GMC SAVANA · model year

2016 GMC SAVANA

12 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2016GMCSAVANA carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 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 2016 SAVANA is steering with 3 filings, followed by service brakes (2) and electronic stability control (esc) (2). 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 7 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 2016 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.

12
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING3
SERVICE BRAKES2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SUSPENSION1
WHEELS1
POWER TRAIN1

Recalls (7)

16V70000029/09/2016

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Express manufactured September 25, 2015, to August 22, 2016, and 2016 GMC Savana cargo and cutaway vans manufactured January 28, 2016, to May 18, 2016. The affected vehicles were manufactured without an inside rearview mirr

18V26700026/04/2018

EQUIPMENT

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pin

19V38700023/05/2019

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. One or both of the rear-quarter windows may be tempered glass instead of laminated glass. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)

18V65500021/09/2018

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Express and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with a single, manual, rear climate control module (CCM). If the temperature is set to maximum heat or the mode knob is set to maximum floor vent and an electrical short occurs, components with

23V24700006/04/2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2003-2023 Chevrolet Express Cutaway and GMC Savana Cutaway incomplete vehicles equipped with wiring for an optional rear heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. When the HVAC blower motor circuit is left unused with exposed connectors

18V29500003/05/2018

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles equipped with power windows. Liquid may leak into the driver's power window switch and cause corrosion, resulting in high electrical resistance.

16V18400001/04/2016

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana incomplete vehicles equipped with a 159 inch wheel base manufactured August 2, 2013, to January 30, 2016. The affected vehicles were shipped to final stage manufacturers without a tire pressure monito

Recent Complaints

20250829POWER TRAIN

6L80 transmission has failed @ 109,000 miles. At a stop light, in drive, vehicle would not move in drive or reverse. After switching back and forth transmission finally started to work and was able to limp to a dealership. Did not realize how big this issue is with this transmission until mine failed prematurely. I thank God that mine happened at a stop light and not when trying to accelerate at a say a stop sign where I need to cross multiple lanes of traffic. I would have been a sitting duck in the middle of oncoming traffic.

20210415CrashSTEERING

I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE I PURCHASED IN THE PENSKE PARKING LOT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE FELT FINE, ENGINE LOOKED GOOD, REAR TIRES WERE WORN, BUT I WAS TOLD THEY CONFORMED TO DOT STANDARDS. AFTER THE PURCHASE I STARTED TO DRIVE IT HOME. WHEN I GOT ON THE FREEWAY, I COULD NOT GET THE TRUCK ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR WITH OUT SEVERE VIBRATIONS. THE TRUCK ALSO PULLED TO THE RIGHT, IT WAS OBVIOUS THE TRUCK NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. PENSKE GIVES A 15 DAY PERIOD WHEN THEY WILL REPAIR DAMAGE YOU HAVE FOUND. I ARRANGED WITH ALYSE, THE GIRL THAT WORKS FOR PENSKE SALES IN PENNSYLVANIA. SHE HAD ME BRING THE TRUCK TO CORONA RENTAL AND REPAIR CENTER. I PICKED THE TRUCK UP ON THE 15TH OF MARCH AND BROUGHT IT TO PENSKE FOR REPAIRS ON THE FRIDAY, 19, MARCH 2021. I CALLED THE FOLLOWING WEEK, AND TALKED TO YEISEN DELGADO, THE SALES REP WHERE THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED FROM. HE SAID THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND ASKED ME IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD NOT BEEN IN AN A

20210415CrashSUSPENSION

I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE I PURCHASED IN THE PENSKE PARKING LOT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE FELT FINE, ENGINE LOOKED GOOD, REAR TIRES WERE WORN, BUT I WAS TOLD THEY CONFORMED TO DOT STANDARDS. AFTER THE PURCHASE I STARTED TO DRIVE IT HOME. WHEN I GOT ON THE FREEWAY, I COULD NOT GET THE TRUCK ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR WITH OUT SEVERE VIBRATIONS. THE TRUCK ALSO PULLED TO THE RIGHT, IT WAS OBVIOUS THE TRUCK NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. PENSKE GIVES A 15 DAY PERIOD WHEN THEY WILL REPAIR DAMAGE YOU HAVE FOUND. I ARRANGED WITH ALYSE, THE GIRL THAT WORKS FOR PENSKE SALES IN PENNSYLVANIA. SHE HAD ME BRING THE TRUCK TO CORONA RENTAL AND REPAIR CENTER. I PICKED THE TRUCK UP ON THE 15TH OF MARCH AND BROUGHT IT TO PENSKE FOR REPAIRS ON THE FRIDAY, 19, MARCH 2021. I CALLED THE FOLLOWING WEEK, AND TALKED TO YEISEN DELGADO, THE SALES REP WHERE THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED FROM. HE SAID THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND ASKED ME IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD NOT BEEN IN AN A

20210415CrashWHEELS

I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE I PURCHASED IN THE PENSKE PARKING LOT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE FREEWAY. VEHICLE FELT FINE, ENGINE LOOKED GOOD, REAR TIRES WERE WORN, BUT I WAS TOLD THEY CONFORMED TO DOT STANDARDS. AFTER THE PURCHASE I STARTED TO DRIVE IT HOME. WHEN I GOT ON THE FREEWAY, I COULD NOT GET THE TRUCK ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR WITH OUT SEVERE VIBRATIONS. THE TRUCK ALSO PULLED TO THE RIGHT, IT WAS OBVIOUS THE TRUCK NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. PENSKE GIVES A 15 DAY PERIOD WHEN THEY WILL REPAIR DAMAGE YOU HAVE FOUND. I ARRANGED WITH ALYSE, THE GIRL THAT WORKS FOR PENSKE SALES IN PENNSYLVANIA. SHE HAD ME BRING THE TRUCK TO CORONA RENTAL AND REPAIR CENTER. I PICKED THE TRUCK UP ON THE 15TH OF MARCH AND BROUGHT IT TO PENSKE FOR REPAIRS ON THE FRIDAY, 19, MARCH 2021. I CALLED THE FOLLOWING WEEK, AND TALKED TO YEISEN DELGADO, THE SALES REP WHERE THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED FROM. HE SAID THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND ASKED ME IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD NOT BEEN IN AN A

20201019SERVICE BRAKES

OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING OVER LAST 4 MONTHS IN FOLLOWING ORDER: INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING STABLETRACK DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. BRAKE SWITCH AT PEDAL REPLACED. BRAKE LIGHTS NOW STAYING OFF. STABLETRACK DASH LIGHT CAME INTERMITTENTLY THREE TIMES AGAIN. STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTERS ITSELF TO LEFT A FEW DEGREES. INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING RE-OCCURS. BRAKES PULLING SLIGHTLY TO LEFT. BRAKES STOP PULLING LEFT. STEERING WHEEL RE-CENTERS. INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE CEASES IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING.

Mileage: 62,000

20201019ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING OVER LAST 4 MONTHS IN FOLLOWING ORDER: INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING STABLETRACK DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. BRAKE SWITCH AT PEDAL REPLACED. BRAKE LIGHTS NOW STAYING OFF. STABLETRACK DASH LIGHT CAME INTERMITTENTLY THREE TIMES AGAIN. STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTERS ITSELF TO LEFT A FEW DEGREES. INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING RE-OCCURS. BRAKES PULLING SLIGHTLY TO LEFT. BRAKES STOP PULLING LEFT. STEERING WHEEL RE-CENTERS. INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE CEASES IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING.

Mileage: 62,000

20201019STEERING

OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING OVER LAST 4 MONTHS IN FOLLOWING ORDER: INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING STABLETRACK DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. BRAKE SWITCH AT PEDAL REPLACED. BRAKE LIGHTS NOW STAYING OFF. STABLETRACK DASH LIGHT CAME INTERMITTENTLY THREE TIMES AGAIN. STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTERS ITSELF TO LEFT A FEW DEGREES. INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING RE-OCCURS. BRAKES PULLING SLIGHTLY TO LEFT. BRAKES STOP PULLING LEFT. STEERING WHEEL RE-CENTERS. INTERMITTENT DEATH WOBBLE CEASES IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING.

Mileage: 62,000

20190715UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK BUT DO NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK WHEN THEY SHOULD. IN THE PAST, A CAR DOOR WOULD OPEN WHEN THE DOOR RELEASE WAS PULLED, REGARDLESS IF THE DOOR WAS LOCKED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE. I WOULD LIKE THE OPTION TO TURN OFF THE AUTO LOCK FEATURE.

Mileage: 20,300

20190709ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IN 2004 I PURCHASED A NEW CHEVY VAN. IN 2006 MY LIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS MELTED TOGETHER AND I COULD NOT TURN MY LIGHTS OFF. I PAID TO GET THIS REPAIRED. IN 2008 THIS SAME VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I PARKED THE VAN, OPENED THE DOOR AND GOT OUT.SAFELY. THE VAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS BUT I WAS SAFE. IN 2017 I PURCHASED A 2016 GMC VAN. THIS VAN HAS A FEATURE THAT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS MY DOORS. THE DOORS DO NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK WHEN I PARK THIS VAN. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO HAVE THIS FEATURE. I WAS ABLE TO EGRESS MY OLD VEHICLE THAT CAUGHT FIRE BUT I MIGHT NOT HAVE THE SAME LUCK WITH THIS AUTOMATION FEATURE THAT LOCKS MY DOORS AND THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IS FILLING WITH SMOKE. I KEEP THINKING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOUNG CHILDREN WERE IN CAR SEATS AND THE DOORS DID NOT UNLOCK. I THINK THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY A USELESS FEATURE BUT A DANGEROUS ONE. I SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN OFF THIS AUTO LOCK FEATURE JUST AS I CAN WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG.

Mileage: 20,230

20190613SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SAVANA. WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION WITH THE VEHICLE TURNED ON, THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COOK CHEVROLET BUICK (1193 W SAGINAW RD, VASSAR, MI 48768, (989) 823-8523) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER SWITCH FOR THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS SEIZED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CALIBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STABILITRAC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING POSITION SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RE

Mileage: 53,900

20190613ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SAVANA. WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION WITH THE VEHICLE TURNED ON, THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COOK CHEVROLET BUICK (1193 W SAGINAW RD, VASSAR, MI 48768, (989) 823-8523) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER SWITCH FOR THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS SEIZED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CALIBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STABILITRAC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING POSITION SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RE

Mileage: 53,900

20190613STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 GMC SAVANA. WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION WITH THE VEHICLE TURNED ON, THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COOK CHEVROLET BUICK (1193 W SAGINAW RD, VASSAR, MI 48768, (989) 823-8523) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER SWITCH FOR THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CALIPERS SEIZED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CALIBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STABILITRAC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING POSITION SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RE

Mileage: 53,900

Compare 2016GMCSAVANA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2016 GMC SAVANA have?
The 2016 GMC SAVANA has 12 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2016 GMC SAVANA?
Yes, the 2016 GMC SAVANA has 7 recall(s). The most common affected component is VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 GMC SAVANA?
The most-complained component for the 2016 GMC SAVANA is STEERING with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC).
Is the 2016 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.