U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Gmc SONOMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

69 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

66,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 69 complaints (24.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	14	20.3%
Electrical and battery issues	3	4.3%
Fuel system concerns	3	4.3%
Transmission and shifting	2	2.9%
Engine operation	2	2.9%
Steering behavior	2	2.9%

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.

Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor

Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer

Vehicle Speed Control

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Air Bags

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System

Fuel System, Other

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor	17
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer	7
Vehicle Speed Control	5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	4
Air Bags	3
Air Bags:Frontal	3
Electrical System	3
Fuel System, Other	3

Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 17; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Air Bags: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System: 3; Fuel System, Other: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 42 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2008

2011

2012

2014

2000: 11; 2001: 12; 2002: 12; 2003: 11; 2004: 5; 2005: 8; 2006: 1; 2008: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2014: 2

Pattern summary

Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 10043608 · 2003-10-26 (October 26, 2003)

I HAVE A 1997 GMC SONOMA S.N. [XXX]. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF THINGS WRONG WITH IT. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WENT OUT, THE MOTOR MOUND BROKE, THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, THE BRAKES FAIL, THE VALVES ARE TAPPING, MAIN FRONT BEARING SEAL IS LEAKING, BLINKERS ARE NOT WORKING,OIL IS LEAKING ON TOP OF ENGINE BY A/C, WATER IS LEAKING FROM HEATING COIL, WATER PUMP IS OUT NOW,GOD THAT IS ONLY SOME OF THE THINGS. I HAVE HAD IT 1YR. 7 MON. WHAT CAN I DO? I GOT THE WARRANTY. AND THANK GOD I DID. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFOR…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043608 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10071111 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

SINCE DAY ONE OF GETTING THE TRUCK, I NOTICE THAT THE GAS TANK METER WAS BROKE. BROUGHT IT BACK IN TO THEM FOR METER PLUS THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THEY FIXED THE METER PROBLEM BUT THEY SAID NEEDED BRAKE PADS CHANGED. SO I WENT HOME CHANGED THE BRAKE PAD, ROTOR, DRUMS. WENT BACK IN EVER SINCE THEN TILL NOW FOR COOLANT, KNOCKING OF ENGINE, A/C, MAIN ENGINE SEAL GASKETS, BRACKETS, FUEL SYSTEM, MOTOR MOUNTS, BELTS, SEALS, NIPPLES, STUDS, FAN CLUTCH, PULLEYS, PLUS BRAKES ARE STILL FAILING,(WENT ON LINE FOUND OUT BRAKES ARE RECALLED THEY FAILED TO TELL ME T…

Owner-reported narrative. 49,002 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071111 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 748171 · 2001-07-09 (July 9, 2001)

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS TO OPERATE SOME TIMES WHEN I TURN IT ON. AND THEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ITS WORKING AGAIN. I CAN'T DEPEND ON THE WIPERS TO WORK WHEN I NEED THEM. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES. MY LOCAL GM SERVICE CENTER TELLS ME THERE IS SOME ELECTRICAL MODULE CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND WANTS $150 TO FIX.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748171 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 865300 · 2000-07-12 (July 12, 2000)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. WIRING HAS TO BE JIGGLED BEFORE OPERATION CONTINUES. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK *ML

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 865300 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10053106 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)

FUEL PUMP FAILED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BRIDGE BETWEEN KY. AND OH. THIS WAS THE 2ND. FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FIRST ONE FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

Owner-reported narrative. 56,692 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053106 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10049605 · 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 1997 GMC SONOMA QUIT WORKING WITH ONLY 66,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I'M TOLD THIS IS COMMON.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049605 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 880151 · 2001-02-08 (February 8, 2001)

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP THERE IS A DELAY IN BRAKING, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH RESULTED IN A NEAR ACCIDENT. ALSO, NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT BRAKE. RECALL NUMBER 97V146001 REGARDING A BRAKE LINE, VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 62000 MILES. CONSUMER STATES FRONT BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WITH HEAVY FOOT. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 880151 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10621500 · 2014-08-11 (August 11, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A STEEP HILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ UPDATED 3/6/2015*JS

Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10621500 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 765139 · 2002-08-03 (August 3, 2002)

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED, WIPERS STALLED IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC--HAD TO BLINDLY MANEUVER TO CITY FREEWAY SHOULDER AND PROCEED TO NEXT EXIT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 765139 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10160065 · 2006-06-17 (June 17, 2006)

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD , GOES ON AND THE ENGINE QUITS. IF THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG IS TAPPED, THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND THE ENGINE CAN BE RESTARTED. VERY SCARY. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 181,603 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160065 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10248043 · 2008-11-09 (November 9, 2008)

THE KEY USED TO STICK IN THE IGNITION AND RELEASE ITSELF AFTER A SHORT TIME. THEN THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND WHEN THE KEY CAME OUT THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE STARTED, THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE KEY CAME OUT, BUT WHEN PLACED BACK IN, WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL NOR WOULD IT TURN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 101,256 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248043 at NHTSA ↗