The 2019 Savana with the 6.0L V8 (LY6) is a proven workhorse, but owners face Active Fuel Management (AFM) lifter failures, transmission oil cooler leaks mixing coolant and ATF, and occasional injector harness corrosion. These issues can sideline the van and lead to expensive engine or transmission work if ignored.
AFM Lifter Failure Leading to Camshaft/Lifter Damage
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Cold-start tick or rattle that may quiet down when warm, Check engine light with P0300-series misfire codes or P0521 oil pressure codes, Rough idle, loss of power, metal shavings in oil, Catastrophic engine damage if driven after lifter collapse
Fix: Collapsed AFM lifters require camshaft replacement, all lifters, sometimes head work if rocker arms are damaged. Full fix is 18-24 hours labor, often with AFM delete kit installed to prevent recurrence. Some shops replace short block if bearing damage from debris.
Symptoms: Milky or strawberry-colored transmission fluid, Transmission slipping, delayed engagement, or erratic shifts, Engine coolant loss, overheating in severe cases, Pink residue in coolant overflow tank
Fix: Replace internal transmission oil cooler (inside radiator) or install external cooler and bypass internal. Flush transmission lines, torque converter, and cooling system. Transmission rebuild or replacement often needed if driven contaminated. Total 8-14 hours if trans survives, 20+ hours for rebuild.
Symptoms: Intermittent misfire codes (P0300, P0301-P0308), Hard starting, rough idle, hesitation under load, Check engine light, reduced fuel economy, Corroded or oil-soaked injector connectors visible on inspection
Fix: Replace injector harness (both sides on V8). Common for oil/coolant leaks to wick into harness. Includes cleaning injector terminals and checking for valve cover leaks. 3-5 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Transmission Mount Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible sag or torn rubber in transmission crossmember mount, Driveline shudder during acceleration
Fix: Replace transmission mount and inspect other drivetrain mounts. Heavy-duty aftermarket mounts recommended for cargo/tow use. 1.5-2.5 hours labor.
Symptoms: Gauges dropping to zero intermittently or permanently, Speedometer/fuel gauge inoperative, Warning lights all illuminated or flickering, No-start in some cases (anti-theft integration)
Fix: Check for open NHTSA recall 19V642 (cluster software update). If not covered, cluster replacement or repair service required. Some independent shops offer cluster rebuild/repair for less than dealer replacement. 1-2 hours labor for R&R.
Estimated cost: $400-1,200 (repair); $800-1,800 (new cluster + programming)
Rear Window Glass Delamination/Detachment
Rare · low severity
Symptoms: Rear side or back door glass separating from frame, Wind noise, water leaks around glass, Glass held only by safety film in extreme cases
Fix: NHTSA recall 20V078 covers certain build dates; check VIN eligibility. Otherwise, re-bond glass with proper urethane adhesive. 2-3 hours labor per window.
Estimated cost: $300-600 per window (if not recall-covered)
Owner tips
Run full synthetic oil (0W-20 or 5W-30) and change every 5,000 mi max to protect AFM system; consider AFM disable tune early to avoid lifter failure
Check transmission fluid color every oil change—catch cooler leaks before trans is damaged
Inspect valve cover gaskets and oil filter adapter for leaks that contaminate injector harness
Use OEM or high-quality AC Delco parts for ignition and fuel system—cheap coils/injectors cause misfire headaches
If buying used, verify AFM lifter noise on cold start and pull trans dipstick for milky fluid before purchase
Solid platform for commercial use if AFM system is addressed proactively and transmission cooler is monitored—budget $2k-3k reserve for eventual AFM/cooler work on higher-mileage examples.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Fitment notes: Side post terminals; battery located under hood on passenger side; full-size van application requires high reserve capacity
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Every control module on the 2018-2026 GMC Savana — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
Tire Pressure Monitor Control Module (TPMS)no coding▸ programming details
📍 integrated within BCM
⚠️ TPMS receiver integrated into BCM; sensor relearn via scan tool or manual procedure
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2003-2023 Chevrolet Express Cutaway and GMC Savana Cutaway incomplete vehicles equipped with wiring for an optional rear heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. When the HVAC blower motor circuit is left unused with exposed connectors and wiring, the circuit can corrode and overheat.
Consequence: An overheated electrical circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GMC's number for this recall is N222386050.
TIRES · 21V115000
2021-02-25
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.
Consequence: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. The seatbelt-unfastened warning light will not illuminate for approximately five seconds after the ignition is moved to the "on" or "start" position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: Without the seatbelt warning reminder, the driver may forget to fasten the seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192264500.
EQUIPMENT · 19V428000
2019-06-11
Unicell Body Company Inc. (Unicell) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanna, 2018-2019 Hino 155, Ford Econoline and Transit and Isuzu NPR, and 2018 Ram ProMaster-based vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The affected monitors may revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
Consequence: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Unicell will work with ASA Electronics to notify owners and offer a remedy, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics customer service 1-800-384-4400 or Unicell at 1-716-853-8628.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR · 19V387000
2019-05-23
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vehicles. One or both of the rear-quarter windows may be tempered glass instead of laminated glass. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Consequence: Tempered glass increases the risk of injury in the event of a side impact or rollover crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tempered glass windows with laminated glass windows, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N192218960.
Performance
Horsepower
341hp
Torque
373lb-ft
Capability & size
Towing capacity
10,000lb
Payload
4,200lb
Curb weight
5,700lb
Wiper blades
Full-size cargo/passenger van, no rear wiper. Both blades are same length.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2019 GMC Savana 6.0L V8 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.