2002 GMC Savana Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 GMC Savana, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure325.0%
- Engine216.7%
- Brakes216.7%
- Interior & seats18.3%
- Tires & wheels18.3%
- Visibility18.3%
- Electrical18.3%
- Fuel system18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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*LJ
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. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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. *JB
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .