2016 GMC Savana: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 GMC Savana: 7 recalls, 6 owner complaints and up to 13 mpg combined.

Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Tires Vehicle recall #16V184000 · 2016 · 321 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles were shipped to final stage manufacturers without a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 138, "tire pressure monitoring systems."
Why it matters: Without a TPMS, the driver would not be alerted if one or more tires became under inflated. Driving with under inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will install the hardware and software necessary to equip the vehicles with a TPMS, free of charge. The recall began on May 25, 2016.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #16V700000 · 2016 · 40 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles were manufactured without an inside rearview mirror and with a right-hand convex exterior review mirror. These vehicles are required to have either an inside rearview mirror or both left and right-hand flat exterior rearview mirrors. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 111, "rearview mirrors."
Why it matters: If the driver does not have a clear unobstructed view to the back of the vehicle, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will instal a right-hand flat rearview mirror, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2016.
Equipment Vehicle recall #18V267000 · 2018 · 6,154 vehicles
What's wrong: These extinguishers May become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle May detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit:…
Why it matters: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, instructing them to contact kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #18V295000 · 2018 · 207,483 vehicles
What's wrong: Liquid May leak into the driver's power window switch and cause corrosion, resulting in high electrical resistance.
Why it matters: High electrical resistance can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side window switch, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2018.
Electrical Vehicle recall #18V655000 · 2018 · 30,448 vehicles
What's wrong: If the temperature is set to maximum heat or the mode knob is set to maximum floor vent and an electrical short occurs, components within the ccm May overheat.
Why it matters: If the ccm overheats, there is an increased risk of a fire in the vehicle's headliner.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will remove the electrical insulation from a wiring connector within the ccm to remove the fire risk, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #19V387000 · 2019 · 1,159 vehicles
What's wrong: One or both of the rear-quarter windows May be tempered glass instead of laminated glass. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 226, "ejection mitigation."
Why it matters: Tempered glass increases the risk of injury in the event of a side impact or rollover crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tempered glass windows with laminated glass windows, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019.
Electrical Vehicle recall #23V247000 · 2023 · 150,830 vehicles
What's wrong: When the HVAC blower motor circuit is left unused with exposed connectors and wiring, the circuit can corrode and overheat.
Why it matters: An overheated electrical circuit increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Steering (3): the most common themes are warning light on (2), steering problems (2).
- Brakes (2): the most common themes are warning light on (2).
- Stability control (2): the most common themes are warning light on (2).
- Electrical (1): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2016 GMC Savana has 6 owner complaints, ranking #14 of 32 Savana model years for complaints (well below the 11 average). Complaints peaked in 2019 (3 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 37,100 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (2 complaints, 4 recalls), 2017 (7 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 11 | 16 | 13 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 GMC Savana.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 GMC Savana have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2016 GMC Savana. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 GMC Savana problems?
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are steering (3), brakes (2), stability control (2).
What gas mileage does the 2016 GMC Savana get?
EPA ratings run up to 13 mpg combined (6.0 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 GMC Savana repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.