SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1997 GMC Savana

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
46Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19942
199535
199646
199733
199849
199949
2000
Compare all Savana years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
9Power Train
7Structure
6Engine And Engine Cooling
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4
All reported categories
Steering
4Air Bags
3Seat Belts
3Tires
3Electrical System
2Fuel System, Other
2Seats
2Visibility
2Equipment
1Suspension
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 46 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFire

1997 GMC SAVANA ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION COMPARTMENTS CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID EXPERIENCE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS EARLIER IN THE DAY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0256-89) *JB UPDATED02/24/10 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10240448

69,707 miles · Feb 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WITH 69,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10005810

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT WAS REPORTED TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. FIRST REPORTED AT 16,799 MILES. DEALER ALWAYS DID PRESSURE TEST BUT REPORTED NO PROBLEM. NOW MY MECHANIC TELLS ME I HAVE COOLANT IN THE OIL.

NHTSA ODI #760407

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

AT 38,000 MILES VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES, ONLY WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HARD SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *YD

NHTSA ODI #6900598

Mileage unknown · May 11, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE CUTS OFF WITHOUT REASON AT 30MPH AND UNDER ONLY. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DISCOVERED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823182

Official recalls

1

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.