1999 GMC Savana problems
NHTSA has received 64 complaints about the 1999 GMC Savana, and 28% of them involve brakes. After that come body & structure (12%) and tires (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 64 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 28% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 61,000 miles 10 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 10 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 61,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 2 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the GMC Savana with enough data (50 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The GMC van was west bound on hwy 67 and was at a stop yielding for traffic turning onto cr 209. The other vehicle also west bound was not paying any attention to the road while having her head down looking on the floor board and did not see the van stopped and rearended it. She was traveling at 60 MPH and never applied her brakes. Upon impact the driver's seat broke completely and when the driver came to he was laid out flat in the seat on the floor board looking up at the ceiling.
While waiting at a stop light ford pickup rearended GMC on passenger's rear corner and pushed it into rear of another vehicle. Upon impact with other vehicle, neither air bag deployed. Driver suffered injuries, and received emergency room treatment.
When brakes were applied under normal stopping conditions pedal went to the floor, causing extended stopping distance, and resulting in a collision. Prior to incident dealer inspected vehicle.
Hinges on 60/40 cargo doors are very stiff. Doors have been difficult to open and close for quite some time. Recently, lower hinge on 40 door has broken. Replacement of all hinges on these doors is approximately $1100. Have not yet contacted dealer about problem (had similar problems with hinges on 95 vandura).
The power brake/steering pump shaft broke, rendering the power brake and steering inoperable. The problem occurred while traveling downhill and presented a safety problem. The vehicle only had 70,000 miles at the time. I was and remain concerned that the part defect was not identified earlier and presented a potential safety hazard. The part has been replaced, but I want to know if the replacement part is safe and how GMC will reimburse me for all of the costs I incurred to correct the problem.