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GMC SavanaModel year report

2006 GMC Savana Problems

Complaints
7filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
71,000miles, 6 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
15 mpgcombined, 4.3L 6-cyl RWD · 13 city / 18 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 GMC Savana (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 2006 GMC Savana. The part named most often is engine, with 2 complaints (29% of the total), followed by air bags (1) and brakes (1). 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 71,000 miles. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 796 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 56 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine: “Took my vehicle to the mechanic because it was making a noise,he looked at it and found 5 exhaust manifold bolts broken,checked the internet to find thousands of vehicles with GM v8 motors have this problem.this is an expensive repair being passed on to consumers by a large corporation well aware of this defect.”

NHTSA complaint #10701130, filed 2015-03, 70,000 miles

Air bags: “Our technician was driving down the road when the airbag signal came on in the lower left corner of the dash and was on for about 30 seconds, tech smelt an odor similar to something shorting out and all of a sudden the airbag deployed while he was driving down the road. The entire process lasted about 30-40 seconds from the time the light came on until the airbag deployed.”

NHTSA complaint #10658835, filed 2014-11, 195,559 miles

Brakes: “Gmc Savana 2006 with only 9,300 miles on it. Had dealer in fl check veh before we left on vac to nj. On way to nj we kept hearing things hitting under the carriage noises. Took to dealer here in nj and they checked and saw that all the weights had come off the rims/tires. The tires are p275r45/20 with chrome rims on a custom handicapped van with lift. Dealer in nj stated they replaced the weights that were missing and also told us we needed to have rotors cut down. Cost of $60.00 for weights and rotors under warranty. Not even 2 miles up road and the weights came off again. …”

NHTSA complaint #10227840, filed 2008-05, 9,300 miles

Electrical system: “- the contact owns a 2006 Gmc savanna cargo van with an odometer reading of 26,000 miles. The horn on the vehicle does not work. The contact has taken the vehicle to the dealer (don mackey Gmc) for repair which was still under warranty, but the dealer refuse to fix the failure. The contact called the manufacturer and was told that they had to go by what the dealer stated and he has to resolve the problem with them. The dealer cleaned the contact points of the horn, but that did not repair the failure. . The failure mileage was 26,000. Updated 02-25-08”

NHTSA complaint #10216507, filed 2008-01, 26,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 26,000 and 110,000 miles.

17%0–100%10–2517%25–5033%50–750%75–10017%100–15017%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (6 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 71,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2008220092012201420152017
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 GMC Savana. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Savana · sedan RWDnot rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 GMC Savana version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Savana 15/25 2WD Conversion (cargo)4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic131714$4,800
Savana 15/25 2WD Conversion (cargo)5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic131714$4,800
Savana 1500/2500 2WD (Passenger)4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic131815$4,450
Savana 1500/2500 2WD (Passenger)5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic131714$4,800
Savana 1500/2500 2WD (cargo)4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141815$4,450
Savana 1500/2500 2WD (cargo)5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic141915$4,450
Savana 1500/2500 AWD (cargo)5.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic131714$4,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2006 GMC Savana → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 796 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 796 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Savana

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2019564,0005———Not enough data
2017724,0006—13—Not enough data
2016637,1007—13—Not enough data
2007664,2073—14—Not enough data
2006771,0007—15—Not enough data
20051337,0006—15—Not enough data
20041245,9257—15—Not enough data
20032224,75011—15—Stable
20021217,5000—15—Not enough data
20011952,0000—14—Rising
20004953,7002—14Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19994962,0001—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19983363,0001—15Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19974669,7071—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19963566,1752—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All GMC Savana model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 GMC Savana have?

NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 2006 GMC Savana as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 GMC Savana is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 2 complaints (29% of the total), followed by air bags with 1.

Has the 2006 GMC Savana been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 GMC Savana get?

The EPA rates the 2006 GMC Savana (Savana 1500/2500 2WD (Passenger), 4.3L 6-cyl) at 15 mpg combined, 13 city and 18 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,450 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 GMC Savana reported?

Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 71,000 miles and the middle half falls between 26,000 and 110,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.