2016 GMC Savana
The 2016 GMC Savana is a special purpose; vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR are not certified for fuel economy by the EPA, so this page is built from NHTSA's recall, complaint and investigation records. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 6 complaints, most often about the steering.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.govNo EPA fuel-economy record: the EPA does not certify vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR. Recall, complaint and investigation data below come from NHTSA.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Incomplete - Cutaway |
| Doors | 2 |
| GVWR class | Class 3: 10,001 - 14,000 lb (4,536 - 6,350 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Displacement | 6 L |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | RWD/Rear-Wheel Drive |
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: 2500 Cargo, 3500 Cutaway, EXT). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 224.0–244.1 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 79.5 in |
| Height | 81.5–81.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 135.0–155.1 in |
| Track, front | 68.1 in |
| Track, rear | 67.7 in |
| Curb weight | 5,205–5,567 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 53/47 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 2500 Cargo Van LWB, 2500 Cargo Van SWB, 3500 Cargo Van LWB, 3500 Cargo Van SWB. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2016 GMC Savana is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (8)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseElectrical System
N222386050Visibility
N192218960Electrical System
18299Visibility
18155Equipment
18146Visibility
16036Tires
15819These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
NHTSA defect investigations
Power Train — 6L90 Transmission Failure closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) after receiving one Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) complaint related to four school buses built on General Motors (GM) van chassis. The VOQ alleged transmission failure resulting in a loss of all forward gear. In ODI's pre-investigative discussions with GM, ODI learned that valve body separator plates had been machined out of tolerance during production periods between October 2016 to April 2017 and February 2021 to April 2021. This out of tolerance machining may create excessive wear to the valve body check balls, possibly resulting in an inability to engage drive or reverse. The potential loss of drivabili
Opened Sep 27, 2023 · closed Jan 10, 2025 · action PE23016 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific Savana
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. GMC publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 GMC Savana, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2016 GMC Savana
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this Savana →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2019: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2025: 1
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
Occurs intermittently while driving over last 4 months in following order: intermittent death wobble in steering wheel when braking stabletrack dash light came on and brake lights would not turn off. Brake switch at pedal replaced. Brake lights now staying off. Stabletrack dash light came intermittently three times again.
6L80 transmission has failed @ 109,000 miles. At a stop light, in drive, vehicle would not move in drive or reverse. After switching back and forth transmission finally started to work and was able to limp to a dealership. Did not realize how big this issue is with this transmission until mine failed prematurely.
I test drove the vehicle I purchased in the penske parking lot. I was not able to take it to the freeway. Vehicle felt fine, engine looked good, rear tires were worn, but I was told they conformed to DOT standards. After the purchase I started to drive it home.
In 2004 I purchased a new chevy van. In 2006 my light switch wiring harness melted together and I could not turn my lights off. I paid to get this repaired. In 2008 this same van caught on fire while I was driving. I parked the van, opened the door and got out. Safely. The van was a total loss but I was safe.
The contact owns a 2016 Gmc Savana. While the key was in the ignition with the vehicle turned on, the power windows would not operate correctly. There were no warning indicators illuminated; however, the interior lighting flashed on and off. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by GMC itself: 3 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 2 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Savana model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Power Train, Fuel/Propulsion System.
- PIT5698F Service bulletin2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- PIP4902W Service bulletin2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- PIT5099J Service bulletin2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- PIT3271Q Service bulletin2026-04-01 · Unknown Or Other
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
- PIP6104 Service bulletin2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- PIP4902V Service bulletin2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- PIT6400A Service bulletin2026-01-16 · Unknown Or Other
- This PI Communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform 19-NA-255: Wax Coating on Frame Peeling, Metal Shows Corrosion/Rusting due to issue with getting product from current supplier listed in the bulletin.
- PIP4902U Service bulletin2026-01-08 · Unknown Or Other
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| P2463 P2463 on GMC → | Soot has built up in the diesel particulate filter beyond the allowed limit. | Engine | 20 bulletins |
| B3055 B3055 on GMC → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 11 bulletins |
| B3060 B3060 on GMC → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 11 bulletins |
| B3935 B3935 on GMC → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 11 bulletins |
| P0300 P0300 on GMC → | Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder. | Engine · Ignition coils → | 7 bulletins |
| P0308 P0308 on GMC → | Cylinder 8 is misfiring. | Engine · Ignition coils → | 7 bulletins |
| P0442 P0442 on GMC → | A small leak in the evaporative emissions system. | Engine · Gas cap → | 7 bulletins |
| P050D P050D on GMC → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 7 bulletins |
| P0087 P0087 on GMC → | Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded. | Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump → | 6 bulletins |
| P0455 P0455 on GMC → | A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off. | Engine · Gas cap → | 6 bulletins |
| C0750 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 5 bulletins |
| C0755 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 5 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Savana by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2016 Savana
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2016 GMC Savana have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 8 recall campaigns for the 2016 GMC Savana, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 18V655000, covering Electrical System. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. The manufacturer's own estimate for when a fix would be ready: February 28, 2025. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2016 GMC Savana?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2016 GMC Savana yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (56/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What are the dimensions of the 2016 GMC Savana?
Transport Canada measured it at 224.0–244.1 in long, 79.5 in wide (body, without mirrors), 81.5–81.9 in tall, on a 135.0–155.1 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 5,205–5,567 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2016 GMC Savana?
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 GMC Savana, most often about steering, service brakes, electronic stability control. Of those, 1 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
Are there service bulletins for the 2016 GMC Savana?
The manufacturer has filed 2474 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 GMC Savana, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | none | EPA certification records | The EPA does not certify vehicles rated over 8,500 lb GVWR, so heavy-duty nameplates have no entry at all. |
| Emission certificates | none | EPA emission certificates | The EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page. |
| Recalls | 8 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 6 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | none | NHTSA NCAP | NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe. |
| Service bulletins | 2474 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 1 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 7 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.