2008 GMC Savana Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Savana years
- Not enough data 16th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 GMC Savana. That ranks 16th out of 31 Savana model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 67%), typically at around 58,000 miles. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 3owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 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 | 67% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 33% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 33% | 36,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 GMC Savana recalls (7)
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 certain model year 2008 and 2009 conversion vans built on chevrolet express and gmc savana chassis from october 2007 through may 2010 and fitted with certain ricon s series and k series l-model wheelchair lifts. Due to a problem in the software that controls the lift's "up" function, should the "up" button be released before the floor level limit switch is activated, the lift may continue its upward travel and may overrun the floor level cut off point.
Risk: When the platform overruns the vehicle floor level and stops at an angle from 15-20 degrees, it is possible for a person in a wheelchair to tip over and for someone standing on the platform to fall, possibly resulting in injuries.
Fix: Main mobility will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by authorized ricon dealers free of charge. A software solution for this safety defect is under investigation. Until the software solution is available, ricon will provide owners with a bulletin outlining proper wheelchair lift operation and will ship owners a dvd-based training aid to promote proper lift operation at no cost. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. 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. 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.
Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Problem: Gm is recalling 151 my 2008 chevrolet express and gmc savana vehicles equipped with all wheel drive (awd). Some of these vehicles have transfer cases that were manufactured with an incorrect part that can cause early failure of a drive chain. If the chain breaks, shifting the transmission to park may not keep the vehicle stationary.
Risk: If the vehicle is parked on an incline or bumped, it may roll and strike a person, object, or another vehicle without warning, and cause personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the transfer case date code and, if necessary, replace the transfer case. The recall began on august 15, 2008. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .
Fuel system, gasoline:storage
Problem: Gm is recalling 567 my 2008 chevrolet express and gmc savana cutaway vehicles with a 139" wheel base. The frame rail on the driver's side may be wider than specification.
Risk: If the frame rail is wider than specification, over time it may contact the fuel tank housing, resulting in a possible fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the clearance between the frame rail and fuel tank housing and will rework the frame rail if necessary free of charge. The recall began on july 30, 2008. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-966-9463, or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Gm is recalling 2,481 my 2008 chevrolet express and gmc savana g-cutaway fleet van equipped with a 6.0l (rpo ly6) v8 engine, 4l80e (rpo mt1) transmission, 4.10 (rpo gt5) axle and 75 mph governor (rpo 9d7). These vehicles have a condition in which the transmission may be damaged due to first gear engagement at highway speeds and then does not transmit power with d4 or r selected. This may be preceded by engine shutdown if the vehicle exceeds 81 miles per hour in certain conditions.
Risk: The vehicle may be stranded on or near a highway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the transmission and engine control modules free of charge. The recall began on or about july 30, 2008. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and gmc at 1-866-996-9463, or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc savana. The contact stated that it took several attempts to start the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc savana. While in park, the contact stepped out the vehicle and the air bag deployed without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 gmc savana. The contact stated that both exterior and interior side cargo doors were extremely difficulty to release whenever being accessed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who stated that the door hinges would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not…
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 | 3 | 7 |
| 2007 Savana | 6 | 3 |
| 2006 Savana | 7 | 7 |
| 2005 Savana | 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 GMC Savana?
Owners most often report electrical system, air bags, structure problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 GMC Savana?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 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 2008 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.