1998 GMC Savana
Not enough comparison years on file yet for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
- Complaints
- 33
- Recalls
- 2
- Investigations
- 0
- Top problem
- Service brakes
Campaigns on file for 1998
None on file
33% of complaints
Complaints per year
1998: 33 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 35 |
| 1997 | 46 |
| 1998 | 33 |
| 1999 | 49 |
| 2000 | 49 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 0 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Service brakes
33% · 11 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic.
Air bags
18% · 6 reportsMost commonly citing sensor/control module and frontal.
Tires
15% · 5 reportsMost commonly citing tread/belt and temporary/emergency spare tire.
Show complaint excerpts
Vehicle came equipped with standard tires which hold about 2300 pounds instead of exload tires which hold 7200 pounds. This was causing a loss of control and premature wear of the tires. Also, label on the driver's door was incorrect.
NHTSA ODI report, 1999-05-19
Structure
12% · 4 reportsMost commonly citing hinge and attachments and door.
Show complaint excerpts
The hinges on the side doors of my 1998 GMC Savana VAN of the 4 hinges: 1 is broken and 2 are cracked. I called GMC and got the run around. They said they would not replace them unless you issued a recall on the hinges.
NHTSA ODI report, 2003-06-04
Electrical system
12% · 4 reportsMost commonly citing 12v/24v/48v battery.
Show complaint excerpts
Dt the vehicle caught on fire. Had not contacted GMC at this point. This happened on July 18, 2005. Vehicle was burned completely by the time the fire department got there.
NHTSA ODI report, 2005-08-19
GM theft system engaged leaving me stranded multiple times including on a remote mountain side. I was only able to get a cell signal by walking a few KM's down the road in the middle of the night to call for help.
NHTSA ODI report, 2022-08-09
Safety timeline
2 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
-
R
1998-03-15Service brakes, hydraulic98V033000 Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. One or both front brake rotor/hubs were built with an out-of-specification gray iron that can fail during the…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of "287" And, if found, replace the rotor.
-
R
2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…
Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
Buy-smart checklist
1998 GMC Savana — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Service brakes: 11 reports on file for this year.
- Air bags: 6 reports on file for this year.
- Tires: 5 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 98V033000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
FAQ
- Is the 1998 GMC Savana reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC Savana?
- The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 33% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1998 GMC Savana have?
- 2 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.