2016 GMC Savana Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2016 GMC Savana carries a complaint index of 89, ranking 3rd worst out of 20 model years, and is rated Avoid relative to other Savana years. Owners most often reported steering problems (50% of complaints), with a median failure mileage of 37,100 miles, plus 7 recall campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 89/100
- #3 of 20 Savana years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 6
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Steering
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 12.5
- 11 city / 16 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2016 GMC Savana problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering3 (50%)
- Brakes2 (33%)
- Electrical System1 (17%)
- Other1 (17%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (17%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (17%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Steering wheel exhibited an intermittent 'death wobble' when braking, with dash lights and brake lights malfunctioning at the same time.
- Brake pedal switch failures caused brake lights to stay on or off unpredictably, reported around 62,000 miles.
- Power windows stopped operating correctly while interior lighting flashed on and off, traced to an electrical fault near 20,230 miles.
- The 6L80 transmission reportedly failed at a stop light, leaving the van unable to move in drive or reverse until it was restarted.
- One owner described a related wiring harness melting in an earlier GM van, raising concern about similar electrical components on the 2016 Savana.
2016 GMC Savana recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V247000Apr 6, 2023Electrical System150,830 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2003-2023 Chevrolet Express Cutaway and GMC Savana Cutaway incomplete vehicles equipped with wiring for an optional rear heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. When the HVAC blower motor circuit is left unused with exposed connectors and wiring, the circuit can corrode and overheat.
Risk: An overheated electrical circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will properly seal the rear HVAC blower motor circuits at the left side B-pillar, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 2, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GMC's number for this recall is N222386050.
- NHTSA 19V387000May 23, 2019Visibility & Wipers1,159 vehicles
Visibility:glass, side/rear
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. One or both of the rear-quarter windows may be tempered glass instead of laminated glass. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Risk: Tempered glass increases the risk of injury in the event of a side impact or rollover crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tempered glass windows with laminated glass windows, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192218960.
- NHTSA 18V655000Sep 21, 2018Electrical System30,448 vehicles
Electrical system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Express and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with a single, manual, rear climate control module (CCM). If the temperature is set to maximum heat or the mode knob is set to maximum floor vent and an electrical short occurs, components within the CCM may overheat.
Risk: If the CCM overheats, there is an increased risk of a fire in the vehicle's headliner.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the electrical insulation from a wiring connector within the CCM to remove the fire risk, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18299.
2016 GMC Savana fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 11 MPG
- Highway
- 16 MPG
- Combined
- 12.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $5,200
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other Savana years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 GMC Savana reliable?
- Compared with other Savana model years, the 2016 ranks 3rd worst out of 20 years tracked, with a complaint index of 89 and an Avoid verdict. Steering complaints made up half of all reports for this year.
- What problems does the 2016 GMC Savana have?
- NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Savana center on steering (50% of complaints, median mileage 57,950) and brakes (33% of complaints), along with isolated electrical and transmission reports.
- Does the 2016 GMC Savana have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns tied to the 2016 Savana, covering areas including visibility/wipers, electrical system, and suspension/wheels/tires, with none marked do-not-drive.
- How does the 2016 Savana compare to other years?
- The 2016 model's complaint index of 89 is close to the worst year, 2017, which scored 100, and higher than years like 2014 (16) and 2011 (21), which had far fewer reported problems.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2016 GMC Savana?
- EPA rates the 2016 Savana at 12.5 mpg combined (11 city / 16 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,200.