to the dealership. They cut a new key and sent me on my way. Since, the van theft system has left me stranded multiple times and me having to spend half an hour or more doing the relearn procedure. Warning lamps include "security' light illuminated on dash. Van starts, runs for 2 seconds and turns off.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 22, 200653,000 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ENGAGES AT LOW SPEEDS OF 5MPH AND BELOW. THIS PRIMARILY HAPPENS WHILE STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 05V379000 CONCERNING THE ABS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN AND THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Aug 19, 2005105,000 milesMI

DT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD NOT CONTACTED GMC AT THIS POINT. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 18, 2005. VEHICLE WAS BURNED COMPLETELY BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE. THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN, PULLED OVER, AND THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE BOTTOM AROUND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Sep 7, 2004MI

THE HINGES ONTHE SIDE DOORS ARE BREAKING CAUSING THE DOORS TO BIND AND NOT ABLE TO OPEN.YOU CANT GET IN OR OUT OF THE VAN USING THE SIDE DOORS. FIST THE INSIDE DOOR BANELS BOUND ON EACH OTHER AND WERE TORN OFF.*AK THE HINGES ARE WELDED TO THE GMC VAN. I CANT REPLACE THEM.

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jul 10, 2003MI

THE CABLE WHICH CONTROLLED THE SIDE PASSENGER DOOR BROKE.*MR. THREE MONTHS LATER THE CABLE WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE BROKE. *TS *JB

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Jun 4, 2003MI

THE HINGES ON THE SIDE DOORS OF MY 1998 GMC SAVANA VAN OF THE 4 HINGES: 1 IS BROKEN AND 2 ARE CRACKED. I CALLED GMC AND GOT THE RUN AROUND. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM UNLESS YOU ISSUED A RECALL ON THE HINGES. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 26, 200363,000 milesCA

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE (PLASTIC GASKET) ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK. *JB

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Apr 16, 2002CA

FIRESTONE, TIRE SIZE LT245/75R16 DOT VN11B1A108. TREAD SEPARATED ON THREE TIRES. EQUIPMENT FOR A 1998, GMC, 15 PASSENGER VAN. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *YH

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed May 9, 2001MI

DOOR HINGES WERE BREAKING AND COMING APART FROM VEHICLE. PLEASE ATTACH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROBLEM.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 4, 2001NY

VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHEN PUT IN GEAR AS SOON AS CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF BRAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW. THE CONSUMER USES BRAKE EXCESSIVELY BECAUSE OF LACK OF ENGINE DECELERATION. THERE IS COOLANT LEAK AT RIGHT REAR INTAKE MANIFOLD. *YH

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Apr 2, 2001PA

WATER GOT UNDER CARPET ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS LOCATED. SENSOR GOT WET, AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Apr 2, 2001PA

DUE TO POSITIONING OF SENSOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WATER GETS UNDER CARPETING, AND SENSOR LIGHT IS ON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Apr 2, 2001PA

DUE TO POSITIONING OF AIRBAG SENSOR SENSOR STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Apr 2, 2001PA

DUE TO POSITIONING OF THE AIRBAG SENSOR WATER GETS UNDER CARPET. CURRENTLY, SRS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Apr 2, 2001PA

WATER GETS UNDER THE CARPET WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS LOCATED, CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Apr 2, 2001PA

WATER GETS UNDER THE CARPET WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS LOCATED, CAUSING THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Feb 14, 2001MI

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jan 31, 2001TX

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN BY EMPLOYEE WHEN THE TREAD OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE CAME OFF, R4S LT24575R16, DOT VN1181A247, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE BUT TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, TIRE NOT INVOLVED IN RECALL (OOT-005). CJ

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Dec 1, 2000FL

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

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 11, 2000TX

ORIGINAL TIRES ON A 1998, GMC, SAVANNA, DOT XN11B1A247, LT 245/75R16.TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, IT DID NOT BLOWOUT. TIRE DID BODY DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. LEFT REAR AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE ALSO HAD TREAD SEPARATION. *AK

20 of 33 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20260300Routine
20250400Routine
20230200Routine
20222200Routine
20212300Routine
20200200Routine
20195500Routine
20183700Routine
20177600Routine
20166700Routine
20152410Routine
20141700Routine
20132900Routine
20123700Routine
20111500Routine
20103400Routine
20092800Routine
20083700Routine
20076300Routine
20067700Routine
200512500Routine
200412710Routine
2003221110Routine
200212000Routine
200119010Routine
200049220Routine
199949200Routine
1998 — this page33210Routine
199746230Routine
199635300Routine
19952000Routine
19941000Routine

Compare every Savana 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: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.