2017 GMC Savana Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2017 GMC Savana ranks worst of 20 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 6 recall campaigns. Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 43% of reports, with failures showing up around 75,000 miles.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 20 Savana years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 7
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 12.5
- 11 city / 16 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2017 GMC Savana problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (43%)
- Airbags2 (29%)
- Brakes1 (14%)
- Seat Belts1 (14%)
- Steering1 (14%)
- Structure & Body1 (14%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (14%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Transmission loses motive power unexpectedly while driving, sometimes without any warning light, near a median of 75,000 miles.
- Airbags failed to deploy during a crash despite the impact.
- Airbag warning light illuminates randomly and scans show a stored diagnostic trouble code.
- ABS control unit failed twice on the same vehicle, once around 24,156 miles and again near 28,174 miles.
- Vehicle veers to the right without warning; inspection found the frame needed replacement at 3,000 miles.
- Steering feels like it is being lost along with braking issues, described as worsening over repeated dealer visits.
2017 GMC Savana recalls
6 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 19V428000Jun 11, 2019Other325 vehicles
Equipment
Unicell Body Company Inc. (Unicell) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanna, 2018-2019 Hino 155, Ford Econoline and Transit and Isuzu NPR, and 2018 Ram ProMaster-based vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The affected monitors may revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
Risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Unicell will work with ASA Electronics to notify owners and offer a remedy, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics customer service 1-800-384-4400 or Unicell at 1-716-853-8628.
- 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.
2017 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.
2017 compared with other Savana years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 GMC Savana reliable?
- NHTSA data ranks it the worst of 20 model years for this vehicle, with a complaint index of 100 and 6 recall campaigns. The top problem area is Transmission & Powertrain, accounting for 43% of complaints.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2017 GMC Savana?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues lead complaints at 43% share, with a median failure mileage of 75,000. Owners describe sudden loss of motive power while driving.
- Does the 2017 GMC Savana have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns covering the 2017 Savana, including issues with rear HVAC wiring, tempered glass in rear-quarter windows, and a power window switch that can corrode and overheat.
- How does the 2017 Savana compare to other years?
- It has the highest complaint index (100) and worst rank (1st worst) among the 20 model years with data, placing it in the Avoid category alongside 2005, 2007, 2016, and 2019.
- Were there any injuries reported for the 2017 GMC Savana?
- NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 1 injury among the reported complaints, with no fires or deaths recorded.