VehicleVerdict

2018 GMC Savana problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 5 complaints on file for the 2018 GMC Savana — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 7 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

5

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

1

Investigations

1

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2018 compare to other Savana years?

See all Savana years to avoid →

What are the most common 2018 GMC Savana problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes120%
Driver Assistance120%
Engine120%
Suspension120%
Tires & Wheels120%

Does the 2018 GMC Savana have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

23V247000Electrical SystemApril 6, 2023 · 150,830 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

21V115000Tires & WheelsFebruary 25, 2021 · 33,838 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.

Consequence

Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.

19V428000OtherJune 11, 2019 · 325 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

19V387000Visibility & WipersMay 23, 2019 · 1,159 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

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.

18V655000Electrical SystemSeptember 21, 2018 · 30,448 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

18V509000Tires & WheelsAugust 2, 2018 · 94 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles with certain combinations of front-tire and gross-vehicle-weight option codes. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) may be incorrectly calibrated, causing the TPMS warning lamp to illuminate when tire pressure reaches 37 PSI, not 41 PSI. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Consequence

If the low tire pressure telltale is not illuminated at the correct tire pressure, the driver may have less time to react to a low-tire-pressure situation, which could affect the driver's ability to control the vehicle in certain situations and could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will check the PSI information on the remote control door lock receiver (RCDLR) and tire placard match, and if the information is different the RCDLR will be reprogrammed. This repair will be done free of charge. The recall began August 27, 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 18255.

18V267000OtherApril 26, 2018 · 6,154 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence

In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

MY 2018 VAN IS AN EXPLORER CONVERSION WITH 13000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO GMC FOR REPAIRS FOR WHAT THE TECH IS CALLING A "DEATH WOBBLE". BASICALLY THE VAN AT UNPREDICTED TIMES GETS INTO A ROUGH SHAKING IN THE FRONT END THAT FORCES YOU TO STOP. THIS HAPPENED WHILE BRAKING GOING DOWN STEEP GRADES…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · November 21, 2020

MY 2018 VAN IS AN EXPLORER CONVERSION WITH 13000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO GMC FOR REPAIRS FOR WHAT THE TECH IS CALLING A "DEATH WOBBLE". BASICALLY THE VAN AT UNPREDICTED TIMES GETS INTO A ROUGH SHAKING IN THE FRONT END THAT FORCES YOU TO STOP. THIS HAPPENED WHILE BRAKING GOING DOWN STEEP GRADES…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · November 21, 2020

MY 2018 VAN IS AN EXPLORER CONVERSION WITH 13000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO GMC FOR REPAIRS FOR WHAT THE TECH IS CALLING A "DEATH WOBBLE". BASICALLY THE VAN AT UNPREDICTED TIMES GETS INTO A ROUGH SHAKING IN THE FRONT END THAT FORCES YOU TO STOP. THIS HAPPENED WHILE BRAKING GOING DOWN STEEP GRADES…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · November 21, 2020

AFTER WAITING MY TURN TO PAY A TOLL ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE EXIT IN TOLEDO, THE VAN DID NOT STOP WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND I RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. MY VAN BRAKES HAD BEEN WORKING AS WE EASED UP TO THE TOLL BOTH WITH ABOUT 6 CARS AHEAD OF ME. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES THE WHOLE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · December 30, 2018 · crash

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Savana. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The oil pressure light was illuminated. After several attempts, the vehicle failed to restart. The Police Department was called, and the Officer helped to push the vehicle out of the…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 21, 2025

2018 GMC Savana — common questions

Is the 2018 GMC Savana reliable?

The record is thin — 5 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 7 recalls should be verified as completed.

Does the 2018 GMC Savana have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2018 GMC Savana. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2018 GMC Savana under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which GMC Savana years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Savana years to avoid are 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1998. The cleanest record among Savana years belongs to 2026.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.