IllustrationMANUFACTURER DECLINED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF PUMP. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768169
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Savana years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
46 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING AN AWFUL NOISE, AND LIMITED MOBILIY. *SCC
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE SHAFT BROKE IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP, DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP ASSEMBLY AND SERPENTINE BELT.*JB
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.
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
THE REAR LEFT SIDE TIRE BLEW UP WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. (FIRESTONE STEEL TEX R4S/TIRE SIZE LT223/75R16). *YH
WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL REAR BRAKES WOULD GRAB. WHEN CONSUMER RELEASED THE BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL LIKE BRAKES WERE STILL APPLIED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED TO THE DEALER TO DISCONNECT THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL THE REAR BRA…
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WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL REAR BRAKES WOULD GRAB. WHEN CONSUMER RELEASED THE BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL LIKE BRAKES WERE STILL APPLIED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED TO THE DEALER TO DISCONNECT THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL THE REAR BRAKES WERE OVER ADJUSTING, CONSUMER STATES SINCE THE REMOVAL, THE BRAKES STILL GRAB AND STAY PARTIALLY ON AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED, DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO RESPOND LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNED TO HAVE A LOAD IN IT. *SLC
MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY LOST ALL OF IT'S FLUID WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND LEFT A CLOUD OF SMOKE WHICH CAUSED ME TO STOP. WHEN I SAW A POOL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, I LOOKED UNDER THE VAN AND NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST CROSSOVER PIPE HAD CAUSED THE FLUID TO IGNITE UNDER THE VAN AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE UNDER THE VEHICLE. A…
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MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY LOST ALL OF IT'S FLUID WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND LEFT A CLOUD OF SMOKE WHICH CAUSED ME TO STOP. WHEN I SAW A POOL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, I LOOKED UNDER THE VAN AND NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST CROSSOVER PIPE HAD CAUSED THE FLUID TO IGNITE UNDER THE VAN AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE UNDER THE VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT, I ORDERED MY WIFE TO GET OUT OF THE VAN BECAUSE OF THE FLAMES. A MOTORIST MUST HAVE CALLED THE MT. MORRIS FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE A FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED AT THE SCEEN. I HAD ALREADY PUT THE FLAMES OUT BY USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER THAT I CARRY. MY VAN HAD TO BE TOWED TO ALBERT CHEVROLET IN MT. MORRIS (THEY WERE ONE OF THE FEW DEALERSHIPS THAT WERE OPEN ON SATURDAY). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ALONE IS LISTED FOR $1,350.00 PLUS LABOR AND ANY ADDITION FLUIDS AND/OR PARTS. I ESTIMATE THIS TO COST APPROXIMATELY $2,500.00.*AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE 3RD WINDOW IN BACK FALLS OUT OF TRACK ONTO PAINT OF VAN WHEN UNLATCHED. THIS HAPPENED AT 297 MILES, WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER. *AK THE WINDOW FELL DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW . THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACED IT. *YH
UPPER HINGE PIN FALLING OUT OF HINGES, AND CAUSING DOORS TO DROP. UNABLE TO CLOSE PROPERLY;. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Official recalls
100V110000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Apr 17, 2000
PASSENGER VANS. THESE VANS EXPERIENCE FUEL ODORS OR LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED EVAPORATIVE EMISSION PIPE ASSEMBLY.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.