2017 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 2017 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
- Powertrain (other)330.0%
- Body & structure110.0%
- Brakes110.0%
- Other / unspecified110.0%
- Seat belts110.0%
- Steering110.0%
- Airbags110.0%
- Suspension110.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Savana. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
My airbag light will come on randomly . I had it scanned and its coming up as a DTC .
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC SAVANA. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOLIDAY AUTOMOTIVE (321 N ROLLING MEADOWS DR., FOND DU LAC, WI 54937, (866) 875-3224) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
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
The ABS Control Unit is faulty for the second time on this vehicle, with only 28,174 miles on it. The first time was 11/09/20 at 24,156 miles.
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
I HAVE PURCHASED A CONVERSION VAN THAT HAS BEEN MODIFIED BY AN AFTERMARKET UPFITTER BUT SOLD AS NEW ON A FRANCHISED GMC DEALERSHIP LOT. THE VAN CARRIES TWO PLACARDS WITH CONFLICTING GVWR INFORMATION. THESE VANS ARE BEING MODIFIED IN MASS QUANTITIES. THE REAR SPRINGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO SOFTEN THE RIDE BUT ARE INADEQUATE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A 3/4 TON VAN. THE TIRES THAT ARE BEING INSTALLED ON THESE VANS FOR VANITY REASONS ARE NOT OF THE CORRECT WEIGHT RATING FOR A 3/4 TON VAN. WE HAVE HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE TIRES FAILING AND THE REAR SPRINGS BENDING. THE CONVERSION COMPANY, THE GMC DEALER, NOR GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WISH TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. YET THESE VANS CONTINUE TO BE SOLD IN MASS QUANTITIES ON GMC AND CHEVROLET DEALER LOTS AS BRAND NEW VEHICLES. I AM SEEING MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS IN FORUMS AND FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUES. I AM GENUINELY CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE INJURED EVENTUALLY DUE TO TIRE OR SPRING FAILURE. ALSO I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELTS BECOMING COMPLETELY UNBOLTED FROM THE SEATS. THE FASTENERS USED BY THE CONVERSION COMPANY FOR THE SEAT BELTS ARE ALSO INADEQUATE FOR TODAY'S STANDARDS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MY COMPLAINT IS NOT IN REGARD TO THE OEM SPEC GM VAN. THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO A GM AUTHORIZED UPFITTER THAT IS TAKING BRAND NEW VANS PROVIDED BY GM, INSTALLING THEIR PARTS, THEN SELLING THEM AS NEW VEHICLES AT GM DEALERSHIPS. THIS CONVERSION COMPANY (THE EXPLORER VAN COMPANY) ALSO INSTALLS THEIR PRODUCTS ON FORD, MERCEDES, AND POSSIBLY THE RAM VANS AS WELL. WE HAVE HAD THREE TIRE FAILURES ALREADY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. BELLE TIRE WOULD NOT SELL US A REPLACEMENT TIRE BECAUSE THE SIZE INSTALLED ON THE VAN IS NOT RATED PROPERLY AND THERE IS NO TIRE MANUFACTURER IN THE US THAT PRODUCES A TIRE IN THE PROPER SIZE WITH THE CORRECT WEIGHT RATINGS.
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
I HAVE PURCHASED A CONVERSION VAN THAT HAS BEEN MODIFIED BY AN AFTERMARKET UPFITTER BUT SOLD AS NEW ON A FRANCHISED GMC DEALERSHIP LOT. THE VAN CARRIES TWO PLACARDS WITH CONFLICTING GVWR INFORMATION. THESE VANS ARE BEING MODIFIED IN MASS QUANTITIES. THE REAR SPRINGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO SOFTEN THE RIDE BUT ARE INADEQUATE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A 3/4 TON VAN. THE TIRES THAT ARE BEING INSTALLED ON THESE VANS FOR VANITY REASONS ARE NOT OF THE CORRECT WEIGHT RATING FOR A 3/4 TON VAN. WE HAVE HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE TIRES FAILING AND THE REAR SPRINGS BENDING. THE CONVERSION COMPANY, THE GMC DEALER, NOR GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WISH TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. YET THESE VANS CONTINUE TO BE SOLD IN MASS QUANTITIES ON GMC AND CHEVROLET DEALER LOTS AS BRAND NEW VEHICLES. I AM SEEING MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS IN FORUMS AND FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUES. I AM GENUINELY CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE INJURED EVENTUALLY DUE TO TIRE OR SPRING FAILURE. ALSO I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELTS BECOMING COMPLETELY UNBOLTED FROM THE SEATS. THE FASTENERS USED BY THE CONVERSION COMPANY FOR THE SEAT BELTS ARE ALSO INADEQUATE FOR TODAY'S STANDARDS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MY COMPLAINT IS NOT IN REGARD TO THE OEM SPEC GM VAN. THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO A GM AUTHORIZED UPFITTER THAT IS TAKING BRAND NEW VANS PROVIDED BY GM, INSTALLING THEIR PARTS, THEN SELLING THEM AS NEW VEHICLES AT GM DEALERSHIPS. THIS CONVERSION COMPANY (THE EXPLORER VAN COMPANY) ALSO INSTALLS THEIR PRODUCTS ON FORD, MERCEDES, AND POSSIBLY THE RAM VANS AS WELL. WE HAVE HAD THREE TIRE FAILURES ALREADY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. BELLE TIRE WOULD NOT SELL US A REPLACEMENT TIRE BECAUSE THE SIZE INSTALLED ON THE VAN IS NOT RATED PROPERLY AND THERE IS NO TIRE MANUFACTURER IN THE US THAT PRODUCES A TIRE IN THE PROPER SIZE WITH THE CORRECT WEIGHT RATINGS.
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
Have taken it to the GMC dealership over seven times with same issue. They refuse to fix problem due to not being able to replicate it. Losing steering and braking issue is getting worse. This is a LARGE HEAVY TRUCK and GM refuses to help fix. This is very disturbing. Has to be something in the drive train.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
My airbag light will come on randomly . I had it scanned and its coming up as a DTC .
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
I HAVE PURCHASED A CONVERSION VAN THAT HAS BEEN MODIFIED BY AN AFTERMARKET UPFITTER BUT SOLD AS NEW ON A FRANCHISED GMC DEALERSHIP LOT. THE VAN CARRIES TWO PLACARDS WITH CONFLICTING GVWR INFORMATION. THESE VANS ARE BEING MODIFIED IN MASS QUANTITIES. THE REAR SPRINGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO SOFTEN THE RIDE BUT ARE INADEQUATE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A 3/4 TON VAN. THE TIRES THAT ARE BEING INSTALLED ON THESE VANS FOR VANITY REASONS ARE NOT OF THE CORRECT WEIGHT RATING FOR A 3/4 TON VAN. WE HAVE HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE TIRES FAILING AND THE REAR SPRINGS BENDING. THE CONVERSION COMPANY, THE GMC DEALER, NOR GM CUSTOMER SERVICE WISH TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. YET THESE VANS CONTINUE TO BE SOLD IN MASS QUANTITIES ON GMC AND CHEVROLET DEALER LOTS AS BRAND NEW VEHICLES. I AM SEEING MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS IN FORUMS AND FACEBOOK GROUPS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUES. I AM GENUINELY CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE INJURED EVENTUALLY DUE TO TIRE OR SPRING FAILURE. ALSO I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELTS BECOMING COMPLETELY UNBOLTED FROM THE SEATS. THE FASTENERS USED BY THE CONVERSION COMPANY FOR THE SEAT BELTS ARE ALSO INADEQUATE FOR TODAY'S STANDARDS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MY COMPLAINT IS NOT IN REGARD TO THE OEM SPEC GM VAN. THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO A GM AUTHORIZED UPFITTER THAT IS TAKING BRAND NEW VANS PROVIDED BY GM, INSTALLING THEIR PARTS, THEN SELLING THEM AS NEW VEHICLES AT GM DEALERSHIPS. THIS CONVERSION COMPANY (THE EXPLORER VAN COMPANY) ALSO INSTALLS THEIR PRODUCTS ON FORD, MERCEDES, AND POSSIBLY THE RAM VANS AS WELL. WE HAVE HAD THREE TIRE FAILURES ALREADY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. BELLE TIRE WOULD NOT SELL US A REPLACEMENT TIRE BECAUSE THE SIZE INSTALLED ON THE VAN IS NOT RATED PROPERLY AND THERE IS NO TIRE MANUFACTURER IN THE US THAT PRODUCES A TIRE IN THE PROPER SIZE WITH THE CORRECT WEIGHT RATINGS.
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 .