RoadVitals

2003 GMC Savana Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
22
Latest May 17, 2019
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.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Apr 27, 2003

What this page shows

Our database holds 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 GMC Savana. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–22 of 22

BrakesSteering
Filed May 17, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SAVANA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT PROPERLY OPERATE. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO DEPRESS, WHICH AFFECTED THE VEHICLE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE HYDRO PUMP WAS FAULTY. THE PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE HYDRO PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11208186
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 28, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SAVANA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR CAMPAIGN NUMBER 06E043000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT HONOR THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO CORROSION ON THE FUEL FILLER PIPE BUT THE FUEL TANK HAD CORROSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10504823
Incident
Mar 15, 2013
Mileage
159,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 28, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SAVANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED TO THE GROUND WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID
10463398
Incident
Jun 27, 2012
Mileage
109,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 15, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SAVANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 50 MPH, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WOULD ENGAGE, FORCING THE PETAL BACK INTO THE IDLE POSITION AND CAUSING REDUCED BRAKING RESPONSE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MOMENTS BEFORE THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/19/10. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10325799
Incident
Apr 1, 2009
Mileage
37,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2008
Fire reported

TL*VIRGINIA TECH OWNS A 2003 GMC SAVANA. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,128. UPDATED 04/03/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10221059
Incident
Mar 12, 2008
Mileage
75,128 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 6, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SAVANA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER FIVE MINUTES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PREVIOUS FAILURES. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V521000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10217114
Incident
Feb 5, 2008
Mileage
20,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 10, 2007

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10196031
Incident
Jul 9, 2007
Mileage
55,576 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 11, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RUNNING BOARDS ARE TOO NARROW. WHILE STEPPING OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT MISSED THE NARROW RUNNING BOARD WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FALL. ALSO, THERE ARE NO SAFETY HANDLES ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10147440
Incident
Sep 1, 2003
Mileage
500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 5, 2006

I HAVE A 3500 SAVANA GMC VAN, WHEN OPENING THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE SIDE DOOR IS OPEN THE SIDE DOOR HITS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHICH HAS CAUSED A DENT IN THE SIDE DOOR. THE OTHER ISSUE IS WHEN SOMEONE OPENS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND HAS THEIR HAND IN THE SAME LOCATION WHERE THE TWO DOOR MEET IT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE HAND.*JB

NHTSA ID
10146944
Incident
Jun 6, 2004
Engine
Filed Dec 28, 2005

I HAVE A LEAK COMING FROM MUFFLER, DRIPPING BLACK LIQUID. I COMPLAINED AT MY DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10146227
Incident
Dec 27, 2005
Mileage
27,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 19, 2005

2003 GMC SAVANNA 2500 EXT VAN 6.0 H.O. ENGINE. MALFUNCTION FUEL GAUGE, ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL FROM DASH. RADIO FAILED FOUR TIMES AND HAS FAILED AGAIN. CAN NOT TURN RADIO OFF WITHOUT OPENING HOOD AND PULLING FUSE. BROKEN DASHBOARD ALL FOUR TIMES. NO RADIO SINCE SEPTEMBER 2005 IN OPERATION, AND DEALER WILL NOT INSTALL NEW UNIT. THEY WILL ONLY HAVE IT REBUILT?. TRUCK HAS RUN OUT OF GAS WHEN GAUGE READS 1/2 TANK ON MANY OCCASSIONS!*JB

NHTSA ID
10145654
Incident
Jan 31, 2003
Mileage
3,300 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 23, 2005

I BOUGHT THIS GMC SAVANA USED (22,000 MILES) AND THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT WORK AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTEE, CLAIMING IT WAS A WEAR ITEM. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET. PARKING BRAKES SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT IN THAT SHORT A TIME. NO CRASHES YET, BUT I SAW THAT GMC PICKUPS ARE BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS VAN PROBABLY HAS THE SAME PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
10126340
Incident
Jul 26, 2004
Mileage
22,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 6, 2005

THE RUNNING BOARDS ON THE VEHICLE ARE TOO SHORT AND WERE UNABLE TO BE SEEN WHEN THE DRIVER GETS OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ANTICIPATES THAT IT COULD CAUSE INJURY TO EITHER FOOT WHILE GETTING INTO OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10115463
Incident
Mar 18, 2005
Visibility
Filed Aug 19, 2004
Crash reported

2003 SAVANAH VAN MISSED ON RECALL.*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE SAME DEFECTIVE WIPER MODULE BEING RECALLED ON OTHER GMC VEHICLE'S IS THE SAME PART IN HIS VEHICLE WHICH ALSO FAILED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO IT'S VIN.

NHTSA ID
10089370
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Fuel system
Filed Jun 4, 2004

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT EXCESSIVE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STORAGE TANK FELL OUT. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10072236
Incident
May 3, 2004
Mileage
21,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 1, 2004

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO FILL THE FUEL TANK WITH FUEL BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. THIS RESULTED IN THE GASOLINE PUMP NOZZLE CLICKING OFF BEFORE THE TANK WAS FULL. DEALERSHIP IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM CHANGED THE FILLER NECK, ITS VALVE AND OTHER FUEL TANK COMPONENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10061057
Incident
Mar 2, 2003
Mileage
20 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 27, 2004

ONE OF THE RETAINING KNOTS, WHICH WAS APART OF THE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS MISSING WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10055870
Incident
Jan 24, 2004
Mileage
135,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 2, 2003
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL TURN. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE TWO BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *AK *TT *JB

NHTSA ID
10046506
Incident
Oct 20, 2003
Brakes
Filed Nov 3, 2003

CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS FLAW RESULTS IN EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR. ONLY THE OUTSIDE BRAKE PADS WEAR. AS A RESULT, BRAKE PADS NEED TO BE CONTINUOUSLY REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10046154
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 9, 2003

THE TWO CAPTAIN CHAIRS LOCATED BEHIND THE FRONT SEATS ARE UNSTABLE, AND COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10042648
Engine
Filed Jun 24, 2003

EXHAUST LEAK IN CONNECTION FROM TAIL PIPE TO CAT CONVERTER. SOUNDS LIKE METAL SQUEAKING UNDER VEHICLE WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING, BUT IT IS THE SOUND OF AIR WHISTLING THROUGH LEAK. WATER ALSO DRIPS FROM LEAK. LEAK IS UNDER CLAMP THAT HOLDS TAIL PIPE UP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10023664
Incident
Jun 24, 2003
Mileage
100 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 27, 2003
1 injury reported

DRIVER SEAT FALLS OUT CONTINUOUSLY. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10016575
Incident
Mar 5, 2002
Mileage
20 mi

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .