GMC Truck›Savana AWD›2005›Overview/gmc-truck/savana-awd/2005/base/

2005 GMC Truck Savana AWD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2005 Savana AWD.

The 2005 GMC Truck Savana AWD is defined mechanically by an engine requiring a 4.5-quart oil capacity with 5W-30 API viscosity, establishing the baseline maintenance profile for this specific configuration. The model year carries 23 total owner complaints primarily focused on the vehicle's structure, accompanied by 5 official recalls that underscore its primary areas of concern. Within the Savana's broader complaint history spanning 1994 to 2026, the 2005 model sits well beneath the problematic 1999 peak of 54 complaints but far above the 1994 low of just one complaint, meaning researchers encounter a vehicle with a middling reliability record that necessitates careful scrutiny of its structural integrity and outstanding recall items.

Model year2014200820052004

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 - PRIMARY BATTERY · 600 - PRIMARY BATTERY CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731172. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 - PRIMARY BATTERY · 600 - PRIMARY BATTERY CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731172 alt 25322835
Engine air filter22909882
Spark plug12621258 alt 12681665
Battery88866306 alt 88864064
Front wiper blades15214346
Serpentine belt12576447 alt 12637202
Thermostat12600171 alt 12632948

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity6.6 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.5 qt
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Cylinder Head StepsInstall the NEW cylinder head bolts.
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsLower: 2nd
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)103.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket107.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle66.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket66.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub173 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity8.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number78 - PRIMARY BATTERY
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 - PRIMARY BATTERY cca
Optional BCI Group Number79 w/SEO

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum62.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)55-62
RPM45-59 @ Idle rpm
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum62.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)55-62

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket80 ft-lbs / 31 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle129 ft-lbs / 221 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.005 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.142 in / 1.181 in / 1.496 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.142 in / 1.181 in / 1.496 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.102 in / 1.142 in / 1.457 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
1M11 bolts22 ft. lbs
2M11 bolts-90 degrees90 degrees
3M11 bolts 1-890 degrees
4M11 bolts 9 and 1050 degrees
522
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1all bolts22 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: 1811 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 2211 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 1811 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 1811 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
17.4
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
17.4
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
17.4
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 miFuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2005 GMC Truck Savana AWD top in one area — the structure, 2 of 23 reports (9%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 5 recall campaigns target the structure, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the structure pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
23
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’94’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’25’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 23 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure2
Service Brakes2
Tires2
Steering2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Visibility1
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1
Steering,Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09V272000Equipment Adaptive/MobilityReported 06/07/2009

MAIN MOBILITY IS RECALLING 185 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2009 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VANS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1, 2005 AND JUNE 25, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE VEHICLES… Remedy: MAIN MOBILITY IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MAIN MOBILITY AT…

09V270000Equipment Adaptive/MobilityReported 06/07/2009

MAIN MOBILITY IS RECALLING 185 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2009 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA VANS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1, 2005 AND JUNE 25, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE VEHICLES… Remedy: MAIN MOBILITY IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MAIN MOBILITY AT…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Savana AWD. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 78 batteryVehicles taking 4.5 qtEngine oil filter 12731172Engine air filter 22909882Spark plug 12621258Battery 88866306

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2005 Savana AWD take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2005 Savana AWD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.