2001 GMC Sonoma Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 26about this part
- Share
- 29%of 89 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 52,150miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 26 complaints about the body and structure of the 2001 GMC Sonoma, 29% of the 89 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 52,150 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Tailgate support cable corroded and broke causing tailgate to drop onto bumper. Normal non-commercial use of my 2001 Gmc Sonoma pickup. (I notice the GM has a recall if just this thing for 1999 and 2000 silverado and sierra but the same has happened on my Sonoma...not recall has been established.”
NHTSA complaint #10159861, filed 2006-06, 35,200 miles“Failure of tailgate cable. The second cable is starting to bulge in middle, just a matter of time before that one goes. My wife and I were sitting on the tailgate when the right one snapped.”
NHTSA complaint #10166361, filed 2006-08, 51,300 miles“While loading a push mower into truck bed , cables snapped-rusted thru, black vinyl shield hide damage. I slipped off tailgate and cut my leg on side of tailgate while falling.”
NHTSA complaint #10125296, filed 2005-06, 79,000 miles“To whom it may concern: I own a 2001 Gmc Sonoma pickup truck. After very limited use of my tailgate I experienced a breakage of the cable that supports the tailgate on my truck. It appears to be that the steel cable has rusted inside its protective plastic coating causing the cable to weaken. The ends of these cables have a shrink-wrap material to seal out moisture but it look to have been improperly installed at the factory allowing moisture to enter and rust the cable. I have contacted Gmc to no avail and they refuse to recall or fix this problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10134225, filed 2005-08, 55,000 miles“Have 2001 Gmc Sonoma truck, both tailgate straps broke at the same time I was sitting on the tailgate-weigh 200 lbs. Gm evidently recalled full size trucks but the Gmc Sonoma/chev. S-10 are not included and are having the same failure with the same consequences certainly will cause serious injury/fatalitys as well. Many are having this problem and I'm sure the number will grow. Gm doesn't want to do anything about this safety issue that is present. I was willing to pay for the parts myself but they wanted an enormouse $147.00 apiece-need two, and that isn't counting labor. …”
NHTSA complaint #10121126, filed 2005-05, 57,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10237648May 9, 2023This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace…
- 10213818May 31, 2022This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint…
- 10211764Apr 13, 2022This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace…
- 10197294May 12, 2021This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint…
- 10154601Dec 17, 2018This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace…
- 10113406Feb 8, 2017This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace…
- 10114913Oct 20, 2015This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace…
- 10114894Oct 14, 2015This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vibration complaints that are one of the most challenging complaints to accurately…
- 10114448Apr 1, 2015This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 6 | 15% |
| 2002 | 13 | 23% |
| 2001 | 26 | 29% |
| 2000 | 41 | 30% |
| 1999 | 8 | 14% |
| 1998 | 14 | 9% |
| 1997 | 5 | 5% |
| 1996 | 2 | 1% |
| 1995 | 2 | 1% |
| 1994 | 1 | 0% |
| 1992 | 1 | 4% |
| 1991 | 2 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2001 GMC Sonoma
17 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsElectrical system
5 complaintsSeats
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaintsEngine
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 GMC Sonoma
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology