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FaultScore report

2002 GMC Savana problems

Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 2002 GMC Savana with NHTSA between 2002 and 2015. The largest single group is the body & structure. Across this model's run it ranks 10 of 12 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the GMC Savana All 2002 cars
C

FaultScore 42/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the GMC Savana.

How this is worked out

The numbers

13

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

17,500 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

67%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

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.

Complaint volume 20 vs 50 Severity 40 vs 50 Early failure 100 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 20
Against the median year of the GMC Savana. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 40
7.7% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 100
67% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2002 compares with every other GMC Savana

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2002 GMC Savana

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Body & Structure 3 23.1%

Median failure at 1 miles

Brakes 2 15.4%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 38,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 2 15.4%

Median failure at 93,000 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 7.7%
Seats 1 7.7%
Tires 1 7.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 7.7%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 7.7%

Median failure at 11,000 miles

Electrical System 1 7.7%

Median failure at 24,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 2 33.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 33.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 16.7%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 1 16.7%

NHTSA crash tests

The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.

These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.

Configuration Overall Front Side Rollover
2002 GMC Savana Van — — — —

When owners complained

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.

Oct 2002 peak 2 Oct 2015

NHTSA investigations into the 2002 GMC Savana

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA04012 Opened 30 Apr 2004 Closed 28 Feb 2005 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRES

GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL ON ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILD BETWEEN MAY 1999 AND OCTOBER 14, 1999.SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE INCORPORATED INTO PRODUCTION IN EARLY OCTOBER 1999, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THAT DATE HAVE LOWER WARRANTY FAILURE RATES.THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA APPEAR TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE CHANGES. GM MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES IN NOVEMBER 1999, FEBRUARY 2000, MAY 2001, AND FEBRUARY 2004.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION, IF WARRANTED, IN THE FUTURE.FOR FURTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS REPORT.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 38,000 miles Ferndale, MI Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ON WET PAVEMENT AT 2-3 MPH. THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE; THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. THE ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10150116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Fenton, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

S10 DIRECT REPLY- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH THE RECALL OF A 2012 GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN MARCH 2015, HE RECEIVED AN INFORMATION LETTER, NOT A RECALL THAT THE BRAKE LINE MAY FAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE CLEARANCE. AFTER VISITING THE GMC DEALER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WERE NO PROBLEM INDICATORS AT THAT TIME AND THE PART WOULD NOT BE REPLACED UNTIL IT FAILED. ON AUGUST 19, 2015, WHILE DRIVING ON A STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH AN 8% GRADE, THE BRAKES FAILED. BY USING THE TRANSMISSION TO ASSIST IN BRAKING, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN TO A FLAT AREA BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE RESERVOIR AND FLUID SPLASHED ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE DUE TO BRAKE LINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD TAKE 6-8 DAYS TO GET THE REDESIGNED PART. THE BRAKE LINE HAD A HOLE IN IT BECAUSE IT WAS INSTALLED IN A KNOWN AREA OF INADEQUATE CLEARANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10806903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,000 miles Milpitas, CA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAVANA. 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 93,000. MAILED OUT 01/13/15

NHTSA complaint #10668389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shawnee, KS

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WE OWN SEVERAL GMC SAVANA 3500 15 PASSENGER VANS. WE SEEM TO BE HAVING REPEAT ISSUES WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BRAKING AND THE MANIFOLDS CRACKING. OUR 2002 HAS BEEN IN 2-3 TIMES AND OUR 2005 HAS IS NOW IN FOR IT'S SECOND MANIFOLD AND BOLTS. THE BOLTS ARE BREAKING AND THE MANIFOLDS ARE CRACKING. PLEASE ENCOURAGE A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS GM MOTOR. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM ALL GMC VEHICLES WITH THE VORTEC 6.0L MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10482646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shawnee, KS

ENGINE

WE OWN SEVERAL GMC SAVANA 3500 15 PASSENGER VANS. WE SEEM TO BE HAVING REPEAT ISSUES WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BRAKING AND THE MANIFOLDS CRACKING. OUR 2002 HAS BEEN IN 2-3 TIMES AND OUR 2005 HAS IS NOW IN FOR IT'S SECOND MANIFOLD AND BOLTS. THE BOLTS ARE BREAKING AND THE MANIFOLDS ARE CRACKING. PLEASE ENCOURAGE A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS GM MOTOR. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM ALL GMC VEHICLES WITH THE VORTEC 6.0L MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10482646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1 miles Jackson, WI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

MY COMPLAINT IS OF THE PASSENGER SIDE PORTSIDE DOOR HINGES ON ALMOST ALL GMC SAVANAH 3500'S THAT I HAVE SEEN. IT IS A SAFTEY CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE THE DOOR IS ALMOST COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IS INOPERABLE. I HAVE LUBRICATED THE HINGES MANY TIME TO NO AVAIL. THE WELDS ON THE HINGES ARE BADLY CRACKED WITH JUST A VERY SMALL PART OF THE WELD(APROX. 1/4") HOLDING THE DOOR ON. THE DOOR WILL NO LONGER CLOSE COMPLETELY. I KNOW OF MANY OTHER VANS FROM THE SAME MODEL YEAR HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. ONE OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS AND HIS SON BOTH HAVE THE SAME EXACT VAN; WE BOUGHT THEM AT THE SAME TIME. THEY HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HINGES. I HOPE THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER, I THINK IT MAY BE A RAMPANT PROBLEM, AND I DEFINITELY FEEL IT IS A MAJOR SAFTEY CONCERN. LASTLY, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE A RESPONSE EMAIL. THANK YOU. SINCERELY, JIM MERKEL

NHTSA complaint #10177361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1 miles Jackson, WI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

MY COMPLAINT IS OF THE PASSENGER SIDE PORTSIDE DOOR HINGES ON ALMOST ALL GMC SAVANAH 3500'S THAT I HAVE SEEN. IT IS A SAFTEY CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE THE DOOR IS ALMOST COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IS INOPERABLE. I HAVE LUBRICATED THE HINGES MANY TIME TO NO AVAIL. THE WELDS ON THE HINGES ARE BADLY CRACKED WITH JUST A VERY SMALL PART OF THE WELD(APROX. 1/4") HOLDING THE DOOR ON. THE DOOR WILL NO LONGER CLOSE COMPLETELY. I KNOW OF MANY OTHER VANS FROM THE SAME MODEL YEAR HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. ONE OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS AND HIS SON BOTH HAVE THE SAME EXACT VAN; WE BOUGHT THEM AT THE SAME TIME. THEY HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HINGES. I HOPE THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER, I THINK IT MAY BE A RAMPANT PROBLEM, AND I DEFINITELY FEEL IT IS A MAJOR SAFTEY CONCERN. LASTLY, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE A RESPONSE EMAIL. THANK YOU. SINCERELY, JIM MERKEL

NHTSA complaint #10177363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fraser, MI

SEATS

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE POWERED BY THE DURAS SEAT MECHANISMS. THE DRIVER SEAT STEEL BRACKET BROKE OFF AT ONE OF THE PIVOT POINTS WHICH LOWERS AND RAISES THE SEAT. I WOULD NEVER EXPECT THE METAL BRACKET TO BREAK (ESPECIALLY, ON SOMETHING IMPORTANT AS OF FRONT SEAT). I SPOKE WITH A WELDER ABOUT THE MECHANISM, HE FELT THE STEEL USED FOR THE BRACKET WAS TOO THIN. CURRENTLY, I REMOVED THE FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT AND INSTALLED THE PASSENGERS GOOD SEATS MECHANISM IN PLACE ON THE BROKEN ONE.

NHTSA complaint #10156856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,000 miles Ferndale, MI Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ON WET PAVEMENT AT 2-3 MPH. THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE; THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. THE ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10150116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Ellis, WI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT. HE HAD TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE DOOR OPEN. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE HINGE SNAPPED. HE STATES IT WAS BECAUSE THE PIN WAS PUT IN THE HINGE AND THEN CAPPED ON THE BOTTOM. THIS DID NOT ALLOW MOISTURE TO ESCAPE, CAUSING IT TO FREEZE AND SNAP THE HINGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP DID GET THE DOOR SHUT. GENERAL MOTORS OFFERED $150 TOWARDS THE REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10143112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,000 miles Forney, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

FUEL INJECTORS CLOGGING VERY OFTEN CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH AND SHAKE. DEALER REPAIRED FIRST TIME WITH ONLY 11,000 ON VEHICLE. BUT STATED THAT IT WAS NOT WARRANTY. INJECTORS ARE CONTINUING TO CLOG EVERY 6,000-7,000 MILES EVEN WHEN CHANGING FUEL FILTER AND HAVING INJECTORS SERVICED. AND USING QUALITY FUEL AND INJECTOR CLEANER EVERY 3,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10112603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Mexico, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COMPUTER SHUT DOWN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE EIGHT TIMES, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10042050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chester, VT

TIRES

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH DRIVER HEARD A TIRE BLOWING OUT. DRIVER PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AND STOPPED VEHICLE. DRIVER CHECKED THE TIRES, AND NOTICED RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10037806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Walker, LA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THAT THE REAR SIDE WINDOW BROKE OUT LAND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA complaint #8021456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.