RoadVitals

2009 GMC Savana 3500

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 Apr 19, 2017
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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 GMC Savana 3500, most frequently naming the brakes, fuel system and other / unspecified categories. 211 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

  • Brakes125.0%
  • Fuel system125.0%
  • Other / unspecified125.0%
  • Suspension125.0%

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

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.

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Apr 19, 2017

FUEL TANK CORRODES AND LEAKS FUEL ON ROADWAY

NHTSA ID
10979318
Incident
Feb 21, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed May 22, 2015

FLEET VEHICLE I FOR SERVICE THOUGHT TIRE WAS BAD, UNDER CLOSER INSPECTION, WELD FAILED CAUSING RIM TO SPLIT FROM INNER MOUNTING HUB CAUSING 3/-1/2 INCH CRACK AT TIRE BEAD. I HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 22 YEARS I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FAILURE LIKE THIS, I WILL KEEP THE RIM IN CASE YOU WANT IT FOR STUDY.

NHTSA ID
10720994
Incident
May 22, 2015
Mileage
118,602 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 11, 2010

WHEN TOWING A TRAILER WITH MY 1 TON GM VAN DOWN HILL AND BRAKING THE FRONT END SHAKES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT IT AS THEY HAVE IT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THEY CLAIM THE BRAKES GET HOT AND TO DOWN SHIFT THE VAN. THEY ALSO SAY FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES AND A CRASH. GM TECH SAYS ON MY REPAIR ORDER THAT WHEN BRAKES GET HOT THEY WILL PULSATE THEN WHEN THEY COOL THEY GO BACK TO NORMAL. PER TAC NO REPAIRS AT THIS TIME CASE [XXX]...[XXX]. ALL 1/2 TON, 3/4 TON, AND 1 TON VANS ARE IN THIS CATEGORY AS NO SPECIFIC MODEL OF SAVANA/EXPRESS WAS MENTIONED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW THEY KNEW ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING AND CHOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

NHTSA ID
10359985
Incident
Sep 19, 2010
Mileage
17,500 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

13598

New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH

PIC5650M

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, B3935, C0750, C0755, C0760, C0765, and/or C0775.

PIP5601C

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

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

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 3500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025000
2023000
2018000
2017000
2016000
2015100
2014100
2013000
2012000
2011000
2010100
2009Viewing300
2008000
2007200
2006130
2005310
2004010
2003310
2002320
2001220
2000120
1999120
1998000
1997200
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.