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2012 GMC Savana Cargo: problems, recalls and fuel economy
Owners filed only 4 complaints with NHTSA for the 2012 Savana Cargo[1]. The van also has 7 recalls on file, so check which ones apply to a specific van before you buy[2].
Reported problems
NHTSA lists 4 owner complaints for this model year[1]. None mentions a crash, a fire, an injury or a death[1]. These are unverified reports.
- Air bags: 2 complaints[4].
- Visibility/wiper: 1 complaint[5].
- Visibility: 1 complaint[6].
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaint[7].
In the small sample of complaint texts we read, the 2 air bag complaints describe different things[4]. One owner was told the part for an air bag recall was not available yet. Another saw the passenger air bag warning light come on and was quoted a dealer repair price after the warranty had ended[4]. The one fuel complaint describes fuel leaking at the filler pipe, along with a rusted pipe and an emissions-related warning[7].
With counts this low, none of these is a pattern. Treat them as examples of what a few owners reported.
Recalls
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for this model year[2]. Newest first:
- Rear HVAC wiring (23V247). Wiring for an optional rear heating and air-conditioning system can corrode and overheat when the blower circuit is left unused with exposed connectors. That raises the risk of a fire. Dealers seal the circuit for free. The recall text names Savana Cutaway incomplete vehicles[8].
- Fire extinguishers (18V267). Certain fire extinguishers may clog, so they may not discharge or may need too much force. In some, the nozzle can come off the valve. In a fire, that raises the risk of injury. GM tells owners to contact Kidde for a free replacement extinguisher[9].
- Natural gas regulator (14V500). Some compressed natural gas (CNG) vans may leak gas from the high pressure regulator. With an ignition source nearby, that raises the risk of fire or explosion. Dealers replace the regulator for free[10].
- Passenger instrument panel (14V117). In a lower-speed frontal crash where the air bags do not deploy, an unbelted front passenger's head may hit the panel above the air bag, and the panel may not absorb the impact well enough. That raises the risk of injury. Dealers modify the panel for free[11].
- Natural gas solenoid (13V225). On certain CNG fuel systems, the shut-off solenoid connector at the tank can corrode and short. That can cause overheating and raises the risk of fire. The fix swaps the solenoid assemblies and the fuel pump fuses, and reroutes some wiring[12].
- Steering gear (12V112). The pitman shaft in the steering gear was possibly not hardened enough and could break. That could cause a loss of steering and raises the risk of a crash. Dealers inspect the steering gear and replace the shaft if needed, for free[13].
- Air bag (11V543). The air bag's second stage would not inflate in a severe frontal impact, in certain vans built from June 2, 2011, through October 17, 2011[14]. That raises the risk of injury. Dealers install a new front passenger air bag for free[14].
Some of these cover only certain versions, such as CNG vans or vans built in a set date range. Ask a GMC dealer whether a recall applies to the exact van you are looking at.
Fuel economy
EPA lists several engines and body versions. Combined MPG runs from 12 to 17[3][15].
| Version | Engine | City / hwy / combined | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 2WD[3] | 4.3L 6-cyl, Regular | 15 / 20 / 17 | $3,950 |
| 1500 2WD[16] | 5.3L 8-cyl, Gasoline or E85 | 13 / 18 / 15 | $4,450 |
| 1500 2WD Conversion[17] | 5.3L 8-cyl, Gasoline or E85 | 13 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 |
| 1500 AWD[18] | 5.3L 8-cyl, Gasoline or E85 | 13 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 |
| 1500 AWD Conversion[19] | 5.3L 8-cyl, Gasoline or E85 | 13 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 |
| 2500 2WD[15] | 6.0L 8-cyl, Gasoline or E85 | 10 / 15 / 12 | $5,600 |
| 2500 2WD Conversion[20] | 6.0L 8-cyl, Gasoline or E85 | 10 / 15 / 12 | $5,600 |
| 3500 2WD[21] | 6.0L 8-cyl, Gasoline or E85 | 10 / 14 / 12 | $5,600 |
All versions use an automatic. The 4.3L and 5.3L versions have a 4-speed[16][3]. The 6.0L versions have a 6-speed[20][15][21]. The 4.3L 1500 is the most efficient listed[3]. The 6.0L versions are the thirstiest, at $1,650 more per year than the 4.3L by EPA's estimate[3][15].
Size
These dimensions are Canadian-market specifications[22]. They come in a short wheelbase and a long wheelbase.
| Variant | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 short[22] | 224 in | 80 in | 81 in | 135 in | 4,846 lb |
| 1500 short AWD[23] | 224 in | 80 in | 81 in | 135 in | 5,218 lb |
| 2500 short[24] | 224 in | 80 in | 81 in | 135 in | 5,018 lb |
| 2500 long[25] | 244 in | 80 in | 82 in | 155 in | 6,074 lb |
| 3500 short[26] | 224 in | 80 in | 81 in | 135 in | 5,428 lb |
| 3500 long[27] | 244 in | 80 in | 82 in | 155 in | 5,626 lb |
The long wheelbase adds 20 inches to the length and to the wheelbase[22][25].
How 2012 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 35 | 2 |
| 1997 | 49 | 1 |
| 1998 | 33 | 1 |
| 1999 | 52 | 1 |
| 2000 | 56 | 2 |
| 2001 | 24 | 0 |
| 2002 | 19 | 0 |
| 2003 | 33 | 11 |
| 2004 | 18 | 7 |
| 2005 | 24 | 5 |
| 2006 | 10 | 10 |
| 2007 | 13 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 | 7 |
| 2009 | 7 | 8 |
| 2010 | 7 | 4 |
| 2011 | 4 | 7 |
| 2012 | 4 | 7 |
| 2013 | 2 | 9 |
| 2014 | 8 | 7 |
| 2015 | 6 | 4 |
NHTSA lists 4 complaints and 7 recalls for 2012[2]. Only 2013 has fewer complaints, at 2[2]. The 2011 model year also has 4[2]. Every other year from 1996 to 2015 has more, and 2014 has 8[2].
Recalls are more mixed. 2013 has 9, 2009 has 8, 2006 has 10 and 2003 has 11[2]. The years 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2014 also have 7[2]. The other years have fewer[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many vans were sold, so use them to compare years of this same model only.
Should you buy a used 2012 Savana Cargo?
NHTSA has 4 complaints for this model year, with no crashes, fires or injuries mentioned, but that is a small sample and does not prove the van is trouble free[1]. The recall list is the bigger item, with seven recalls covering air bags, steering, fire risk and more[2].
Before you buy, ask a GMC dealer which recalls apply to the exact van and whether each repair was done. Pay special attention to the steering gear recall and the air bag recalls[13][14][11]. Fuel cost depends heavily on the engine, with the 6.0L versions costing the most to run by EPA's estimate[15].
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 GMC Savana Cargo?
- NHTSA has only 4 complaints for this model year[1], so no clear pattern exists. They name air bags (2), visibility/wiper (1), visibility (1) and fuel/propulsion (1)[1][4][5][6][7].
- Does the 2012 GMC Savana Cargo have recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 7 recalls, covering rear HVAC wiring, fire extinguishers, natural gas parts, a passenger instrument panel, the steering gear and an air bag[8][9][10][11][12][13][14].
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 4 owner complaints on file for the 2012 GMC Savana Cargo (0 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every GMC Savana Cargo model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Savana 1500 2WD (cargo), 4.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 20 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,950. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 2 complaints name the air bags component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 1 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 23V247, filed April 6, 2023: Electrical System › Wiring. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 18V267, filed April 26, 2018: Equipment. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 14V500, filed August 13, 2014: Fuel System, Other. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 14V117, filed March 17, 2014: Air Bags › Frontal. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 13V225, filed May 15, 2013: Fuel System, Other. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 12V112, filed March 22, 2012: Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Pitman. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 11V543, filed November 8, 2011: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Savana 2500 2WD (cargo), 6.0L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Rear-Wheel Drive: 10 city / 15 highway / 12 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Savana 1500 2WD (cargo), 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Rear-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 18 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,450. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Savana 1500 2WD Conversion (cargo), 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Rear-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 17 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Savana 1500 AWD (cargo), 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, All-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 17 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Savana 1500 AWD Conversion (cargo), 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, All-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 17 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Savana 2500 2WD Conversion (cargo), 6.0L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Rear-Wheel Drive: 10 city / 15 highway / 12 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Savana 3500 2WD (cargo), 6.0L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Rear-Wheel Drive: 10 city / 14 highway / 12 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 1500 SAVANA CARGO VAN SWB: length 224 in, width 80 in, height 81 in, wheelbase 135 in, curb weight 4,846 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 1500 SAVANA CARGO VAN SWB AWD: length 224 in, width 80 in, height 81 in, wheelbase 135 in, curb weight 5,218 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 2500 SAVANA CARGO VAN SWB: length 224 in, width 80 in, height 81 in, wheelbase 135 in, curb weight 5,018 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 2500 SAVANA CARGO VAN LWB: length 244 in, width 80 in, height 82 in, wheelbase 155 in, curb weight 6,074 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 3500 SAVANA CARGO VAN SWB: length 224 in, width 80 in, height 81 in, wheelbase 135 in, curb weight 5,428 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, 3500 SAVANA CARGO VAN LWB: length 244 in, width 80 in, height 82 in, wheelbase 155 in, curb weight 5,626 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov