AI Damage2004 GMC Savana 1500: common problems
Owners of the 2004 GMC Savana 1500 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about tires and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Tires 40% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 20% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 20% of all complaints
- Tires: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Structure: 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 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.
The contact was driving approximately 65 mph, when the vehicle made a thumping noise. The contact pulled over and noticed all of the tread on the right rear tire was missing. A spare tire was installed on the vehicle.
While driving at 50 mph, the vehicle began to vibrate excessively. One of the tires experienced belt separation and the rear belt fractured. The tire was replaced however; within 200 miles all three remaining tires experienced the exact same failure. The remaining three tires were replaced.
The door hinges have rusted internal, so that one of the hinges snapped off (lower hinge, passenger side cargo door). Gm has tsb for this but will not cover it. It is very unsafe if you can not exit the door.
Tl*- the contact owns a 2004 gmc savanna van with a current odometer reading of 10,200 miles. The contact stated that the van took a long time to stop when the brakes were applied. The contact found that the brakes that came with the vehicle were too small, which resulted in extended stopping distance when applied.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at 30 mph, a noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. Upon inspection by an independent mechanic, it was determined that the inner tie rod was fractured and had to be replaced. This was the second time the same problem occurred and had to be replaced.
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 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% 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
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 GMC Savana 1500?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: tires, service brakes, steering. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (20%), rust, corrosion (20%), vibration (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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.