Total Complaints
39 filings
GMC SAVANA · model year
1998 GMC SAVANA
39 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998GMCSAVANA carries 39 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1998 SAVANA is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 5 filings, followed by air bags:frontal:sensor/control module (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc (3). 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.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1998 SAVANA. 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.
39
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 5 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 3 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20220809ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GM theft system engaged leaving me stranded multiple times including on a remote mountain side. I was only able to get a cell signal by walking a few KM's down the road in the middle of the night to call for help. When I was able to get a hold of the dealer in the morning, they instructed me on how to "relearn" the key code and drive the van to the dealership. They cut a new key and sent me on my way. Since, the van theft system has left me stranded multiple times and me having to spend half an hour or more doing the relearn procedure. Warning lamps include "security' light illuminated on dash. Van starts, runs for 2 seconds and turns off.
20060222SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ENGAGES AT LOW SPEEDS OF 5MPH AND BELOW. THIS PRIMARILY HAPPENS WHILE STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 05V379000 CONCERNING THE ABS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN AND THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
Mileage: 53,000
20050819FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD NOT CONTACTED GMC AT THIS POINT. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 18, 2005. VEHICLE WAS BURNED COMPLETELY BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE. THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN, PULLED OVER, AND THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE BOTTOM AROUND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK
Mileage: 105,000
20040907STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE HINGES ONTHE SIDE DOORS ARE BREAKING CAUSING THE DOORS TO BIND AND NOT ABLE TO OPEN.YOU CANT GET IN OR OUT OF THE VAN USING THE SIDE DOORS. FIST THE INSIDE DOOR BANELS BOUND ON EACH OTHER AND WERE TORN OFF.*AK THE HINGES ARE WELDED TO THE GMC VAN. I CANT REPLACE THEM.
20030729STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE CABLE WHICH CONTROLLED THE SIDE PASSENGER DOOR BROKE.*MR. THREE MONTHS LATER THE CABLE WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE BROKE. *TS *JB
20030729TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
THE CABLE WHICH CONTROLLED THE SIDE PASSENGER DOOR BROKE.*MR. THREE MONTHS LATER THE CABLE WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE BROKE. *TS *JB
20030604STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE HINGES ON THE SIDE DOORS OF MY 1998 GMC SAVANA VAN OF THE 4 HINGES: 1 IS BROKEN AND 2 ARE CRACKED. I CALLED GMC AND GOT THE RUN AROUND. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM UNLESS YOU ISSUED A RECALL ON THE HINGES. *NLM
20030326ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE (PLASTIC GASKET) ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK. *JB
Mileage: 63,000
20020416TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE, TIRE SIZE LT245/75R16 DOT VN11B1A108. TREAD SEPARATED ON THREE TIRES. EQUIPMENT FOR A 1998, GMC, 15 PASSENGER VAN. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *YH
20010509STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DOOR HINGES WERE BREAKING AND COMING APART FROM VEHICLE. PLEASE ATTACH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROBLEM.*AK
20010404VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHEN PUT IN GEAR AS SOON AS CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF BRAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW. THE CONSUMER USES BRAKE EXCESSIVELY BECAUSE OF LACK OF ENGINE DECELERATION. THERE IS COOLANT LEAK AT RIGHT REAR INTAKE MANIFOLD. *YH
20010404ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHEN PUT IN GEAR AS SOON AS CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF BRAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW. THE CONSUMER USES BRAKE EXCESSIVELY BECAUSE OF LACK OF ENGINE DECELERATION. THERE IS COOLANT LEAK AT RIGHT REAR INTAKE MANIFOLD. *YH
20010404SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHEN PUT IN GEAR AS SOON AS CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF BRAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW. THE CONSUMER USES BRAKE EXCESSIVELY BECAUSE OF LACK OF ENGINE DECELERATION. THERE IS COOLANT LEAK AT RIGHT REAR INTAKE MANIFOLD. *YH
20010402AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WATER GOT UNDER CARPET ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS LOCATED. SENSOR GOT WET, AND AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK
20010402AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DUE TO POSITIONING OF SENSOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WATER GETS UNDER CARPETING, AND SENSOR LIGHT IS ON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
20010402AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DUE TO POSITIONING OF AIRBAG SENSOR SENSOR STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.*AK
20010402AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DUE TO POSITIONING OF THE AIRBAG SENSOR WATER GETS UNDER CARPET. CURRENTLY, SRS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.*AK
20010402AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WATER GETS UNDER THE CARPET WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS LOCATED, CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
20010402AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WATER GETS UNDER THE CARPET WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS LOCATED, CAUSING THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
20010306TIRES:TREAD/BELT
VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN BY EMPLOYEE WHEN THE TREAD OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE CAME OFF, R4S LT24575R16, DOT VN1181A247, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE BUT TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, TIRE NOT INVOLVED IN RECALL (OOT-005). CJ
Compare 1998GMCSAVANA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 GMC SAVANA have?▼
The 1998 GMC SAVANA has 39 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC SAVANA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 GMC SAVANA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC.
Is the 1998 GMC SAVANA 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.