GMC Sonoma complaints by model year
1,345 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 | 57 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 89 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 2000 | 136 | 15 | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 | 57 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 156 | 9 | 2 | 3 |
| 1997 | 111 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 1996 | 148 | 26 | 1 | 6 |
| 1995 | 213 | 27 | 0 | 3 |
| 1994 | 224 | 18 | 2 | 2 |
| 1993 | 58 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| 1992 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1995–2005. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 84 | 52 | 36 | 15 | 9 | 34 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility | 52 | 31 | 30 | 55 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 8 | 41 | 26 | 13 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 26 | 19 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Power train | 7 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Seats | 6 | 6 | 1 | 29 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Air bags | 13 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
GMC Sonoma recalls (15)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Sonoma model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04V132000 | Mar 18, 2004 | GM/FMVSS 208/SIR CAUTION LABEL | 2003, 2004 | — |
| 00V258001 | Sep 8, 2000 | GM/CERTIFICATION LABEL | 2000 | — |
| 00V220000 | Aug 11, 2000 | GM/FMVSS 108/DRL | 1998 | — |
| 00V228003 | Aug 7, 2000 | GM/FMVSS 209/TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLES | 2001 | — |
| 00V055000 | Feb 28, 2000 | GM/ABS SPRING CLIP | 2000 | — |
| 99V220000 | Aug 11, 1999 | GM/FMVSS 105 | 2000 | — |
| 99V193000 | Jul 19, 1999 | GM/ABS | 1991–1996 | — |
| 98V150001 | Jul 1, 1998 | GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING | 1995, 1996 | — |
| 97V208001 | Nov 25, 1997 | GM/WIRING-HARNESS CLIP | 1998 | — |
| 97V218000 | Nov 24, 1997 | GM/BRAKE HOSE FRACTURE | 1998 | — |
| 97V146001 | Sep 11, 1997 | GM/BRAKE LINE CONTACTS OIL PAN | 1996, 1997 | — |
| 97V096001 | Jun 12, 1997 | GM/SAFETY BELT WEBBING | 1994–1997 | — |
| 97V008001 | Jan 27, 1997 | GM/FMVSS 212 | 1996 | — |
| 96V035000 | Feb 22, 1996 | GM/POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:5 SPEED AND UP | 1996 | — |
| 94V093000 | May 16, 1994 | POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC | 1993 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
GMC Sonoma FAQ
How many recalls has the GMC Sonoma had?
NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns that cover at least one GMC Sonoma model year from 1984 to 2005. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which GMC Sonoma year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 1994 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (224) and the 1990 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common GMC Sonoma problems?
Across the 1995–2005 model years, owners most often name the service brakes, visibility, structure in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the GMC Sonoma get?
EPA rates the 2004 GMC Sonoma at 15 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.