Chevrolet SONOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
42,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 18 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 2; Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2002: 3; 2003: 4; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10125335 · 2005-06-15 (June 15, 2005)
DT: FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED. BRAKES HAVE BEEN READJUSTED SEVERAL TIMES. VEHICLE IS INSPECTED EACH YEAR, AND OWNER HAS TO REPAIR THE BRAKE SO IT CAN PASS INSPECTION. THIS COST LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY, AND GM WON'T COOPERATE WITH HIM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8018002 · 2002-09-05 (September 5, 2002)
THE ABS BRAKING PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8018002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103121 · 2004-12-03 (December 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108827 · 2005-01-25 (January 25, 2005)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THEM ON A FASTER SPEED THEY WILL COME ON. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT HANDLES WERE BROKEN, THEY DID NOT RECLINE AND METAL WAS WHITE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES, AND THE TAILGATE CABLES WERE BROKEN AND RUSTED. *JB.. VEHICLE ALMOST HIT A LARGE VAN WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALMOST ALWAYS WORKED WHEN IT WAS DRY OUTSIDE. CONSUMER TOOK OUT THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND FOUND THE SOLDER JOINT TO THE RELAY CRAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 876353 · 2000-12-12 (December 12, 2000)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP AT ANY GIVEN TIME. IF CONSUMER JIGGLES CIRCUIT BOARD THEY WILL COME BACK ON. BUT, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *AK THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED TWICE AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WERE REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED. JIGGLING THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS THE ONLY SOLUTION SO FAR. ALSO BACK UP LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES BUT GOES OUT WITHINTWO WEEKS EACH TIME. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 876353 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1991: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0