GMC SAVANA · model year

2002 GMC SAVANA

13 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002GMCSAVANA carries 13 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 2002 SAVANA is structure:body:door:hinge and attachments with 3 filings, followed by engine (2) and visibility:power window devices and controls (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.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2002 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.

13
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

13 filings

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

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS3
ENGINE2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1
TIRES1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
SEATS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1

Recent Complaints

20151028SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

S10 DIRECT REPLY- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH THE RECALL OF A 2012 GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN MARCH 2015, HE RECEIVED AN INFORMATION LETTER, NOT A RECALL THAT THE BRAKE LINE MAY FAIL DUE TO INADEQUATE CLEARANCE. AFTER VISITING THE GMC DEALER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WERE NO PROBLEM INDICATORS AT THAT TIME AND THE PART WOULD NOT BE REPLACED UNTIL IT FAILED. ON AUGUST 19, 2015, WHILE DRIVING ON A STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD WITH AN 8% GRADE, THE BRAKES FAILED. BY USING THE TRANSMISSION TO ASSIST IN BRAKING, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN TO A FLAT AREA BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE RESERVOIR AND FLUID SPLASHED ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE DUE TO BRAKE LINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD TAKE 6-8 DAYS TO GET THE REDESIGNED PART. THE BRAKE LINE HAD A HOLE IN IT BECAUSE IT WAS INSTALLED IN A KNOWN AREA OF INADEQUATE CLEARANCE. *JB

20141226ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SAVANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. MAILED OUT 01/13/15*LJ

Mileage: 93,000

20121030ENGINE

WE OWN SEVERAL GMC SAVANA 3500 15 PASSENGER VANS. WE SEEM TO BE HAVING REPEAT ISSUES WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BRAKING AND THE MANIFOLDS CRACKING. OUR 2002 HAS BEEN IN 2-3 TIMES AND OUR 2005 HAS IS NOW IN FOR IT'S SECOND MANIFOLD AND BOLTS. THE BOLTS ARE BREAKING AND THE MANIFOLDS ARE CRACKING. PLEASE ENCOURAGE A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS GM MOTOR. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM ALL GMC VEHICLES WITH THE VORTEC 6.0L MOTOR. *TR

20121030UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WE OWN SEVERAL GMC SAVANA 3500 15 PASSENGER VANS. WE SEEM TO BE HAVING REPEAT ISSUES WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BRAKING AND THE MANIFOLDS CRACKING. OUR 2002 HAS BEEN IN 2-3 TIMES AND OUR 2005 HAS IS NOW IN FOR IT'S SECOND MANIFOLD AND BOLTS. THE BOLTS ARE BREAKING AND THE MANIFOLDS ARE CRACKING. PLEASE ENCOURAGE A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS GM MOTOR. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM ALL GMC VEHICLES WITH THE VORTEC 6.0L MOTOR. *TR

20061229STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

MY COMPLAINT IS OF THE PASSENGER SIDE PORTSIDE DOOR HINGES ON ALMOST ALL GMC SAVANAH 3500'S THAT I HAVE SEEN. IT IS A SAFTEY CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE THE DOOR IS ALMOST COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IS INOPERABLE. I HAVE LUBRICATED THE HINGES MANY TIME TO NO AVAIL. THE WELDS ON THE HINGES ARE BADLY CRACKED WITH JUST A VERY SMALL PART OF THE WELD(APROX. 1/4") HOLDING THE DOOR ON. THE DOOR WILL NO LONGER CLOSE COMPLETELY. I KNOW OF MANY OTHER VANS FROM THE SAME MODEL YEAR HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. ONE OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS AND HIS SON BOTH HAVE THE SAME EXACT VAN; WE BOUGHT THEM AT THE SAME TIME. THEY HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HINGES. I HOPE THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER, I THINK IT MAY BE A RAMPANT PROBLEM, AND I DEFINITELY FEEL IT IS A MAJOR SAFTEY CONCERN. LASTLY, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE A RESPONSE EMAIL. THANK YOU. SINCERELY, JIM MERKEL

Mileage: 1

20061229STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

MY COMPLAINT IS OF THE PASSENGER SIDE PORTSIDE DOOR HINGES ON ALMOST ALL GMC SAVANAH 3500'S THAT I HAVE SEEN. IT IS A SAFTEY CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE THE DOOR IS ALMOST COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IS INOPERABLE. I HAVE LUBRICATED THE HINGES MANY TIME TO NO AVAIL. THE WELDS ON THE HINGES ARE BADLY CRACKED WITH JUST A VERY SMALL PART OF THE WELD(APROX. 1/4") HOLDING THE DOOR ON. THE DOOR WILL NO LONGER CLOSE COMPLETELY. I KNOW OF MANY OTHER VANS FROM THE SAME MODEL YEAR HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. ONE OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS AND HIS SON BOTH HAVE THE SAME EXACT VAN; WE BOUGHT THEM AT THE SAME TIME. THEY HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HINGES. I HOPE THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER, I THINK IT MAY BE A RAMPANT PROBLEM, AND I DEFINITELY FEEL IT IS A MAJOR SAFTEY CONCERN. LASTLY, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE A RESPONSE EMAIL. THANK YOU. SINCERELY, JIM MERKEL

Mileage: 1

20060505SEATS

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE POWERED BY THE DURAS SEAT MECHANISMS. THE DRIVER SEAT STEEL BRACKET BROKE OFF AT ONE OF THE PIVOT POINTS WHICH LOWERS AND RAISES THE SEAT. I WOULD NEVER EXPECT THE METAL BRACKET TO BREAK (ESPECIALLY, ON SOMETHING IMPORTANT AS OF FRONT SEAT). I SPOKE WITH A WELDER ABOUT THE MECHANISM, HE FELT THE STEEL USED FOR THE BRACKET WAS TOO THIN. CURRENTLY, I REMOVED THE FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT AND INSTALLED THE PASSENGERS GOOD SEATS MECHANISM IN PLACE ON THE BROKEN ONE. *NM

20060213CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ON WET PAVEMENT AT 2-3 MPH. THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE; THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. THE ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 38,000

20051118STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT. HE HAD TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE DOOR OPEN. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE HINGE SNAPPED. HE STATES IT WAS BECAUSE THE PIN WAS PUT IN THE HINGE AND THEN CAPPED ON THE BOTTOM. THIS DID NOT ALLOW MOISTURE TO ESCAPE, CAUSING IT TO FREEZE AND SNAP THE HINGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP DID GET THE DOOR SHUT. GENERAL MOTORS OFFERED $150 TOWARDS THE REPAIR. *AK

20050306FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

FUEL INJECTORS CLOGGING VERY OFTEN CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH AND SHAKE. DEALER REPAIRED FIRST TIME WITH ONLY 11,000 ON VEHICLE. BUT STATED THAT IT WAS NOT WARRANTY. INJECTORS ARE CONTINUING TO CLOG EVERY 6,000-7,000 MILES EVEN WHEN CHANGING FUEL FILTER AND HAVING INJECTORS SERVICED. AND USING QUALITY FUEL AND INJECTOR CLEANER EVERY 3,000 MILES. *AK

Mileage: 11,000

20031001ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COMPUTER SHUT DOWN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE EIGHT TIMES, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 24,000

20030828TIRES

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH DRIVER HEARD A TIRE BLOWING OUT. DRIVER PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AND STOPPED VEHICLE. DRIVER CHECKED THE TIRES, AND NOTICED RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED. *AK

20021023VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THAT THE REAR SIDE WINDOW BROKE OUT LAND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR *TR

Compare 2002GMCSAVANA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 GMC SAVANA have?
The 2002 GMC SAVANA has 13 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 GMC SAVANA?
The most-complained component for the 2002 GMC SAVANA is STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS.
Is the 2002 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.