1998 Gmc SONOMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
123 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
67,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 123 complaints (18.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 11.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 0.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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 | 23 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 20 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 15 |
| Seats | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 23; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 20; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 15; Seats: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring: 5; Air Bags: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 64 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 | 16 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 16; 2001: 11; 2002: 14; 2003: 27; 2004: 16; 2005: 8; 2006: 8; 2007: 9; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 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 10006318 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009054 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED UP, WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010619 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
STARTED OFF WITH A SUDDEN FAILURE TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY THEN CORRECTED ITSELF; ON AND OFF FOR A FEW WEEKS. DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WAS FAILING TO RETURN TO STARTING POSITION; REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER TO ELIMINATE SOFT PEDAL BUT STILL STICKING AND NOT RETURNING TO STARTING POSITION. CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013577 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE HANDLES THAT RECLINE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE OFF WITH VERY LITTLE FORCE. MY PASSENGER SEAT IS ALWAYS SLIGHTLY RECLINED NOW AND MY DRIVER'S SEAT IS STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A RECALL AND ACCORDING TO THEM ITS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. MY WARRANTY IS UP BUT I FEEL THIS GOES BEYOND WARRANTY AND IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 63,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013582 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. PASSENGERS SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD WITH ALMOST EVERY PRESS OF THE GAS AND BRAKE. ALONG WITH THE BROKEN RECLINER LEVER(BOTH SIDES) WHICH HAS LEFT THE SEAT IN A SEMI-RECLINED POSITION, MY PASSENGERS ARE IN FOR A NOT SO PLEASANT RIDE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014360 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. WAS TRAVELING THROUGH DOWNTOWN DALLAS IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN THE WIPERS STOPPED AND I HAD TO STOP IMMEDIATELY ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAIT FOR THEM TO START WORKING AGAIN. TOOK TO A REPAIR SHOP IN OKLAHOMA AND HAD THE CONNECTIONS CLEANED AND EVENTUALLY RE-SOLDERED. WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND WILL PROBABLY NEED TO REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR? *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016895 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING RAIN. THEY WILL RESUME WHEN THEY DRY OUT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017043 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOP WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017043 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V220000 · Exterior Lighting
Reported: 2000-08-11 (August 11, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.
Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED WIRING HARNESS THAT CHANGES THE DRL'S FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM DRL'S, AND INSTALL NEW LONG-LIFE LOW BEAM BULBS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V208001 · Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Reported: 1997-11-25 (November 25, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS CLIP CAN MELT AND DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
Consequence: THE CLIP MATERIAL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITE OTHER COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE CONTACTING OWNERS BY TELEPHONE TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO THE DEALER AND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED TO THEM UNTIL THE DEALER CAN REROUTE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V218000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1997-11-24 (November 24, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
Consequence: PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗