Total Complaints
4 filings
GMC SAVANA 3500 · model year
2009 GMC SAVANA 3500
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009GMCSAVANA 3500 carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 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 2009 SAVANA 3500 is service brakes, hydraulic with 1 filings, followed by wheels (1) and suspension (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 2009 SAVANA 3500. 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.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
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 | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20170419FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL TANK CORRODES AND LEAKS FUEL ON ROADWAY
Mileage: 150,000
20150522WHEELS
FLEET VEHICLE I FOR SERVICE THOUGHT TIRE WAS BAD, UNDER CLOSER INSPECTION, WELD FAILED CAUSING RIM TO SPLIT FROM INNER MOUNTING HUB CAUSING 3/-1/2 INCH CRACK AT TIRE BEAD. I HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 22 YEARS I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FAILURE LIKE THIS, I WILL KEEP THE RIM IN CASE YOU WANT IT FOR STUDY.
Mileage: 118,602
20150522SUSPENSION
FLEET VEHICLE I FOR SERVICE THOUGHT TIRE WAS BAD, UNDER CLOSER INSPECTION, WELD FAILED CAUSING RIM TO SPLIT FROM INNER MOUNTING HUB CAUSING 3/-1/2 INCH CRACK AT TIRE BEAD. I HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 22 YEARS I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FAILURE LIKE THIS, I WILL KEEP THE RIM IN CASE YOU WANT IT FOR STUDY.
Mileage: 118,602
20101011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN TOWING A TRAILER WITH MY 1 TON GM VAN DOWN HILL AND BRAKING THE FRONT END SHAKES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT IT AS THEY HAVE IT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THEY CLAIM THE BRAKES GET HOT AND TO DOWN SHIFT THE VAN. THEY ALSO SAY FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES AND A CRASH. GM TECH SAYS ON MY REPAIR ORDER THAT WHEN BRAKES GET HOT THEY WILL PULSATE THEN WHEN THEY COOL THEY GO BACK TO NORMAL. PER TAC NO REPAIRS AT THIS TIME CASE [XXX]...[XXX]. ALL 1/2 TON, 3/4 TON, AND 1 TON VANS ARE IN THIS CATEGORY AS NO SPECIFIC MODEL OF SAVANA/EXPRESS WAS MENTIONED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW THEY KNEW ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING AND CHOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
Mileage: 17,500
Compare 2009GMCSAVANA 3500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2009 GMC SAVANA 3500 have?▼
The 2009 GMC SAVANA 3500 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 GMC SAVANA 3500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2009 GMC SAVANA 3500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS and SUSPENSION.
Is the 2009 GMC SAVANA 3500 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.