AI Damage2000 GMC Savana 1500 reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2000 GMC Savana 1500 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 40% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 20% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
So I took it to a local shop and they discovered that the right rear parking brake was activated and would not release. They fixed the problem by disconnecting the parking brake control cable to the right rear brake drum. The problem was fixed except now I had no parking brakes!
The cause of the issue is a ruptured brake line due to excessive corrosion. The brake line is ruptured at a point about 18' back from the firewall. The truck is washed regularly and is primarily driven on-road, no extreme or 'heavy-duty 'service use of this vehicle at all.
Tl contact owns a 2000 gmc savana 1500. The contact stated that the speedometer sticks and displays inaccurate speeds. It usually becomes stuck anywhere between 60-70 mph, regardless of the actual speed that is being driven.
Power steering completely failed. I found a recall notice on the nhtsa site, called gmc and was told there was no recall. After I told the operator the recall number she then found a "customer satisfaction safety campaign". I was not notified of this serious safety hazard with my vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 13,113 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 41% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Savana 1500 has 2 complaints (18 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2000 GMC Savana 1500?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, steering. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (40%), rollaway, parking brake (20%), steering or power steering problems (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2000 GMC Savana 1500?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2000 GMC Savana 1500 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2000 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.