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 failure mileage was 50,000.
The worst 2008 GMC Savana problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Electrical2
- Airbags1
- Body1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical2
- Airbags1
- Body1
Recalls 7
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
Recall number 23V247000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 10V205000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 09V270000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 09V272000 · Recall details
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 http://www.gmownercenter.com .
Recall number 08V340000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 http://www.gmownercenter.com .
Recall number 08V315000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 http://www.gmownercenter.com .
Recall number 08V313000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2008 GMC Savana 1,103
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- Unknown or other
- This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- Unknown or other
- This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
- Unknown or other
- This service bulletin explains how to measure for oil consumption and possible reasons for loss of oil.
- Unknown or other
2008 GMC Savana fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | RWD | 15 | 20 | 17 |
| 5.3L 8‑cyl | RWD | 12-14 | 16-18 | 14-15 |
| 5.3L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 12-13 | 16-17 | 14-15 |
What 2008 GMC Savana owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 the failure. The failure mileage was 66,000.
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 repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.
Compare the 2008 GMC Savana
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Questions about the 2008 GMC Savana
Is the 2008 GMC Savana reliable?
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2008 GMC Savana, close to a typical Savana model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 GMC Savana?
Electrical system, with 2 complaints. Next is airbags (1).
How many recalls does the 2008 GMC Savana have?
7 recalls, covering electrical system, equipment adaptive/mobility and power train.
Was there a recall on the 2008 GMC Savana electrical?
Yes, 1 recall: 23V247000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What gas mileage does the 2008 GMC Savana get?
Official estimates for the 2008 GMC Savana range from 14 to 17 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.3L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 15 city and 20 highway.
VIN decoder
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