2016 GMC Savana

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) after receiving one Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) complaint related to four school buses built on General Motors (GM) van chassis. The VOQ alleged transmission failure resulting in a loss of all forward gear. In ODI's pre-investigative discussions with GM, ODI learned that valve body separator plates had been machined out of tolerance during production periods between October 2016 to April 2017 and February 2021 to April 2021. This out of tolerance machining may create excessive wear to the valve body check balls, possibly resulting in an inability to engage drive or reverse. The potential loss of drivability only begins when shifting from a park or neutral transmission selection and does not occur during a functional drive cycle. The average failure mileage of vehicles which experienced this condition is within warranty and related claims or complaints did not include any accidents, injuries, or fatalities. After discussions with GM, Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 23-NA-142 (NHTSA ID number 10243753) was released in September 2023. This technical service bulletin provides a procedure for technicians to replace the forward check ball and separator plate if found to be the cause of a customer's concern. During the course of the investigation, GM also released a Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) N232428780 (NHTSA ID 10253316) in February 2024, to notify school bus and ambulance fleets of the concern and to proactively mitigate the risk in these essential-operation vehicles. Recently, ODI contacted multiple school bus fleets, verifying that there have not been any stranded buses mid-route from this condition. Additionally, ODI has not received any additional VOQ complaints since the opening of this investigation. Based on the available information, including GM's TSB and CSP, this PE is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI report cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Numbers document, go to NHTSA.gov.

6L80 transmission has failed @ 109,000 miles. At a stop light, in drive, vehicle would not move in drive or reverse. After switching back and forth transmission finally started to work and was able to limp to a dealership. Did not realize how big this issue is with this transmission until mine failed prematurely. I thank God that mine happened at a stop light and not when trying to accelerate at a say a stop sign where I need to cross multiple lanes of traffic. I would have been a sitting duck in the middle of oncoming traffic.

NHTSA ID

11683975

Incident

Aug 28, 2025

I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE I PURCHASED IN THE PENSKE PARKING LOT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE FELT FINE, ENGINE LOOKED GOOD, REAR TIRES WERE WORN, BUT I WAS TOLD THEY CONFORMED TO DOT STANDARDS. AFTER THE PURCHASE I STARTED TO DRIVE IT HOME. WHEN I GOT ON THE FREEWAY, I COULD NOT GET THE TRUCK ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR WITH OUT SEVERE VIBRATIONS. THE TRUCK ALSO PULLED TO THE RIGHT, IT WAS OBVIOUS THE TRUCK NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. PENSKE GIVES A 15 DAY PERIOD WHEN THEY WILL REPAIR DAMAGE YOU HAVE FOUND. I ARRANGED WITH ALYSE, THE GIRL THAT WORKS FOR PENSKE SALES IN PENNSYLVANIA. SHE HAD ME BRING THE TRUCK TO CORONA RENTAL AND REPAIR CENTER. I PICKED THE TRUCK UP ON THE 15TH OF MARCH AND BROUGHT IT TO PENSKE FOR REPAIRS ON THE FRIDAY, 19, MARCH 2021. I CALLED THE FOLLOWING WEEK, AND TALKED TO YEISEN DELGADO, THE SALES REP WHERE THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED FROM. HE SAID THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND ASKED ME IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND DENIED IT WITH VIGOR. I COULD SEE I WAS NOT GOING TO GET MY TRUCK REPAIRED. I WENT TO VIEW THE TRUCK THE NEXT WEEK, AND WAS MET BY VICTOR, THE REPAIR MECHANIC SUPERVISOR. HE SHOWED ME THE DAMAGE FROM THE ACCIDENT, I HAVE MANY PICTURES. THEY HAD DRAWN AN ARROW INDICATING THE DAMAGE. IT WAS OBVIOUS THE DAMAGE WAS AL LEAST 4 MONTHS OLD. I HAD POSSESSION OF THE TRUCK FOR 4 OR 5 DAYS. I HAD A CARFAX REPORT AND IT CLEARLY SAID NO ACCIDENTS OR DAMAGE REPORTED. SO, I PURCHASED A TRUCK THAT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THEM TO REPAIR THE TRUCK. I BELIEVE THEY ARE FIXING NOW. BUT, I HAVE PURCHASED A TRUCK THAT WAS CERTIFIED PROVEN TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. I COULD NOT USE IT TO DRIVE MY HOME FURNITURE/GOODS THE 1347 MILES TO MY NEW HOME. PHOTO'S SHOW THE RUST ON THE RAMPAGED PARTS ARE AT LEAST 4 MONTHS OLD.

NHTSA ID

11408196

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING OVER LAST 4 MONTHS IN FOLLOWING ORDER: INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING STABLETRACK DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. BRAKE SWITCH AT PEDAL REPLACED. BRAKE LIGHTS NOW STAYING OFF. STABLETRACK DASH LIGHT CAME INTERMITTENTLY THREE TIMES AGAIN. STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTERS ITSELF TO LEFT A FEW DEGREES. INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING RE-OCCURS. BRAKES PULLING SLIGHTLY TO LEFT. BRAKES STOP PULLING LEFT. STEERING WHEEL RE-CENTERS. INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE CEASES IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING.

NHTSA ID

11365198

Incident

Oct 19, 2020

Mileage

62,000 mi

THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BUT DO NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK WHEN THEY SHOULD. IN THE PAST, A CAR DOOR WOULD OPEN WHEN THE DOOR RELEASE WAS PULLED, REGARDLESS IF THE DOOR WAS LOCKED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE. I WOULD LIKE THE OPTION TO TURN OFF THE AUTO LOCK FEATURE.

NHTSA ID

11231878

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

20,300 mi

IN 2004 I PURCHASED A NEW CHEVY VAN. IN 2006 MY LIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS MELTED TOGETHER AND I COULD NOT TURN MY LIGHTS OFF. I PAID TO GET THIS REPAIRED. IN 2008 THIS SAME VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I PARKED THE VAN, OPENED THE DOOR AND GOT OUT.SAFELY. THE VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS BUT I WAS SAFE. IN 2017 I PURCHASED A 2016 GMC VAN. THIS VAN HAS A FEATURE THAT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS MY DOORS. THE DOORS DO NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK WHEN I PARK THIS VAN. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO HAVE THIS FEATURE. I WAS ABLE TO EGRESS MY OLD VEHICLE THAT CAUGHT FIRE BUT I MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME LUCK WITH THIS AUTOMATION FEATURE THAT LOCKS MY DOORS AND THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS FILLING WITH SMOKE. I KEEP THINKING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOUNG CHILDREN WERE IN CAR SEATS AND THE DOORS DID NOT UNLOCK. I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY A USELESS FEATURE BUT A DANGEROUS ONE. I SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN OFF THIS AUTO LOCK FEATURE JUST AS I CAN WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG.

NHTSA ID

11230521

Incident

Jul 6, 2019

Mileage

20,230 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SAVANA. WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION WITH THE VEHICLE TURNED ON, THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COOK CHEVROLET BUICK (1193 W SAGINAW RD, VASSAR, MI 48768, (989) 823-8523) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER SWITCH FOR THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS SEIZED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CALIBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STABILITRAC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING POSITION SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-529-6763906. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,900.

NHTSA ID

11219707

Incident

Jun 4, 2019

Mileage

53,900 mi

PI to help diagnose A/C concern

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This PI Communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform 19-NA-255: Wax Coating on Frame Peeling, Metal Shows Corrosion/Rusting due to issue with getting product from current supplier listed in the bulletin.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.