Most common 1998 GMC Savana problems
Share of the 33 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Savana complaints by model year
Best Savana years: 2020, 2011, 2014. Years to avoid: 1999, 1997, 2000, 1996, 1998. Compare all years →
1998 GMC Savana recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. One or both front brake rotor/hubs were built with an out-of-specification gray iron that can fail during the life of the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rotors for a core date of "287" and, if found, replace the rotor.
What 1998 GMC Savana owners say
Brakes
Dt*: the contact stated the ABS engages at low speeds of 5mph and below. This primarily happens while stopping the vehicle. There is a NHTSA recall # 05V379000 concerning the ABS. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the VIN and the year of the vehicle. The dealer was contacted, but no repairs were made.
When brakes are applied pedal feels normal, but ABS system does not kick in as it should, causing a loss of brakes. Extremely soft brake pedal, goes almost to the floor. Brakes must be pumped several times to achieve enough brake to slow dowm or stop. GM rep will not authorize any further warranty brake service. Dealer has been contacted.
Air bags
Water gets under the carpet where airbag sensor is located, causing the light to illuminate while the vehicle is in motion. The dealer has been notified.
Water gets under the carpet where airbag sensor is located, causing airbag light to illuminate while vehicle is in motion. Dealer has been notified.
Wheels & tires
Vehicle came equipped with standard tires which hold about 2300 pounds instead of exload tires which hold 7200 pounds. This was causing a loss of control and premature wear of the tires. Also, label on the driver's door was incorrect. Because of this error , it took 13 months before they discovered what was causing the problem, and went through 9 alignments and several tires.
Vehicle was being driven by employee when the tread of the Firestone tire came off, r4s lt24575r16, dot vn1181a247, driver was able to maintain control of vehicle but tread separation caused damage to vehicle, tire not involved in recall (oot-005). Cj
1998 GMC Savana engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Van.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 GMC Savana a good car?
Based on 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Savana rates avoid: 4.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Savana at the same age. It is one of the Savana years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 GMC Savana?
The brakes — 9 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the air bags (6) and wheels & tires (5).
How many recalls does the 1998 GMC Savana have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 GMC Savana, the most recent from February 17, 1998 (rotor). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Savana?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2011 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 1997, 2000, 1996 and 1998. See the full GMC Savana years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 GMC Savana problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 63,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.