There are 2 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2003 GMC Savanain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
1. WAS DRIVING VAN ON THE HIGHWAY (DURING 1ST FAILURE OD 15,403 AND 2ND FAILURE OD 55576 ), WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT IN TO HIGHER GEAR AND FAILED. WAS DRIVING VAN ON STREET WHEN VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE (DURING 3RD FAILURE OD 56676). 2. DURING FAILURE 1 VAN WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEED AND HAD TO BE MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. DURING FAILURE TWO VAN UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVE IN LOW GEAR TO THE DEALER. DURING FAILURE 3 VAN WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AT ALL AND OBSTRUCTED TRAFFIC ON A MAIN STREET UNTIL IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. 3. DURING FAILURE ONE SUNSHELL STRIPPED, 3-4 CLUTCHES BURNED, 2-4 BAND BURNED. SUN SHELL & GEAR REPLACED ALL CLUTCHES & 2-4 BAND REPLACED. DURING FAILURE TWO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE 4/4 CLUTCH, INPUT HOUSING, PUMP, SHAFT AND DRUM. CORE REASSEMBLED AND SRTA TRANS INSTALLED. DURING FAILURE THREE TRANSMISSION WAS SHREDDED AWAITING REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED. AFTER 90,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION CEASED TO OPERATE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT SERVICE DEALER WHO OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IF A WARRANTY PACKAGE WAS PURCHASED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. DURING THIS VISIT TO THE 2ND DEALER, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHERE THE TAIL LIGHT WAS DISCOVERED NOT TO BE WORKING. THERE WAS NO REPAIR WORK PERFORMED FOR THE TAIL LIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPRESSED THAT ONE DAY THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCHED SO THE SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN TO RELEASE THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR RECALL REMEDY #05113 PERTAINING TO THE SEAT BELT. WHILE AT THE DEALER THE REMEDY REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUT NOT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT. AFTER THE REMEDY REPAIR TO THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT, IT NO LONGER WORKED PROPERLY. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER THE SERVICE DEALER HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE LUG NUT ON THE HUB CAP DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE PLASTIC LUG NUTS WERE INSTALLED AND THEY DETACHED AGAIN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, THE SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED THE LUG NUTS BE GLUED ON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE COMPANY WHO INSTALLED BRAND NEW TIRES AND LUG NUTS.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026