RoadVitals

2001 GMC Savana 1500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Dec 26, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 24, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 GMC Savana 1500, most frequently naming the engine, interior & seats and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 66 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine133.3%
  • Interior & seats133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Dec 26, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SAVANA 1500. 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 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10668391
Incident
Sep 22, 2014
Mileage
70,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 17, 2007

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT BRACKET BREAKS OFF AT THE BASE VERY EASILY. THIS VEHICLE IS A STARCRAFT CONVERSION OF A 2001 GMC SAVANA VAN. THIS BRACKET HAS BROKEN OFF 4 TIMES SINCE THE VAN WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2001. THIS HAS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD, AS THE SEAT WILL BE VERY PRONE TO BREAKING OFF IN THE EVENT OF ANY COLLISION. THIS IS A $600 REPAIR EACH TIME. THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HAS IGNORED OUR LATEST COMMUNICATION WITH HIM. THE MOST RECENTLY BROKEN SEAT BRACKET WAS INSTALLED IN MAY 2006, AND BROKE MARCH 3, 2007, SO HAS LASTED LESS THAN A YEAR. THIS IS A LIGHTLY USED FAMILY VEHICLE, NOT USED FOR ANY COMMERCIAL PURPOSE.

NHTSA ID
10185410
Incident
Mar 3, 2007
Mileage
94,600 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 30, 2006

TWO TIRE FAILURES WITHIN PAST 8 WEEKS. BOUGHT FOUR CONTINENTAL SPORT LT/SUV TIRES AT WALMART IN COLORADO 6/18/04. INSTALLED ON 2001 GMC SAVANA (FULL SIZE) PASSENGER VAN 235/75R15. TIRES HAVE UNDER 30,000 USE BY SUMMER 2006. IN JUNE 2006, RIGHT REAR TIRE FAILED WITH MAJOR TREAD SEPARATION AND METAL CORDS UNRAVELED BENEATH TREAD CAUSING EGG SHAPE AND TIRE TO BECOME PARTIAL SHRAPNEL. IT WAS HOT DAY; OCCURRED WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED; TIRE PRESSURE HAD BEEN CHECKED SAME DAY AND WAS GOOD PER SIDEWALL MAX PSI RATING. REPLACED WITH PRO RATED DISCOUNT. TODAY, AUG 29, 2006, ANOTHER ONE OF THE TIRES FAILED IN EXACT SAME MANNER! THIS WAS FRONT RIGHT TIRE. TIRE HAD SEPARATION JUST BENEATH TREAD CAUSING EGG SHAPE AND ADVERSE HANDLING. I HAVE PHOTOS SAVED THIS TIME OF DAMAGE. TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED EARLIER SAME DAY AND PERFECT PER MFG PSI RATING ON TIRE. HOT DAY (AGAIN), HIGHWAY TRAVEL IN ARIZONA FOR ONE HOUR WHEN TIRE FAILED. TIRE COMING APART INTERNALLY, WITHIN TREAD AREA. I AM NOW CONVINCED SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS WHOLE BATCH OF CONTINENTAL'S FROM COLORADO IN 2004. PERHAPS YOU WILL FIND MORE COMPLAINTS AS MOTORISTS HIT 30,000 MARK. *JB

NHTSA ID
10167022
Incident
Jun 1, 2006

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

03-06-01-023I

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

03-06-01-023H

ENGINE

This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

24-NA-141

POWER TRAIN

GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return.

16-NA-383

ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Savana 1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017000
2016000
2015200
2014600
2013000
2012100
2011320
2010200
2009000
2008200
2007310
2006100
2005410
2004510
2003310
2002210
2001Viewing310
2000510
1999110
1998000
1997100
1996000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.