2018 Gmc Savana problems
The Chevrolet Express (also known as the GMC Savana) is a series of full-size vans produced by General Motors since 1996. The successor to the Chevrolet G-series van, the Express is produced in passenger and cargo variants. Alongside the standard van body, the line is offered as a cutaway van chassis; the latter vehicle is a chassis cab variant developed for commercial-grade applications, including ambulances, buses, motorhomes, and small trucks.
In production for a single generation since 1995, over 2.5 million examples of the Express and the Savana have been produced. One of the longest-produced designs in American automotive history, the Express/Savana are rivaled only by the Jeep Wagoneer and Dodge Ram Van for longevity.
Since 1995, General Motors has assembled the Express and Savana at its Wentzville Assembly facility (Wentzville, Missouri). Also, since 2017, GM has sourced commercial cutaway-chassis production from Navistar through its Springfield Assembly Plant (Springfield, Ohio).
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Common 2018 Gmc Savana problems
The GMC Savana 2500 is a popular choice for those needing a reliable and powerful work van, but like any vehicle, it can experience certain problems. One common issue is transmission-related, with the transmission getting stuck in third gear being a frequent complaint for the 4L60E and 4L65E types of transmission. This problem may be due to a malfunction in the instrument cluster, with DTC codes like P0753, P0740, P1860, and P0785 indicating a potential open circuit or blown fuse between the transmission and fuse panel.
Another issue with the 4L60E Transmission RPO M30 is an abnormally harsh 1-2 shift, which could indicate excessive bore wear holding the regulator valves and TCC isolator. This results in extreme line pressure, and the only solution is to replace the 4L60E valve body with isolator valves and a revised TCC regulator.
When there is no movement when shifting to the third gear or Drive position, it suggests problems with the GMC Savana 2500's transmission. This issue can be resolved by replacing the forward sprag assembly.
The 4L60E and 4L65E transmissions can also have problems with the 2nd, 3rd, and reverse gears, while the first and third gears seem to function correctly. This problem is due to a failure of the reaction sun gear, and the solution is to replace the heat-treated 4L60E/4L65 sun gear.
In summary, the GMC Savana 2500, while a hard-working and powerful van, has faced some engine problems, particularly with its transmission. These issues include transmission getting stuck in third gear, abnormally harsh 1-2 shifts, no movement when shifting to third gear or Drive position, and problems with the 2nd, 3rd, and reverse gears. Addressing these problems requires replacing various components, such as the forward sprag assembly and heat-treated sun gear, or inspecting and repairing the transmission and instrument cluster.
Are GMC Savana vans reliable?
The GMC Savana 2500 Reliability Rating is 3.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 11th out of 21 for commercial vans.
How long do GMC Savana last?
If you keep up with the maintenance schedule of your Savana, it can last long term, whether you use it each day or a few times a week. The longevity of a GMC Savana is around 20 years at its maximum life span.
How many miles per gallon does a 2018 GMC Savana 2500 work van get?
Based on data from 1 vehicles, 10 fuel-ups and 3,360 miles of driving, the 2018 GMC Savana 2500 gets a combined Avg MPG of 14.07 with a 1.56 MPG margin of error. Below you can see a distribution of the fuel-ups with 0 outliers (0.00%) removed.
How many miles per gallon does a GMC Savana get?
Find and Compare Cars
| 2017 GMC Savana 2500 2WD (Passenger) | |
|---|---|
| Personalize Find a car | 8 cyl, 6.0 L, Automatic 6-spd Compare |
| Fuel Economy | |
| EPA MPG | Regular Gasoline 13 combined city/highway MPG 11 city 16 highway 7.7 gals/100 miles |
Are GMC Savana vans reliable?
The GMC Savana 2500 Reliability Rating is 3.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 11th out of 21 for commercial vans.
How long do GMC Savana last?
If you keep up with the maintenance schedule of your Savana, it can last long term, whether you use it each day or a few times a week. The longevity of a GMC Savana is around 20 years at its maximum life span.
What size engine is in a 2018 GMC Savana?
GM's new EcoTech 4.3-liter V-6 engine, basically the LT1 small-block 90-degree V-8 with two cylinders chopped off, is the new base engine, replacing the 4.8-liter V-8 in the Savana powertrain lineup. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
What is the gas mileage of a GMC Savana?
Find and Compare Cars
| 2017 GMC Savana 2500 2WD (Passenger) | |
|---|---|
| Personalize Find a car | 8 cyl, 6.0 L, Automatic 6-spd Compare |
| Fuel Economy | |
| EPA MPG | Regular Gasoline 13 combined city/highway MPG 11 city 16 highway 7.7 gals/100 miles |
2018 Gmc Savana complaints
The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2018 Gmc Savana.
You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.
2018 Gmc Savana recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 7 recalls for different components of the 2018 Gmc Savana.
- Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: Unicell Body Company Inc.
- Components: EQUIPMENT
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Components: VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Components: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
- Summary: 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.
- Manufacturer: General Motors LLC
- Components: EQUIPMENT
- Summary: 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.
Negative 2018 Gmc Savana car reviews
Positive 2018 Gmc Savana car reviews
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I was surprised to find out that there is no 2500 3/4TON AWD model to choose from, only a 1500 series. However, the Pro Package is equipped with 2 double long air assisted opening panels, one on each side where the windows would normally be, custom 12 volt interior lighting, and an electronic transmission towing switch on the instrument panel. The 5.3L Vortex engine is simply amazing. Although, like with all GMC/CHEVY vehicles, the exterior primer and paint quality is not great. My van is 13 years old but has less than 78,000 miles. Unfortunately, on the 10th year after the RUST warranty disappeared, so did the paint from the primer. The primer was installed too thin and never properly adhered to the cheap paint used. I had a 1985 CHEVY 3/4 TRUCK that had the same issue with the paint. I thought GMC would be better quality, but unfortunately, that was not the case. If you plan on keeping a Chevy or GMC for an extended period, then please take my word for it, you will need to repaint the vehicle. Rainwater works behind the paint, dislodging huge sections at a time. The Vortex engine is fantastic and could have enhanced performance and economy with electric fans on the radiator (push/pull setup) and an electric water pump. This setup would have reduced unneeded drag on the 5.3L engine, topped off with a cold air intake. However, we are all aware that each and every penny saved in construction goes into someone's back pocket. As a great woman once said, 'if you want it done right, do it yourself.'
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We bought this van to take our loved ones and furry friends on adventures to the beach, mountains, camping, and beyond. It has handled everything we've asked of it. The rubber mats and vinyl seats make cleaning up after a trip to the beach or mountains a breeze. It tows our large tent trailer without any trouble. Although we did have to replace the transmission after about 110,000 miles, which seems a bit early, we still would buy this van again.
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I bought this van used from the previous owner who had a Cadillac Escalade. When I bought it, it had only 90,000 original miles and some aftermarket parts. It has no rust, no engine or transmission issues, and rides great!
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This 1500 Savana is the best hightop conversion van explorer ever made. It has a 350cid V8 5.7Liter Vortec engine with approximately 430,000 original miles. It was purchased brand new and has had only one owner. It has been a daily driver since day one and passes state inspection every year. The transmission was replaced a couple of hundred thousand miles ago and still shifts like butter with no issues. The front and rear A/C is so cold that it's colder than a Bentley. It's smoother than a Mercedes Benz. The 2500 vans are stiff and bouncy, but this one is smooth and comfortable. It gets an average of 17 mpg on the highway and with its 30-gallon tank, it gives that extra comfort of the smoothest, powerful long-lasting 350 iron block that's been dependable since new. Even though the recent news with the vans 2024 models no longer having V8s but a turbo 6, I seriously don't think it will be as reliable as mine. Loaded down with tools going up hills, I doubt it will perform as well. And then in 2025, the vans will go out with a bang with v6 turbos breaking down in vans. All the vans being discontinued is a shame. If I ever decide to sell it, I wouldn't take less than 100,000 bucks, but even at six figs, I would not let mine go. It's been a great van!
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We have really enjoyed driving this vehicle for the last 14000 miles. It was a conversion by Cobra, nothing too fancy, but it has the best seats available. We didn't opt for a TV or mood lights, but that hasn't detracted from our experience. The fuel economy has ranged from 12.5 mpg in sub-zero city driving to 20.2 mpg on 55 mph rural roads, which we're really happy with. The only issue we've had so far is with the windshield weather stripping, which came loose while on the interstate. Thankfully, the dealer was able to make the repair, albeit eventually. Unfortunately, GM treats the option list like all Savanna's will be plumbing trucks, so we missed out on some features like an MP3 CD player, XM satellite controller, and trip computer. However, all of these items are available on the Yukon/Suburban, which this van is based on. It has a 5.3 V8 engine and was priced the same as the Toyota Sienna, but the extra space was the deciding factor for us.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2018 Gmc Savana problems:
GMC Savana 2500 Problems and Complaints - 22 Issues
Top GMC Savana 2500 Problems · Tail Light Wiring in Cargo Area May be Damaged · Electrical components under front carpet may be damaged when cleaning van interior.
Q&A: GMC Savana Fuse Box Location, Diagram & Turn Signal ...
Sep 24, 2011 ... more than likely what is wrong is the turn signal/hazard flasher module is bad. This is a very common problem causing this concern. You can ...
GMC Savana 3500 Problems and Complaints - 22 Issues
Problem with your GMC Savana 3500? Our list of 22 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your GMC Savana 3500.
Q&A: 1999 GMC Savana Common Problems - JustAnswer
Nov 4, 2018 ... I have a 1999 GMC SAVANA 5.0L (Gas) cargo van. Problem I've had for over a year now is hard to start when warm. Starts - Answered by a ...
low voltage problem but good alternator and battery? | Chevy ...
Aug 9, 2021 ... It is probably a bad battery cable, common on the 2008 up trucks. While it is acting up, connect a voltmeter from the negative post to a good ...
Other years of Gmc Savana
Are you having problems with your 2018 Gmc Savana?
Jarrell Nicolas 2024-11-25
Although I have always been a GM guy, this particular van has been a disappointment. The windshield cracked on the first day off the lot due to small stones, which is indicative of poor quality glass. Additionally, the AC failed within 6 months. The fuel efficiency is also subpar, with only 10mpg in the city or on the highway, and only 12mpg on the highway on one occasion. When towing my trailer, I was only able to achieve 6mpg. Overall, I would not consider purchasing this van again.
Amir Pacocha 2024-11-14
I hope you're doing well! I noticed that you mentioned using your van to pull your fishing boat to the ocean. That sounds like a lot of fun! I was thinking that it might be helpful to have side mirrors that extend out for better visibility when backing up in tight spaces. I've seen some really nice ones on Ford pickups that might work well for your van. Some of them even retract and fold against the truck when not in use. I know you love your van, and it sounds like you have a great system for storing all your fishing gear in holders. Just lock up the van and you're ready for your next trip!
Elliot Howell 2024-09-18
Great van! It's amazing how much power and fuel mileage it provides for such a large vehicle. I'm really looking forward to purchasing the new GM Diesel van. We use it to tow the US Bobsled to shows and take it to a lot of Nascar Races. We're very active in racing, selling our products to several teams and sponsoring others. It's not uncommon to see Nascar drivers catching a ride in our van, which can seat up to 15 people. All in all, we're extremely satisfied with it.
Melvin Hartmann 2024-06-06
After owning 6 GM vans previously, I must say I am disappointed with the configuration of the split mirrors. While driving down the highway, the upper mirror provides an accurate view, albeit smaller than in previous years. However, the lower mirror (installed for backup purposes) gives a distorted view that causes vision nausea, making for an uncomfortable driving experience.