2005 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 2005 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
- Brakes212.5%
- Steering212.5%
- Electrical212.5%
- Tires & wheels212.5%
- Body & structure212.5%
- Suspension16.3%
- Visibility16.3%
- Heating & air conditioning16.3%
- Interior & seats16.3%
- Other / unspecified16.3%
- Seat belts16.3%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SAVANA. WHILE TRAVELING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WHERE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 33,000.
2005 GMC 2500 HAS SEVERE RUST ON BRAKE BEARING SPINDLES & KNOCK HEAD JOINTS. *TS *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ON BUMPY ROAD AT 30 MILES / HOUR CAR TURNS OFF. I COULD NOT TURN, POWER STEERING LOCKED. CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY ROAD AND I BRAKE, CHANGED GEARS TO PARK. I TURN IGNITION KEY OFF AND THEN TURNED IT ON AGAIN. THIS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES. I TRY TO AVOID BUMPY AREAS. I TOOK TO MECHANIC & HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH ENGINE. I DID TO MENTION IT ONLY HAPPENS ON BUMPY RIDES, ( HE DROVE IT ON EXPRESSWAY). I JUST FOUND OUT GMC CARS HAVE A RECALL ON KEY IGNITIONS BUT NOT MY 2005 GMC. I CONTACTED GMC AND MY LOCAL DEALER BUT THEY SAY IT IS NOT RECALLED AND UNLESS IT HAPPENS WHILE THEY DRIVE IT THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE IT. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNLESS THEY DIAGNOSE IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SAVANA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING GEAR TWICE AND THE STEERING PUMP ONCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,800. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ UPDATED 02/01/08 *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 ON BUMPY ROAD AT 30 MILES / HOUR CAR TURNS OFF. I COULD NOT TURN, POWER STEERING LOCKED. CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSY ROAD AND I BRAKE, CHANGED GEARS TO PARK. I TURN IGNITION KEY OFF AND THEN TURNED IT ON AGAIN. THIS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES. I TRY TO AVOID BUMPY AREAS. I TOOK TO MECHANIC & HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH ENGINE. I DID TO MENTION IT ONLY HAPPENS ON BUMPY RIDES, ( HE DROVE IT ON EXPRESSWAY). I JUST FOUND OUT GMC CARS HAVE A RECALL ON KEY IGNITIONS BUT NOT MY 2005 GMC. I CONTACTED GMC AND MY LOCAL DEALER BUT THEY SAY IT IS NOT RECALLED AND UNLESS IT HAPPENS WHILE THEY DRIVE IT THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE IT. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNLESS THEY DIAGNOSE IT. *TR
2005 GMC SAVANNA WITH TIRE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VAN HAS HAD THREE TIRE BLOW OUTS. HE STATED THAT THE BLOW OUTS OCCURRED ON THE SAME TIRE AND THE SAME SPOT. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE LOW PROFILE TIRES WERE NOT A GOOD MATCH FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONICS AND THE WHEELS. *JB
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
TIRE "DEFINITY DAKOTA" HAD DEFECTED JUST FOR 20,000 MI. *TR
2005 GMC SAVANNA WITH TIRE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VAN HAS HAD THREE TIRE BLOW OUTS. HE STATED THAT THE BLOW OUTS OCCURRED ON THE SAME TIRE AND THE SAME SPOT. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE LOW PROFILE TIRES WERE NOT A GOOD MATCH FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONICS AND THE WHEELS. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHITE VAN SINCE WAS 4 YEARS OLD THE FRONT HOOD WHITE PAINT STAR PEELING OFF . KNOW IS HAVE PAINT ONLY. BAD QUALITY PAINT. YOU CAN SEE IN THE ROAD ALMOST ALL CHEVY OR GMC CARGO VAN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
SIDE CARGO REAR DOOR HINGES SIEZED AND BENT AFTER OPENING. NOW IT DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY (ALIGNMENT FROM HINGE), CAUSING FRONT SIDE CARGO DOOR TO STAY OPEN AT ALL TIMES. REAR DOOR IS OVER 1" OUT OF POSITION, PREVENTING FRONT DOOR FROM CLOSING AND ENGAGING LATCH. IF REAR DOOR IS OPENED, IT DOES NOT CLOSE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE TO REALIGN TO LATCHES, BUT STILL NOT ENOUGH TO CLOSE FRONT DOOR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE TIRES AND RIMS WERE CHANGED, BY THE DEALER. THIS HAD NO AFFECT AND THE VIBRATION STILL OCCURRED. THE DEALER INDICATED THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT, BUT THE CAUSE CAN NOT BE DETERMINED.
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
I had a new front windshield sold by PGW installed by Coughlin Auto Glass in Deer Lodge Montana in November - December 2022. I immediately noticed that the windshield did not allow RED LIGHT to pass through the tinted area. This is most likely due to a manufacturing defect and is dangerous. Unfortunately I did not have time to argue with the installer about a replacement until now, as I have been out of the state until yesterday. The installer confirmed that the glass was defective. He states that he contacted PGW today and that they will not replace the window. He and Pittsburg Glass Works state that they have had no other complaints and that it is too late to do anything about it. I suspect there is an entire batch of glass windshields that have this manufacturing defect. The consumer representative for PGW admitted that they had problems with supplies and manufacturing during COVID. I suspect this happened due to COVID related manufacturing problems.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 GMC SAVANA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT BECOME COOL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COOLING LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41000. THE COOLANT LINES THAT RAN TO THE REAR CLIMATE CONTROL WERE LEAKING FREON. UPDATED 11/24/10
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
SIDE CARGO REAR DOOR HINGES SIEZED AND BENT AFTER OPENING. NOW IT DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY (ALIGNMENT FROM HINGE), CAUSING FRONT SIDE CARGO DOOR TO STAY OPEN AT ALL TIMES. REAR DOOR IS OVER 1" OUT OF POSITION, PREVENTING FRONT DOOR FROM CLOSING AND ENGAGING LATCH. IF REAR DOOR IS OPENED, IT DOES NOT CLOSE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE TO REALIGN TO LATCHES, BUT STILL NOT ENOUGH TO CLOSE FRONT DOOR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
2005 GMC SAVANNA WITH TIRE FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VAN HAS HAD THREE TIRE BLOW OUTS. HE STATED THAT THE BLOW OUTS OCCURRED ON THE SAME TIRE AND THE SAME SPOT. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE LOW PROFILE TIRES WERE NOT A GOOD MATCH FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONICS AND THE WHEELS. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. *JB
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 .