1998 GMC Sonoma Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1998 GMC Sonoma most often report windshield wipers that quit, run on their own, or work only intermittently, a problem that shows up in rain at widely varying mileage. Other recurring themes are seat recliner levers and seat tracks that break or fail to lock, brake lines and a soft pedal, and rusted tailgate cables; many complaints describe the dealer declining repairs or noting the truck was outside a related recall by VIN.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop, run on their own, or fail

   • 50 complaints (32%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2011

   Owners describe wipers that work for a while and then stop mid-wipe, sometimes restarting after a pause, sometimes not coming back at all; others say the wipers switch to high speed by themselves or keep running after being turned off. Several report that tapping or striking the wiper motor housing temporarily restores operation. Complaints point to the wiper motor module/circuit board, with cracked or fractured solder joints mentioned, and note that the truck was not covered by a wiper recall that applied to other GM vehicles by VIN. Reported from very low mileage up to about 160,000 miles, most often noticed during rain.

   Recall 00V220000

   What to check: Test the wipers at every speed setting, including intermittent, and check whether they park correctly and stop when switched off. Ask whether the wiper motor or module has been replaced or resoldered.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A few month after I bought my 1998 Gmc Sonoma the windshield wipers stopped working. Sometime they come on and work for a few minutes and then stop but many times they never work. My dealer says the 97 sonomas were recalled for the same problem that continues on to the 98 model. This makes it extremely dangerous to drive in the rain.”

   NHTSA complaint #10090470, filed 2004-09, 75,000 miles

   “My truck has 70,000 miles and it has problems with the windshield wipers. This has been going on for a couple of years. You can hit on the inside of the motor and it will start working. I can be driving and all of a sudden they will quit. I have noticed that a lot of people have this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10251888, filed 2008-12, 50,000 miles
2. 2
   Seats

   Seat recliner levers break and seats fail to lock

   • 26 complaints (17%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2013

   Owners report the recliner handles on driver and passenger seats snapping off, sometimes with little force, leaving the seat stuck upright or partly reclined. Others describe passenger seats that slide forward and back instead of locking into place, and the seat slide moving with each press of the gas or brake. Complaints say dealers declined to replace the parts, describing the breakage as normal wear or pointing to the warranty being expired. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 90,000 miles, often within the first several years of use.

   What to check: Operate the recliner levers and seat tracks on both front seats and confirm the seat locks firmly in each position; replacement handles are reported as costly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10013577, filed 2003-03, 63,500 miles

   “On our 1998 Gmc Sonoma we have replaced the windshield wiper motor and board. The wipers still have a ghost in them and delay does not work most of the time and high speed when on low speed, erratic behavior on wipers. Won't turn on or off on occasion. Was there a recall on also on the passenger seat? The lever broke right off the first time we used it. Cheaply built handles. Please send me a list of recalls on this vehicle please for our own safety as this vehicle is driven daily on open highways.”

   NHTSA complaint #10163903, filed 2006-07, 116,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor or feels soft

   • 6 complaints (4%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2007

   Complaints describe the brake pedal dropping to the floor, a soft or slow-returning pedal, and longer stopping distances; one owner reported a brake line bursting during a quick stop on the highway and replaced the line along with rear pads and rotors. Another described ABS lockup on wet or icy pavement with the dealer unable to duplicate the condition. A related recall covers a fatigue fracture of the rear axle right-hand brake pipe that can produce a slow fluid leak and a soft pedal. Reported from about 30,000 to over 100,000 miles, without a clear mileage pattern.

   Recall 97V218000

   What to check: Check brake fluid level and look for wet or rusted hard lines along the frame and rear axle; press the pedal firmly and confirm it holds and returns. Ask whether the brake pipe recall work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In april 2006, a brake line on my 1998 Gmc Sonoma pickup broke when I applied the brakes at approx 50 MPH. I had to stop rather quickly due to traffic backing up on an interstate highway. When the brake line burst, my brake pedal went to the floor and I had no brakes. Prior to this happening, the brakes were working fine. Fortunately, I was able to swerve into another lane and downshift (std shift) to avoid an accident. My mechanic replaced the broken line (from hydraulic ABS to junction) and also the rear brake pads and rotors. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10180903, filed 2007-01, 107,030 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10010619, filed 2003-03, 57,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Tailgate cables rust through and break

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the tailgate support cables rusting and snapping, in some cases both at once, and the tailgate then dropping or fracturing. Complaints note that tailgate hinge and attachment recalls were issued for other GM trucks but that these vehicles were excluded by VIN. Related service bulletins address slack in a tailgate cable and state that no parts should be replaced for that condition. Described from around 40,000 to 100,000 miles, generally on older trucks with corrosion.

   9 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect both tailgate cables for rust, fraying or slack, and lower the tailgate to check that it supports weight evenly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1998 Gmc Sonoma pickup. Both tailgate cables failed by breaking in half because of rust. I have not replaced them and am currently not using my tailgate because each one costs $42.00 (they are part of the latch assembly). Gm has recalled tailgate cables on full size trucks - does anybody beleive the cables on their smaller trucks were any better? I am a beleiver the same problem exists but they sell less small trucks so there are fewer complaints. I would like to see mine corrected like many other GM truck owners have.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096081, filed 2004-10, 97,000 miles

   “Tailgate cables rusted, and broke. Several other Gmc pick ups have the same problem, and was under recall. I have the same problem, why not a recall item. This is potential safety issue when hauling items with tailgate down.”

   NHTSA complaint #10207813, filed 2007-11, 50,000 miles

Buying note. Check the wiper system, both front seats, the brake lines and the tailgate cables first, since these account for most of what owners report on this truck. On a vehicle this age, a careful look at frame and underbody rust matters as much as the mechanical items.

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.