1995 GMC Sonoma Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year write mostly about the brakes, especially the antilock system engaging when it should not and the pedal dropping toward the floor, which they describe as longer than expected stopping distances. Windshield wipers that stop or start on their own are the second most common theme, followed by fuel tanks that rust through and leak. Most sampled complaints do not list mileage, and the reports span many years of use rather than clustering in the first few thousand miles.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS trouble: pedal to the floor, longer stops

   • 69 complaints (32%)
   • median 148,000 mi at 11.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2010

   Complaints describe the brake pedal dropping to the floor and the truck rolling past the expected stopping point, often when braking over a bump, pothole, or loose surface. Some owners say the antilock system engages at low speed on dry pavement or kicks in unexpectedly, producing noise and a pedal that sinks; others describe a hard pedal or rear brakes that do not hold. Several say the dealer could not duplicate the problem, and repairs mentioned include speed sensors, the master cylinder, and towing after repeated failures. Mileage is rarely stated in these complaints; the symptoms are most often described in wet, icy, or bumpy-road conditions and during low-speed or panic stops.

   Recall 99V193000

   What to check: Test the brakes on a rough or wet surface at low speed and note whether the pedal stays firm and the truck stops in a straight line. Ask whether the ABS switch recall work was done and whether any speed sensors or the master cylinder have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1. I had just left the house to go to work. I pulled out on to the main street where a normal amount of rush hour traffic was staged. Additionally, road work was being done, so vehicle speed was very slow. I coasted forward about 10 feet and placed my foot on the brakes. When I did nothing happened, it did not stop. In addition, the idle raced slamming me into the vehicle in front of me. Damage was done to my truck bumper, but not to the van in front of me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #711490, filed 1999-09

   “Pedal falls away when ABS is engaged. Too sensitive: light sand on one side of road as at corners. On cobblestone pedestrian walkways at intersections and, when turning onto an entranceway as tire moves from pavement to concrete, pedal falls and loud disturbing sproung sound occurs and obvious cycle of pumping.”

   NHTSA complaint #705103, filed 1999-03
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop or run intermittently

   • 47 complaints (22%)
   • median 94,475 mi at 8.3 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2008

   Owners describe wipers that quit mid-stroke in heavy rain, fail to start when switched on, or keep running after being turned off, sometimes recovering only after being nudged or after the truck is restarted. Complaints mention dealers cleaning electrical contacts, replacing the wiper motor or pulse module, and in some cases being unable to reproduce the fault. Several owners note that a wiper recall existed but that their truck was not covered because of its build date. Mostly described in rain, with the one complaint giving mileage citing about 79,000 miles; reports are otherwise spread across older, higher-mileage trucks.

   Recall 98V150001

   What to check: Run the wipers through every speed setting and the intermittent mode, including while spraying water, and watch for pauses or a wiper that will not park. Ask whether the wiper recall was performed on this truck and whether the motor or pulse module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had problems with my 1995 Gmc windshield wipers working intermittently,and one day,on my first day back to work as a teacher,it rained horribly and the wipers wouldn't work. I paid a lot of money to firestone to get them fixed. Now I read there was a recall and never received any info. And have lived at the same place for 18yrs.. Sewell motors in dallas,tx sold me the vehicle in 1995.”

   NHTSA complaint #10230200, filed 2008-06, 79,000 miles

   “While driving vehicle the rain windshield wipers failed to work properly. Would stop on their own. Would sometimes work & at other times would not work. Its an intermittent problem. Will be taking vehicle to dealer to have wipers checked. Problem like recall #98v150000/001. Contacted manufacturer, and informed consumer that vehicle made in jun 1994, but recall was vehicles made in august of 1994.”

   NHTSA complaint #853894, filed 1999-12
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank rust-through and fuel leaks

   • 18 complaints (8%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2004

   Complaints describe gasoline leaking from the tank, in several cases after the steel tank rusted from the inside out or where a plastic shield traps water and road debris against it. One owner reports the tank being replaced with the dealer covering only part of the parts cost, and another describes a ruptured filler tube after a spare tire came loose. Owners consistently describe the leak as something they wanted repaired right away. Where mileage is given, reports fall around 95,000 to 102,000 miles on trucks that had spent many years in service.

   What to check: Look at the tank and the area behind the shield for rust scale, damp spots, or a fuel smell, and check the filler neck and spare-tire carrier cable. Ask whether the tank or filler components have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have contacted Gmc and the dealership. I have a hole in my gas tank, it has rusted from the inside out. Gmc told me that if the dealership told them that if it was a bad part they would replace it. Contacted dealership, terry jones (service manager) told me he was going to contact them and tell them it needed a new gas tank. I called Gmc back and was told that it was terry jones' decision to pay only 50% of the parts and no labor. I contacted john vandergriff (sales manager) he told me he would cover the labor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #716891, filed 2000-01

   “Gas tank rusted out allowing gas to leak from the tank. This defect could have resulted into an explosion. Dealer is replacing gas tank and charging consumer.”

   NHTSA complaint #865620, filed 2000-07

Buying note. Give the brakes the most attention on a truck of this age: try several low-speed and rough-surface stops and confirm the pedal stays firm. Also check wiper operation in the rain and inspect the fuel tank and its shield for rust before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.