30 of the
449 complaints filed about the GMC Savana
are about the transmission —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
30
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
The transmission in my 2022 GMC Savana experiences severe harsh shifting during normal driving conditions. The issue is most noticeable between 1st–2nd gear and 2nd–3rd gear, with 2nd gear being especially problematic. The vehicle jerks and slams aggressively into gear during acceleration, causing unstable driving behavior and hesitation. In addition, when coming to a complete stop, the vehicle jerks forward unexpectedly. When accelerating again from a stop, the transmission jerks hard once more before shifting. This behavior occurs repeatedly during everyday driving and creates a safety concern, especially in traffic, intersections, parking areas, and while merging onto highways. The condition has progressively become worse over time and the vehicle currently has approximately 71,000 miles. The sudden shifting and jerking behavior affects vehicle control and creates concern for the safety of the driver, passengers, and surrounding traffic. No warning lights were present at the time of the issue. The problem appears to be related to the transmission/powertrain system. I also became aware that similar transmission and harsh shifting problems have been reported by other owners of the same make and model vehicle, despite my VIN currently not being included in any recall while others had a transmission recall
NHTSA complaint #11740083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
6L80 transmission has failed @ 109,000 miles. At a stop light, in drive, vehicle would not move in drive or reverse. After switching back and forth transmission finally started to work and was able to limp to a dealership. Did not realize how big this issue is with this transmission until mine failed prematurely. I thank God that mine happened at a stop light and not when trying to accelerate at a say a stop sign where I need to cross multiple lanes of traffic. I would have been a sitting duck in the middle of oncoming traffic.
NHTSA complaint #11683975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Savana. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #11526817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Have taken it to the GMC dealership over seven times with same issue. They refuse to fix problem due to not being able to replicate it. Losing steering and braking issue is getting worse. This is a LARGE HEAVY TRUCK and GM refuses to help fix. This is very disturbing. Has to be something in the drive train.
NHTSA complaint #11426488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IT ONLY HAS 63K PLUS MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BECAME ERRATIC. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT TO "D", BUT THE SECOND AND THE FIRST GEAR WORKS FINE. WE WERE TOLD BY GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY A GMC DEALER TO FIND OUT THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE RESULTS INDICATED NO PROBLEMS WERE DETECTED OR NO CODES WERE SHOWING UP ON THEIR COMPUTER, GMC THEN TOLD US THAT IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE COULD NOT AFFORD A NEWLY REBUILT TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10538171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10240448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. WAS DRIVING VAN ON THE HIGHWAY (DURING 1ST FAILURE OD 15,403 AND 2ND FAILURE OD 55576 ), WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT IN TO HIGHER GEAR AND FAILED. WAS DRIVING VAN ON STREET WHEN VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE (DURING 3RD FAILURE OD 56676). 2. DURING FAILURE 1 VAN WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEED AND HAD TO BE MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. DURING FAILURE TWO VAN UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVE IN LOW GEAR TO THE DEALER. DURING FAILURE 3 VAN WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AT ALL AND OBSTRUCTED TRAFFIC ON A MAIN STREET UNTIL IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. 3. DURING FAILURE ONE SUNSHELL STRIPPED, 3-4 CLUTCHES BURNED, 2-4 BAND BURNED. SUN SHELL & GEAR REPLACED ALL CLUTCHES & 2-4 BAND REPLACED. DURING FAILURE TWO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE 4/4 CLUTCH, INPUT HOUSING, PUMP, SHAFT AND DRUM. CORE REASSEMBLED AND SRTA TRANS INSTALLED. DURING FAILURE THREE TRANSMISSION WAS SHREDDED AWAITING REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10196031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING REAR END FAILED, VEHICLE SKIDDED, AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS INOPERABLE, AND TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. CONTACTED GMC.
NHTSA complaint #10105315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
FUME INHALATION FROM GEAR OIL BURNING. FAMILY BECAME ILL AT TIME OF INCIDENT. GMCWANTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND GIVE ME A 5 YEAR WARRANTY ... NO LIFE INSURANCE MENTIONED. BBB IS BEGINNING ARBITRATION, SINCE WE FEEL THE FUMES ARE UNSAFE AND WANT OUR MONEY BACK. CAN YOU HELP???
NHTSA complaint #764138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
FUME INHALATION FROM GEAR OIL BURNING. FAMILY BECAME ILL AT TIME OF INCIDENT. GMCWANTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND GIVE ME A 5 YEAR WARRANTY ... NO LIFE INSURANCE MENTIONED. BBB IS BEGINNING ARBITRATION, SINCE WE FEEL THE FUMES ARE UNSAFE AND WANT OUR MONEY BACK. CAN YOU HELP???
NHTSA complaint #764138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT 38,000 MILES VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES, ONLY WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HARD SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.
NHTSA complaint #6900598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY LOST ALL OF IT'S FLUID WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND LEFT A CLOUD OF SMOKE WHICH CAUSED ME TO STOP. WHEN I SAW A POOL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, I LOOKED UNDER THE VAN AND NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST CROSSOVER PIPE HAD CAUSED THE FLUID TO IGNITE UNDER THE VAN AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE UNDER THE VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT, I ORDERED MY WIFE TO GET OUT OF THE VAN BECAUSE OF THE FLAMES. A MOTORIST MUST HAVE CALLED THE MT. MORRIS FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE A FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED AT THE SCEEN. I HAD ALREADY PUT THE FLAMES OUT BY USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER THAT I CARRY. MY VAN HAD TO BE TOWED TO ALBERT CHEVROLET IN MT. MORRIS (THEY WERE ONE OF THE FEW DEALERSHIPS THAT WERE OPEN ON SATURDAY). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ALONE IS LISTED FOR $1,350.00 PLUS LABOR AND ANY ADDITION FLUIDS AND/OR PARTS. I ESTIMATE THIS TO COST APPROXIMATELY $2,500.00.
NHTSA complaint #745281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #869783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.