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1996 GMC Savana

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 35 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

GAS FUMES SMELL CONSTANT. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY-DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEMS

NHTSA ODI #740212

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2000
Unknown Or OtherInjury

PLEASE CONTACT JASON KENNEDY OF THE CENTRE OF AUTO SAFETY IN WASHINGTON,DC. HE HAS A COMPLETE AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ALL OF THE DEFECTS OF THE VEHICLE AND THE EFFORTS OF THE MANUFACTURER TO NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEMS, BUT TO ELIMINATE THE OWNERS/DRIVERS AND PASSANGERS BY MAKING THE VEHICLE TOXIC AND THUS UNUSABLE OR SAFELY …

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PLEASE CONTACT JASON KENNEDY OF THE CENTRE OF AUTO SAFETY IN WASHINGTON,DC. HE HAS A COMPLETE AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ALL OF THE DEFECTS OF THE VEHICLE AND THE EFFORTS OF THE MANUFACTURER TO NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEMS, BUT TO ELIMINATE THE OWNERS/DRIVERS AND PASSANGERS BY MAKING THE VEHICLE TOXIC AND THUS UNUSABLE OR SAFELY REPAIRABLE. TRANSPORT CANADA ALSO HAS DETAILS AND SUGGESTED THAT NHTSA BE CONTACTED AS I AM DOING NOW. I HAVE ALL THE WORK ORDERS AND THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTED REPORTS TO BACK UP EACH AND EVERY ONE OF MY STATEMENTS AND AS THE TOXIC CHEMICALS WERE APPROVED BY GM IN MISSOURI, THERE ARE LIKELY THOUSANDS MORE THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA BEING DRIVEN THAT CAN ONLY BE DESCIBED AS "SLOW DEATH". I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR POSITIVE ACTIONS AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717414

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE VEHICKE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE HEADS REWORKED DUE TO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON STARTING AT 2000 MILES. #1 CYLINDER EXHUAST VALVE WAS STICKING OPEN. WE HAVE HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE WINDOW MOTOR CONTROL MOTOR AND SWITCH. FAILED 4 TIMES. BRAKES ARE TERRIBLE. ALTHOUGH ABS RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, DEALER CAN'T SE…

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THE VEHICKE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE HEADS REWORKED DUE TO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON STARTING AT 2000 MILES. #1 CYLINDER EXHUAST VALVE WAS STICKING OPEN. WE HAVE HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE WINDOW MOTOR CONTROL MOTOR AND SWITCH. FAILED 4 TIMES. BRAKES ARE TERRIBLE. ALTHOUGH ABS RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO CORRECT. FUEL PUMP FAILED IN AUGUST 1998. SPEEDOMETER WAS ACTING UP, WOULD MOVE 4-5 MILES PER HOUR AT A TIME, NOT SMOOTHLY, WOULD JUMP UP OR DOWN. CRUISE DIDN'T WORK WELL. DEALER REPLACED SPEED CONTROL SENSOR IN AUGUST 1998. DRIVE GEAR FOR SPEED SENSOR CAME APART INSIDE TRANSMISSION ON 12/31/98, LEAVING US 800 MILES FROM HOME ON NEWS YEARS EVE. TRYING TO GET REIMBURSEMENT ETC FROM GMC. STARTED ASKING FOR HELP ON MONDAY 1/4/99....PROMISED A PHONE CALL BACK ON 1/5/99...NO RETURN CALL ...CALLED GMC ON 1/6/99...PROMISED A RETURN CALL NOTHING AS OF 5 PM EST. WE WANT TO HAVE GMC BUY VEHICLE BACK UNDER LEMMON LAWS....HOW DO I PROCEED? *AK

NHTSA ODI #701961

Official recalls

2

96V092000 · Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, Leaf Spring To Axle

Jun 3, 1996

ONE OF THE FOUR REAR AXLE U-BOLTS CAN BREAK. THIS CAN POTENTIALLY LEAD TO THE SPRING LIFTING FROM THE AXLE UNDER CERTAIN REBOUND, BRAKING OR CORNERING MANEUVERS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FOUR REAR AXLE U-BOLTS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.