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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Gmc SONOMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

39 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

39,120 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Equipment is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 39 complaints (7.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior820.5%
Fuel system concerns25.1%
Transmission and shifting12.6%
Engine operation12.6%
Electrical and battery issues12.6%
Steering behavior12.6%

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.

Equipment
3
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
3
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
Latches/Locks/Linkages
2
Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable
2
Seats
2
Structure
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Equipment3
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch3
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Latches/Locks/Linkages2
Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable2
Seats2
Structure2

Equipment: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 3; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 2; Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable: 2; Seats: 2; Structure: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 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.

2003
4
2004
5
2005
9
2006
3
2007
3
2008
2
2009
2
2010
3
2011
2
2013
1
2014
1
2015
1
2016
1
2018
1
2020
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20034
20045
20059
20063
20073
20082
20092
20103
20112
20131
20141
20151
20161
20181
20201

2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2005: 9; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Equipment leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10051736 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)

WHEN BRAKING LEFT REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO PULL TO THE LEFT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK *MR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051736 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10063598 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD BEFORE BRAKING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063598 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10037255 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)

FUEL FILLER NECK REGULARLY ALLOWS GASOLINE TO OVERFLOW WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. GENERAL MOTORS AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THE FUEL FILLER NECK HAS BEEN NARROWED TO COMPLY WITH EMISSION STANDARDS. I OWNED A SIMILAR VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM. PRESENT VEHICLE IS 2003 SONOMA CREW CAB PICKUP, PRIOR VEHICLE 2000 GMC JIMMY. I WAS TOLD TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS, REMOVE HOSE FROM FILLER NECK, WAIT AND THEN RESUME…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037255 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10290112 · 2009-10-28 (October 28, 2009)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM; TANK ASSEMBLY FILLER PIPE. THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT THE COST OF $1,959.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,348. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,352. UPDATED 11/17/09 *BF THE DEALER DISCOVERED ROAD SALT HAD EATEN AROUND THE FUEL MODULE. THE FUEL TANK…

Owner-reported narrative. 54,348 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290112 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10128249 · 2005-07-11 (July 11, 2005)

MY 2003 GMC SONOMA JUST QUIT STARTING(STANDARD), SO I PUSHED IT TO GET IT HOME, I WENT TO A FRIENDS HOUSE THE NEXT DAY( IT STARTED), WHEN I GOT READY TO LEAVE THE TRUCK WOULDN'T START AGAIN AND I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, (MY WIFE HAD KEPT TELLING ME SHE SMELLED RUBBER BURNING) WELL THE WIRES UNDER THE DASH WERE ON FIRE!ALSO 2ND GEAR IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN MARCH OR APRIL I THINK, THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE GM DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK.

Owner-reported narrative. 46,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128249 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10577113 · 2014-04-03 (April 3, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HE DROVE 73 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL INSPECTION THAT ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUG AND THE FUEL CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SPARK PLUG AND FUEL CAP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,984. UPDA…

Owner-reported narrative. 92,984 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577113 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026813 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE OCCASIONS AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS POSSIBLY THE WIRING HARNESS *TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026813 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10125412 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF VEHICLE HANDLING PROBLEMS SINCE 5000 MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 9-10 TIMES. THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED, AND BELIEVED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE STILL BAD. ALSO, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING BOX. THIS WAS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. WITH ANY WIND THE VEHICLE WAS BLOWN AROUND. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID IT WOULD MAKE THE PROBLEM…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125412 at NHTSA ↗