US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained

GMC Sonoma recall history and complaint patterns

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the GMC Sonoma, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

← View all GMC models

At a Glance

Total Recalls 26
Total Complaints 1739
Years Covered 1984–2005

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

Ask About This Model

Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the GMC Sonoma. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.

AI Assistant
Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the GMC Sonoma, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Brakes

5 campaigns · Years: 1991–1998, 2000

These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 00V055000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  • 99V220000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  • 97V218000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
+ 2 more notices in this theme

Visibility and lighting

3 campaigns · Years: 1995–1996, 1998

These campaigns relate to lighting, glass, or visibility components (lamps, wipers, and related systems).

Official notices (evidence):

Equipment and labeling

2 campaigns · Years: 2000, 2003–2004

These campaigns relate to equipment compliance, labeling, or tires.

Official notices (evidence):

Powertrain

2 campaigns · Years: 1993, 1996

These campaigns relate to drivetrain or transmission components that can affect shifting, power delivery, or control.

Official notices (evidence):

Seats and restraints

2 campaigns · Years: 1994–1997, 2001

These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.

Official notices (evidence):

Electrical

1 campaign · Years: 1998

These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the GMC Sonoma in NHTSA complaint data are Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor.

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
2005 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts.
2004 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
2003 1 53 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic, Equipment, Power train:driveline:differential unit.
2002 0 74 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Structure:body:tailgate:hinge and attachments, Service brakes, hydraulic, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
2001 1 108 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Structure:body:tailgate:hinge and attachments, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Seats:front assembly:recliner.
2000 3 180 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Structure:body:tailgate:hinge and attachments, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Seats.
1999 0 78 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seats:front assembly:recliner, Air bags:frontal, Power train:automatic transmission.
1998 3 202 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Visibility:windshield wiper/washer, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor, Seats:front assembly:recliner.
1997 2 160 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor, Vehicle speed control.
1996 6 190 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor, Power train:automatic transmission.
1995 3 254 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor.
1994 2 297 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor.
1993 2 72 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Power train:automatic transmission, Seats:front assembly:recliner.
1992 1 33 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc, Equipment:mechanical:carrier/rack.
1991 1 35 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components, Electrical system:wiring:front underhood.
1990 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:anchorage.
1984 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.

What to Do Next

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov

Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Service brakes , Seat belts and Equipment

Show recall evidence by year

2004

  • Equipment: Labels: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (04V132000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "Occupant crash protection."

2003

  • Equipment: Labels: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (04V132000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "Occupant crash protection."

2001

  • Seat belts: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (00V228003) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor veh

2000

  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (00V055000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with 4-wheel disc brakes. Some of these vehicles have an antilock brake system (abs) motor containing an out-of-specification spring clip. This clip could allow the motor bearing to become misaligned. If misalignment occurs, eventually the ab
  • Equipment: Labels: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (00V258001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Some of these vehicles were built with incorrect payload information on the vehicle certification label. The payload shown on the label is greater than the maximum validated payload. If the vehicle were loaded to the incorr
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (99V220000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: s -trucks equipped with 2 wheel drive. These vehicles may have had the right-hand antilock brake system (abs) module feed pipe and/or brake crossover pipe tube nuts tightened without seating the pipe-flared-ends enough to withstand normal assembly and vehicle inputs without p

1998

  • Exterior lighting: Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (00V220000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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
  • Electrical system: Front underhood: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V208001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose vehicles. An engine electrical wiring-harness clip can melt and drip onto the exhaust manifold.
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V218000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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

1997

  • Seat belts: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V096001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a front
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V146001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: light duty passenger pickup trucks equipped with 4.3L engines. The front brake line can contact the left-hand side of the engine oil pan causing the brake line to wear to the point of brake fluid loss during brake application.

1996

  • Power train: Manual transmission: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (96V035000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some of these trucks were built with transmissions containing parts which were not machined to gm's specifications.
  • Visibility: Windshield: Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V008001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The top coat paint severely peels due to overbaking of the powder primer prior to the top coat application. Since the windshield primer and adhesive adhere to the top coat paint onthe windshield opening flange, the windshield does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "Wi
  • Seat belts: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V096001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a front
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V146001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: light duty passenger pickup trucks equipped with 4.3L engines. The front brake line can contact the left-hand side of the engine oil pan causing the brake line to wear to the point of brake fluid loss during brake application.
  • Visibility: Windshield wiper/washer: Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V150001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work intermittently.
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (99V193000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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-whe

1995

  • Seat belts: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V096001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a front
  • Visibility: Windshield wiper/washer: Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V150001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work intermittently.
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (99V193000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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-whe

1994

  • Seat belts: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V096001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a front
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (99V193000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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-whe

1993

  • Power train: Automatic transmission: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (94V093000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Significant wear can develop on the low and reverse clutch preventing the park pawl from engaging. This can prevent a "no park" condition to occur while the engine is running, causing unintentional movement of the vehicle without operator action. (The "no park" condition will not occur while the
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (99V193000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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-whe

1992

  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (99V193000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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-whe

1991

  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (99V193000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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-whe

Other GMC Models

Explore recall and complaint data for other GMC models.

⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov