2013 GMC Savana: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 GMC Savana: 9 recalls, 2 owner complaints and up to 17 mpg combined.
Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain, Steering Vehicle recall #13V001000 · 2013 · 54,686 vehicles
What's wrong: 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss no. 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention." the vehicles May have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.
Why it matters: As a result, the vehicle May shift from park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the off position. The vehicle May also shift out of park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios May cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has…
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners May call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners May call 1-866-982-2339. Gmc owners May call 1-866-996-9463.
Electrical Vehicle recall #13V010000 · 2013 · 980 vehicles
What's wrong: It May be possible to remove the key from the ignition when the vehicle is running or the transmission is not in the park position. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "theft protection."
Why it matters: If the ignition key is removed while the vehicle is still on and/or the vehicle is not in park, the vehicle May rollaway and the unintended movement of the vehicle May result in a possible crash or injury to pedestrians.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition lock cylinder and the two associated keys. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on February 8, 2013. For more information, GMC owners May call 1-866-996-9463 and Chevrolet owners May call 1-800-630-2438.
Seats, Seats Vehicle recall #13V147000 · 2013 · 885 vehicles
What's wrong: Explorer van company, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2013 explorer and explorer limited se vehicles built on GMC savana and Chevrolet express chassis, manufactured August 1, 2012, through April 9, 2013. The wiring harness that powers the seat adjuster and the seat heating circuit May not be properly secured. As a result, the harness May become lodged in the seat riser mechanism.
Why it matters: If the wires become lodged in the seat riser mechanism, they May become severed and potentially short circuit. A short circuit May result in a fire.
The fix: Explorer van company will notify owners, and dealers will secure the seat wiring harness. Any damaged seat wiring harnesses will be replaced. These services will be completed free of charge. The recall began on May 10, 2013. Customers May contact explorer van company at 1-800-926-7878. Explorer's…
Fuel system (other) Vehicle recall #13V225000 · 2013 · 1,791 vehicles
What's wrong: General motors LLC (gm) and impco automotive division of impco technologies, Inc. (impco) are recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet express and GMC savana cargo vans that have a compressed natural gas (cng) fuel system installed as original equipment by impco. The fuel systems, manufactured February 14, 2011, through February 20, 2013, have a fuel shut-off solenoid connector to the cng tank that May…
Why it matters: A short at the connector May cause overheating, resulting in an increased risk of fire.
The fix: Gm will notify owners and gm dealers/fleets will perform the remedy which will include replacing the solenoid assemblies and fuel pump fuses and adjusting the wiring routing. The recall began on August 5, 2013. Gm's number for this recall is 13139. Impco's number for this recall is fa13gm001.…
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V117000 · 2014 · 303,013 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, during a frontal impact below the air bag deployment threshold, if an unbelted front passenger's head hits the instrument panel above where the passenger air bag is located, the panel May not sufficiently absorb the impact. As such, these vehicles fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 201, "occupant protection in interior impact."
Why it matters: In the event of a crash below the air bag deployment threshold, an unbelted front passenger seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will modify the passenger instrument panel free of charge. Notices to the owners of the heavy duty vans were mailed on April 28, 2014. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Chevrolet owners May call 1-800-630-2438. Gmc owners May call 1-866-996-9463. Gm's number for…
Fuel system (other) Vehicle recall #14V500000 · 2014 · 3,345 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May leak natural gas from the cng high pressure regulator.
Why it matters: A natural gas leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire or explosion.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure regulator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2013.
Equipment Vehicle recall #13V544000 · 2015 · 1,808 vehicles
What's wrong: 303 "fuel system integrity of compressed natural gas vehicles." in the affected vehicles, the text of the cng fuel-only label is smaller than the required size, and as a result, May be less noticeable.
Why it matters: Text that does not conform to the required labeling size could inhibit fuel tank inspection practices and safe refueling, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Gm will notify owners and will send them a replacement label, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2015.
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.
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
- Tires (2): the most common themes are tire tread / blowout (2).
The 2013 GMC Savana has 2 owner complaints, ranking #22 of 32 Savana model years for complaints (well below the 11 average). Neighboring years: 2012 (3 complaints, 7 recalls), 2014 (1 complaints, 7 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 13 | 17 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 4.8 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 11 | 17 | 13 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 11 | 16 | 13 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 10 | 15 | 12 | Gasoline or E85 |
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 2013 GMC Savana.
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FAQ
Does the 2013 GMC Savana have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2013 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 2013 GMC Savana problems?
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are tires (2).
What gas mileage does the 2013 GMC Savana get?
EPA ratings run up to 17 mpg combined (4.3 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 7 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 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.