Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 GMC Savana problems

Owners filed 18 complaints about the 2004 GMC Savana with NHTSA between Jan 2004 and Nov 2022. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (4).

Complaints
18
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  2. Power train2
  3. Fuel system, gasoline2
  4. Tires2
  5. Steering2
  6. Wheels1
  7. Fuel/propulsion system1
  8. Structure1
  9. Seat belts1
  10. Seats1
  11. Air bags1
  12. Suspension1
  13. Exterior lighting1
  14. Engine and engine cooling1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20043
20052
20061
20072
20081
20092
20101
20111
20120
20132
20141
20150
20160
20170
20180
20191
20200
20210
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

4 reports2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2004 GMC Savana. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an upcoming appointment; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V045000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2022Service brakes, hydraulicODI 11491736

Power train

2 reports1 fire1 related recall
“THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IT ONLY HAS 63K PLUS MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BECAME ERRATIC. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT TO "D", BUT THE SECOND AND THE FIRST GEAR WORKS FINE. WE WERE TOLD BY GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY A GMC DEALER TO FIND OUT THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE RESULTS INDICATED NO PROBLEMS WERE DETECTED OR NO CODES WERE SHOWING UP ON THEIR COMPUTER, GMC THEN TOLD US THAT IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. WE COULD NOT AFFORD A NEWLY REBUILT TRANSMISSION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2013Power trainODI 10538171

Fuel system, gasoline

2 reports1 related recall
“NO INCIDENT ...YET. NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS AFTER REFUELING JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2012. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE EVER SINCE. CHECKED OUT RECALLS AND SAW THIS ONE, BUT NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED. SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. THIS RECALL (LISTED BELOW) IS EXACTLY WHAT IS THE ISSUE WITH MY GMC VAN. IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL BUT FOR SOME REASON IS NOT. I AM GOING TO FIX IT MYSELF (AT MY OWN EXPENSE), BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM NOT GOING TO RISK THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP RECALL NUMBER: 12V388000 RECALL DATE: 08/08/2012 PROBLEM SUMMARY: GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2004 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH A LEFT SIDE CARGO DOOR, AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. WATER AND ROAD CONTAMINANTS MAY BECOME TRAPPED IN THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2013Fuel system, gasoline, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10497641

Tires

2 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SAVANNA EQUIPPED WITH DEFINITY DAKOTA A/T TIRES, SIZE 235/75R16. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A THUMPING NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED ALL OF THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS MISSING. A SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD A 9/10 INCH BLISTER ON IT. THE CONTACT INSTALLED FOUR NEW TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,400.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2011TiresODI 10401507

Steering

2 reports
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INNER TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED. UPDATED 10/04/06.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2006SteeringODI 10167157

Wheels

1 report
“PROBLEM IS WITH A NEW TIRE PURCHASE BF GOODRICH LT245/75R16 BFG COMMERCIAL TA A/S2. I NOTICE FLAT SPOTTING EVERY MORNING AND IT COULD TAKE 1/2 HR OF DRIVING TO CLEAR UP BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 60 YRS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A BAD TIRE. IF IT HAS FLAT SPOTS WITH 70PSI AND MIN. LOAD WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH FULL LOAD. RETURNED TO DEALER BUT HE FAILS TO SEE A PROBLEM. I WAS PARKED 12HRS AND PROBLEM APPEARS EACH MORNING. I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS TIRE ON MY TRUCK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2019WheelsODI 11289654
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.