2022 GMC SAVANA

Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Ticking or tapping noise from engine at idle, especially when cold, Check Engine Light with P0300 random misfire or cylinder-specific misfire codes, Loss of power under acceleration, Metal shavings in oil during oil changes, Valvetrain clatter that worsens over time

Fix: AFM system uses collapsing lifters on cylinders 1, 4, 6, and 7. When lifters fail, they cause cam lobe wear, collapsed pushrods, and send metal debris through the engine. Often requires complete engine rebuild or replacement including pistons, bearings, crankshaft work, and sometimes head gaskets. Prevention is AFM delete kit ($500-800 parts, 6-8 hours labor) before failure occurs. Post-failure rebuild is 25-35 hours labor plus machine shop work.

Estimated cost: $6,500-12,000

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Pink or milky transmission fluid indicating coolant contamination, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Overheating transmission temperature warnings, Loss of coolant with no external leaks visible, Hard shifts or no forward gears

Fix: The 6L80/6L90 transmission cooler lines corrode internally or the cooler itself fails inside the radiator, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. This destroys clutch packs and seals. Requires new transmission oil cooler assembly, lines, full transmission flush or rebuild depending on contamination severity. If caught early (just lines), 4-6 hours labor. If internal damage occurred, add transmission rebuild at 18-24 hours labor.

Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (cooler/lines only) or $3,500-5,500 (with trans rebuild)

Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at highway speeds (60+ mph), Visible transmission sag when inspected on lift, Harsh engagement into gear

Fix: The factory rubber transmission mount deteriorates prematurely, especially on cargo vans with heavy loads. Replacement is straightforward but requires supporting the transmission. 1.5-2 hours labor. Use heavy-duty aftermarket mount for extended life.

Estimated cost: $250-450

Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi

Symptoms: Hard starting after sitting overnight, Loss of power under load or acceleration, Engine stumbling or hesitation at highway speeds, Check Engine Light with lean fuel codes (P0171/P0174)

Fix: The frame-mounted fuel filter clogs faster than expected, especially with modern ethanol fuels. This puts strain on the in-tank fuel pump. Replace fuel filter every 30,000 miles preventively (not the manual's 50,000). Filter replacement is 0.8-1.2 hours. If pump fails from restriction damage, tank drop required: 3-4 hours labor.

Estimated cost: $180-280 (filter) or $800-1,200 (pump replacement)

Symptoms: Intermittent no-start conditions, Multiple electrical accessories failing simultaneously, Battery drain when parked, Blown fuses with no obvious cause, NHTSA recall for specific wiring harness routing issues

Fix: Wiring harnesses routed near the exhaust or sharp body panels can chafe through insulation, causing shorts. The 2022 had a recall for transmission control module wiring. Diagnosis is time-consuming (2-4 hours tracing circuits). Repair involves rerouting, adding protective sleeving, and sometimes replacing sections of harness. Labor varies wildly: 3-8 hours depending on location.

Estimated cost: $400-1,500

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Burning one quart of oil every 1,000-2,000 miles, Blue smoke from exhaust on cold start or deceleration, Oil fouled spark plugs, Loss of compression in one or more cylinders

Fix: The 6.0L can develop piston ring carbon buildup or wear that causes oil consumption. Often related to AFM lifter debris circulating through the engine. If caught before cylinder wall scoring, can sometimes be addressed with piston ring replacement (18-22 hours labor). Severe cases need full shortblock replacement (28-35 hours).

Estimated cost: $3,200-5,800 (rings) or $7,500-11,000 (shortblock)