Gmc SONOMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
888 owner complaints analyzed
15 distinct recall campaigns
59,350 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 327 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 145 of 888 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 248 | 27.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 35 | 3.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 34 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 34 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 21 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 145 |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments | 72 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 70 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 56 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 34 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 32 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 31 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 145; Structure:Body:Tailgate:Hinge And Attachments: 72; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 70; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 56; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 34; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 32; Air Bags:Frontal: 31; Vehicle Speed Control: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 86 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 89 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 58 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 42 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 86; 50,000 to 74,999: 89; 75,000 to 99,999: 58; 100,000 to 149,999: 42; 150,000 and above: 19
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (89). 561 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 73 |
| 1996 | 32 |
| 2000 | 141 |
| 2001 | 114 |
| 2002 | 86 |
| 2003 | 93 |
| 2004 | 83 |
| 2005 | 86 |
| 2006 | 56 |
| 2007 | 29 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
1995: 73; 1996: 32; 2000: 141; 2001: 114; 2002: 86; 2003: 93; 2004: 83; 2005: 86; 2006: 56; 2007: 29; 2008: 20; 2009: 9; 2010: 11; 2011: 8; 2012: 6; 2013: 8; 2014: 10; 2015: 9; 2016: 5; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2020: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 248 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 35 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 34 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 10026731 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND TAIL PIPE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR EXHAUST REPAIR. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT EH CONSUMER TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE MUFFLER SHOP FOR A HEADER PIPE PATCH. THE CONSUMER IS INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF A HEADER PIPE PATCH IS ILLEGAL WITH THE PRESENT VEHICLE EMISSIONS STANDARD. *MR *CB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 725453 · 2000-07-15 (July 15, 2000)
FRONT BRAKES EVIDENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MORE THAN 50% WEAR IS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 869307 · 2000-09-01 (September 1, 2000)
ON THE THREE OCCASIONS ,WHEN THE AIR TEMPERATURE IS HIGH AND IT IS QUITE HUMID WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WILL FAIL TO THE POINT WHERE THE CLUTCH WILL NOT DISENGAGE THE GEARS. CONSUMER HAS TO TURN OFF IGNITION AND MUST WAIT ABOUT 15 MIN, SO IT CAN COOL DOWN. A PRIVATE TRANSMISSION GARAGE CLAIMED ENGINE WILL GET HOT, CAUSING HYDRALIC CLUTCH TO BOIL WHICH WILL CAUSE LOSS OF ABILITY TO MOVE CLUTCH PLATES ,NOT ALLOWING THE CLUTCH TO DISENGAGE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 869307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020041 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS STATED IN RECALL#94V09300, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8003201 · 2002-01-30 (January 30, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER HOOD, AND NOTICE CLUTCH FAN WAS SEATING ON FRAME, AND A HOLE WAS IN RADIATOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN, AND WAS INFORMED CLUTCH FAN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8003201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 857150 · 2000-02-17 (February 17, 2000)
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HEARD A WHISTLING KIND OF NOISE BEFORE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, THEN, WHEN SHE PULLED OFF ROAD SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE HOOD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 857150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 725660 · 2000-07-18 (July 18, 2000)
DEALER FAILED TO REPAIR WHEN WE COMPLAINED ABOUT FUEL/STARTING/ROUGH ENGINE ON 6/93;2/94;5/94. DLR REPLACED FUEL PUMP/PVC 10/94; COST $600+ FOR FUEL INJECTOR/PLENUM 9/98; AGAIN JUST COST $600+ 7/2000 FOR FUEL INJECTOR/PLENUM. ADVISED GMC HAS WEST COAST ONLY BULLETIN #99034A REF: PROBLEM. GAS EATS THE GASKET/PLENUM AND LOSS OF FUEL REGULATION. NO NOTICE TO OWNERS. **PLENUM/FUEL INJECTOR SPRAYS PURE GAS AND IS FIRE HAZARD**. VEHICLE EMITS FUMES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 479326 · 1995-01-09 (January 9, 1995)
FUEL PUMP FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 479326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231232 · 2008-06-16 (June 16, 2008)
1991 GMC SONOMA. TILT STEERING HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE HAS NOT CAUSED ANY WRECKS OR DAMAGE AFRAID TO DRIVE. HAVE NOT TAKEN FOR REPAIRS. MILEAGE COUNTER BROKE SOME YEARS AGO THIS TRUCK HAS APROX. 200,000 MILES ON WITH NO OTHER COMPLAINTS, DID HAVE MANUAL TRANS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY MANY YEARS AGO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10231232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730041 · 2000-09-03 (September 3, 2000)
STEERING WHEEL AND TILT ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE, MAKING VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. TOLD BY VARIOUS GM MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY GM TILT COLUMNS ON ALL MODELS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011573 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *JB FORD RECALLED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ALUMINUM HEAD/STEEL BLOCK AND COULD THE CAUSE OF THE GASKET GOING OUT. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 892883 · 2001-07-16 (July 16, 2001)
ENGINE WAS IDLING ROUGH AND STALLING. GMC FEELS IT'S OXYGENATED FUEL MAYBE CONTAMINATED. GMC ISN'T SURE, THIS WAS AN ASSUMPTION BASED ON ENVIRONMENT. PARTS ARE BEING SHIPPED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 892883 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 |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 2 |
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 |
1990: 0; 1991: 1; 1992: 1; 1993: 2; 1994: 2; 1995: 3; 1996: 6; 1997: 2; 1998: 3; 1999: 0; 2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 0; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 0