GMC Sonoma Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 1,342 consumer complaints across the 13 model years of the GMC Sonoma (1991–2003) that have at least 5 complaints. 1994 has the most, with 224. Across all years, the part named most often is brakes (470 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Sonoma model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 39 | 39,120 | 1 | 360 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 57 | 49,300 | 0 | 312 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 89 | 51,874 | 1 | 277 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 136 | 56,400 | 3 | 249 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 57 | 57,000 | 0 | 46 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 156 | 67,000 | 3 | 35 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 111 | 66,000 | 2 | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 148 | 94,326 | 6 | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 213 | 98,000 | 3 | 11 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 224 | 109,500 | 2 | 1 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1993 | 58 | — | 2 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 25 | 30,000 | 1 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 29 | 90,243 | 1 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Brakes470 38%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)233 19%
- Body and structure121 9.7%
- Engine cooling111 8.9%
- Transmission and drivetrain100 8.0%
- Seats74 5.9%
- Electrical system70 5.6%
- Air bags66 5.3%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2000: “On 19 june 2013 I applied the brakes on a damp/wet road. Before coming to a complete stop I experienced a sort of hopping of the front end while going over a rough section of roadway. This sensation has occurred numerous times before and I was told it had something to do with the anti-locking brake system but nothing specific.”
NHTSA complaint #10521311, filed 2013-06, 28,000 miles1999: “During a panic stop the brake system light came on and the brakes felt soft but still worked. During the drive the brakes became very weak. When I checked the brake fluid it was empty. I refilled it and started checking for leaks. I found that both the front and rear brake lines we fractured because of the pressure during the panic stop causing the rusted lines to burst. This seems to be a known ( but not reported) problem for this truck in the northern area..”
NHTSA complaint #11054621, filed 2017-12, 100,000 miles1997: “I have encountered trouble with my windshield wipers. They go on and off intermittently. I am assuming the problem is the pulse wiper relay, and was wondering if there was a recall for this product. I was driving in heavy rain when this occurred, and there was nearly a collision. Please let me know if there are any recalls for this part. Thank you.”
NHTSA complaint #10250196, filed 2008-11, 100,000 milesOther GMC models
9,015 complaintsGMC Acadia
5,592 complaintsGMC Yukon
5,013 complaintsGMC Sierra
3,929 complaintsGMC Terrain
3,135 complaintsGMC Jimmy
2,712 complaintsGMC Envoy
2,456 complaintsGMC Yukon XL
2,442 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology