Owners have filed 39 complaints
about the 1998 GMC Savana with NHTSA between 1999 and 2022.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 10 of 12 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 59
Against the median year of the GMC Savana. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 13
2.6% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1999peak 9Aug 2022
Recalls on the 1998 GMC Savana
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
09E012000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
98V033000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
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.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199721619 units in Canada
Emissions
Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 1101 - Emission Device. Vehicles were built with incorrect vehicle emission control labels. Correction: New labels will be installed on affected vehicles.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 105,000 milesDetroit, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10133505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Surrey, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #11478501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesCobleskill, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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.
NHTSA complaint #10150898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesDetroit, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10133505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Commece TWP, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10090593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livonia, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE CABLE WHICH CONTROLLED THE SIDE PASSENGER DOOR BROKE.*MR. THREE MONTHS LATER THE CABLE WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE BROKE. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10029628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livonia, MI
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
THE CABLE WHICH CONTROLLED THE SIDE PASSENGER DOOR BROKE.*MR. THREE MONTHS LATER THE CABLE WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE BROKE. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10029628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
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
NHTSA complaint #10021047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,000 milesVentura, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE (PLASTIC GASKET) ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #10011080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sanger, CA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE, TIRE SIZE LT245/75R16 DOT VN11B1A108. TREAD SEPARATED ON THREE TIRES. EQUIPMENT FOR A 1998, GMC, 15 PASSENGER VAN. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8007718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Johns, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DOOR HINGES WERE BREAKING AND COMING APART FROM VEHICLE. PLEASE ATTACH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #887869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lafayette, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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.
NHTSA complaint #885066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lafayette, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #885066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lafayette, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #885066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homstead, PA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WATER GOT UNDER CARPET ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS LOCATED. SENSOR GOT WET, AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #884843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homstead, PA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DUE TO POSITIONING OF SENSOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WATER GETS UNDER CARPETING, AND SENSOR LIGHT IS ON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #884844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homstead, PA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DUE TO POSITIONING OF AIRBAG SENSOR SENSOR STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #884850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homstead, PA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DUE TO POSITIONING OF THE AIRBAG SENSOR WATER GETS UNDER CARPET. CURRENTLY, SRS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #884852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homstead, PA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WATER GETS UNDER THE CARPET WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS LOCATED, CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #884853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Homstead, PA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
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.
NHTSA complaint #884855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Abilene, TX
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
NHTSA complaint #559327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clarkston, MI
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #880562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seminole, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
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
NHTSA complaint #556389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
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
NHTSA complaint #783948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Abilene, TX
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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.
NHTSA complaint #870132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marietta, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
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
NHTSA complaint #552990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.