Total Complaints
3 filings
GMC SAVANA 1500 · model year
2011 GMC SAVANA 1500
3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2011GMCSAVANA 1500 carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 SAVANA 1500 is vehicle speed control with 1 filings, followed by air bags (1) and electronic stability control (esc) (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2011 SAVANA 1500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
Recalls (2)
11V27500006/05/2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A CLEARANCE CONDITION IN WHICH
11V00700006/01/2011
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRAC
Recent Complaints
20160704ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
BROKE DOWN 5 OR 6 TIMES DUE TO THIS BROUGHT IT IN FOR ISSUES AFTER ONE YEAR. JUST SHUT DOWN DUE TO STABILATRAC ERROR
Mileage: 6,000
20140826AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SAVANA 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V117000 (AIR BAGS ) AND STATED THAT THE AUTHORIZED DEALER INSTALLED THE INCORRECT AIR BAG COMPONENTS. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE AIR BAG UNTIL THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THE SENSOR ILLUMINATED FOR THE AIR BAG INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 10/10/14*CN
Mileage: 34,000
20120802CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC SAVANA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT THEN PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE, AS SHE CRASHED INTO A WALL AT 14 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS BUT THE DEALER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ALSO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,000.
Mileage: 5,000
Compare 2011GMCSAVANA 1500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2011 GMC SAVANA 1500 have?▼
The 2011 GMC SAVANA 1500 has 3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2011 GMC SAVANA 1500?▼
Yes, the 2011 GMC SAVANA 1500 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 GMC SAVANA 1500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2011 GMC SAVANA 1500 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC).
Is the 2011 GMC SAVANA 1500 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.