Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 GMC Savana 3500, most frequently naming the airbags category. 5 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 2 months of data.
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I WAS SEATED ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT OF MY VEHICLE DOING PAPERWORK WHEN MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED CAUSING ME TO SUFFER BURNS AND CONTUSIONS TO MY LEGS AND GROIN REGIONS AND INJURIES TO MY HANDS, NECK, BACK AND SHOULDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SAVANA 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING WITHOUT A CRASH OCCURRING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 145,000. UPDATED 07/15/08.*LJ UPDATED 07/15/08
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE MEDIA DISC PLAYER WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATIONS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF THE REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED IN COLDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AREAS DUE TO CALIBRATION CONCERNS.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Vehicle Recalls
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.