2005 GMC Savana Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Savana years
- Far more complaints than other years 8th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 GMC Savana. That ranks 8th out of 31 Savana model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 15%), typically at around 100,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.

- 13owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 GMC Savana problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 15% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 15% | 18,561 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 15% | 51,900 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 15% | 63,962 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 8% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 8% | 49,923 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 8% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 GMC Savana recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Problem: Main mobility is recalling 185 model year 2005 through 2009 chevrolet express and gmc savana vans manufactured between april 1, 2005 and june 25, 2009, equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installations in motor vehicles." the threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.
Risk: The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.
Fix: Main mobility is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or main mobility at 1-716-759-6811.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Problem: Main mobility is recalling 185 model year 2005 through 2009 chevrolet express and gmc savana vans manufactured between april 1, 2005 and june 25, 2009, equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "platform lift installations in motor vehicles." the anti-stow interlock may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.
Risk: The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.
Fix: Main mobility is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or main mobility at 1-716-759-6811.
Seat belts
Problem: On certain full-size passenger, cargo, or cutaway vans, the front and rear seat belt buckles will not latch or will not unlatch.
Risk: In the event of a crash, a seat occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the buckles and, if found to be inoperative, the entire buckle assembly would be replaced. For buckles found to be operative, dealer will replace only the upper buckle cover. The recall will be conducted in phases. The first phase mailing began during march 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: Certain trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with bosch hydro-boost brake assemblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator may crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operating conditions.
Risk: If a separation occurred and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the accumulator circuit of the booster assembly. The loss of fluid would cause increased steering and braking effort and a crash may occur without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two-function valve. If the hydro-boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on march 23, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc trucks at 1-866-996-9463 and hummer at 1-800-732-5493.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I was in a crash today october 12th 2026 and the airbags failed to deploy it was a front end collision that resulted in the motor shutting off
I had a new front windshield sold by PGW installed by Coughlin Auto Glass in Deer Lodge Montana in November - December 2022. I immediately noticed that the windshield did not allow RED LIGHT to pass through the tinted area. This is most likely due to a manufacturing defect and is dangerous…
White van since was 4 years old the front hood white paint star peeling off . Know is have paint only. Bad quality paint. You can see in the road almost all chevy or gmc cargo van with the same problem. *tr
While driving on bumpy road at 30 miles / hour car turns off. I could not turn, power steering locked. Car eventually stopped in the middle of the busy road and i brake, changed gears to park. I turn ignition key off and then turned it on again. This happen a few times. I try to avoid bumpy areas…
Tire "definity dakota" had defected just for 20,000 mi. *tr
Other GMC Savana years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Savana | 0 | 3 |
| 2025 Savana | 0 | 4 |
| 2023 Savana | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 Savana | 2 | 2 |
| 2021 Savana | 2 | 3 |
| 2020 Savana | 0 | 2 |
| 2019 Savana | 5 | 5 |
| 2018 Savana | 3 | 7 |
| 2017 Savana | 7 | 6 |
| 2016 Savana | 6 | 7 |
| 2015 Savana | 2 | 4 |
| 2014 Savana | 1 | 7 |
| 2013 Savana | 2 | 9 |
| 2012 Savana | 3 | 7 |
| 2011 Savana | 1 | 5 |
| 2010 Savana | 3 | 4 |
| 2009 Savana | 2 | 8 |
| 2008 Savana | 3 | 7 |
| 2007 Savana | 6 | 3 |
| 2006 Savana | 7 | 7 |
| 2005 | 13 | 5 |
| 2004 Savana | 12 | 7 |
| 2003 Savana | 22 | 11 |
| 2002 Savana | 12 | 0 |
| 2001 Savana | 19 | 0 |
| 2000 Savana | 49 | 2 |
| 1999 Savana | 49 | 1 |
| 1998 Savana | 33 | 1 |
| 1997 Savana | 46 | 1 |
| 1996 Savana | 35 | 2 |
| 1995 Savana | 2 | 0 |
See all GMC Savana problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 GMC Savana?
Owners most often report electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic, steering problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 GMC Savana?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 GMC Savana a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Savana model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.