1991 Gmc SONOMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
90,243 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 14 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 10 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 | 2 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1995: 2; 2000: 4; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
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 10044094 · 2003-10-16 (October 16, 2003)
PROBLEM WITH EXHAUST PIPE ON MUFFLER.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO A MUFFLER SHOP TO HAVE A PATCH PUT ON THE FRONT HEADER PIPE AND WAS NOT GIVEN ANY OPTION TO HAVE IT FIXED CORRECTLY *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,486 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103158 · 2004-12-06 (December 6, 2004)
ENGINE WOULD CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT, AND PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103158 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 10336953 · 2010-06-18 (June 18, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GM SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20 MPH, THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DOOR LATCH PIN WAS FOUND TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND WERE NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490789 · 2013-01-02 (January 2, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED FROM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED HAT THE SPARE TIRE HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF A FRACTURED SUPPORT CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. .... UPDATED 02-20-13 *BF UPDATED 02/25/2013 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490539 · 1995-11-13 (November 13, 1995)
VEHICLE IDLES AT 30 MPH. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558447 · 2000-12-12 (December 12, 2000)
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V193, HOWEVER THE DEALER IS STATING THAT THE CONSUMER IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE SERIAL NUMBER DID NOT COME UP ON HIS COMPUTER. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558447 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
99V193000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 1999-07-19 (July 19, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS WHILE IN THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗