The 2003 GMC Savana has 18 recalls, the most serious involving steering components that can separate without warning and cause a complete loss of steering control. The nut securing the pitman arm to the steering linkage can work loose and separate, and the right-hand tie rod end nut can do the same, both leaving the driver unable to steer. On 2500 and 3500 series vehicles, a missing wheel bearing retaining nut can cause the bearing to separate, pulling the vehicle to one side and disabling the anti-lock brakes. The transmission shift cable can misread the selected gear, allowing the vehicle to roll away after the driver exits on a slope.
Two electrical recalls affect cutaway chassis models: unused rear heating and air conditioning wiring can corrode and overheat, and the rear license plate lamp socket can corrode, melt, and produce smoke at the rear of the vehicle, both raising fire risk. In salt-belt regions, the fuel filler pipe can corrode through and leak fuel during refueling. Seatbelt buckles across the front and rear may fail to latch or unlatch, and in a crash that deploys the pretensioner, the buckle may either trap the occupant or eject the latch plate. One compliance recall notes the owner's manual does not properly explain child restraint anchorage location symbols.
At a glance
What can fail
Exposed wiring and connectors for an optional rear heating and air-conditioning system can corrode and overheat when the blower motor circuit is left unused.
What the fix does
Dealers will seal the rear HVAC blower motor circuits at the left B-pillar to prevent corrosion and overheating.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
An unused rear HVAC blower motor wiring harness in the left B-pillar can be damaged by moisture or contaminants, causing the wires to short circuit.
What the fix does
Dealers will seal the rear HVAC blower motor wiring at the left B-pillar.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In vehicles with a left cargo door operated in snowy regions, road salt can corrode the fuel filler pipe, creating holes. Fuel may leak during refuelling.
What the fix does
The fuel filler pipe will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front and rear seat belt buckles may fail to latch or unlatch due to a damaged hood preventing the tongue from entering fully, or a release bar moving out of position.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the buckles and replace the entire buckle assembly if it is not working properly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front and rear seat belt buckles may fail to latch or unlatch properly on certain full-size vans.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect buckles and replace the entire assembly if faulty, or replace only the cover if functional.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Front and rear seat belt buckles may fail to latch or unlatch due to a damaged ejector hood preventing the latch tongue from fully entering, or a release bar moving out of position and blocking engagement or release.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect buckles and replace any inoperative buckle assemblies.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission shift cable may wear or misalign, causing the gear indicator to show one gear while the transmission is actually in another. On uneven ground, this could allow the vehicle to roll after the driver exits.
What the fix does
The dealer inspects and replaces the transmission shift cable assembly to restore accurate gear indication.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The owner's manual doesn't explain the symbols that show where child restraint lower anchorages are located in the vehicle.
What the fix does
A manual supplement will be provided that describes and shows the location symbols for child restraint anchors in your vehicle.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water corrodes the rear license plate lamp socket, causing intermittent or failed operation. The socket may overheat, soften, and melt, potentially igniting the plastic and causing fire.
What the fix does
Dealer installs a new sealed rear license plate lamp socket assembly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water can enter and corrode the rear license plate lamp socket, causing the license plate lamp to work intermittently or fail completely. The socket may also overheat, soften, and melt, which can disable the left rear tail lamp.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the rear license plate lamp socket assembly with a new sealed version.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt buckle's push button may stick and not release the latch plate after the seat belt pretensioner deploys, or the latch plate may eject from the buckle during a crash. Either way, the seat belt may not restrain you properly or you may be unable to unbuckle after a crash.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace your front seat belt buckles with corrected units.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In a crash severe enough to trigger the safety belt pretensioner, the front safety belt buckles may fail to release or may eject the latch.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front driver and passenger safety belt buckles.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The nut connecting the pitman arm to the steering linkage may not be tightened to the correct specification, potentially causing it to separate and resulting in loss of steering control.
What the fix does
The dealer will tighten the nut to the proper specification.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The nut connecting the pitman arm to the steering linkage may be insufficiently tightened, potentially causing it to separate and affect steering control.
What the fix does
The dealer will tighten the pitman arm nut to specification, or install and tighten a new nut if missing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The nut securing the right-hand tie rod end may not be tight enough. It can loosen and cause the tie rod to separate from the steering knuckle.
What the fix does
Dealers will tighten the tie rod end nut and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The nut on the right tie rod end may not have been tightened properly and could loosen over time, causing the tie rod to separate and affect steering control.
What the fix does
The dealer will tighten the tie rod end nut to the correct specification.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A wheel bearing assembly retaining nut may be missing from the factory, allowing the bearing to separate. This disables ABS, causes grinding noise, reduces speed, and pulls steering. Loss of control and crash can result.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect wheel bearing assemblies and replace any found with a missing retaining nut.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some vans lack a retaining nut on the wheel bearing assembly, which could cause the bearing to separate.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the wheel bearing assembly and replace it if the retaining nut is missing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
