Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1997 GMC Sonoma. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗GM/BRAKE LINE CONTACTS OIL PAN
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.3L ENGINES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINE CAN CONTACT THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE OIL PAN CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO WEAR TO THE POINT OF BRAKE FLUID LOSS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION.
- Consequence
- BRAKE FLUID LOSS CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE OIL PAN AND THE BRAKE LINE. IF THE CLEARANCE IS 6MM OR LESS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL BRAKE LINE CLIP AND IF THERE WAS CONTACT BETWEEN THE OIL PAN AND BRAKE LINE, THE FRONT BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.
GM/SAFETY BELT WEBBING
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.
- Consequence
- IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (111)
111 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 111 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 36 | 32.4% |
| Visibility | 30 | 27% |
| Air bags | 9 | 8.1% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 8.1% |
| Power train | 9 | 8.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 7.2% |
| Fuel system | 8 | 7.2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 6.3% |
| Structure | 5 | 4.5% |
| Equipment | 3 | 2.7% |
How 1997 compares with other Sonoma years
Best and worst Sonoma years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 58 | 2 |
| 1994 | 224 | 2 |
| 1995 | 213 | 3 |
| 1996 | 148 | 6 |
| 1997 | 111 | 2 |
| 1998 | 156 | 3 |
| 1999 | 57 | 0 |
| 2000 | 136 | 3 |
| 2001 | 89 | 1 |
| 2002 | 57 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 386 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Pickup Trucks
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 23 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 23 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 21 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1997 Sonoma for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 GMC Sonoma FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 GMC Sonoma have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 97V146001 (brake), 97V096001 (seat belt). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 GMC Sonoma problems?
Owners filed 111 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (36), Visibility (30), Air bags (9) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1997 GMC Sonoma get?
EPA rates the 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 20 city, 27 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1997 Sonoma compare with other years?
Among the 1993–2002 GMC Sonoma model years at least five years old, the 1999 drew the fewest complaints (57) and the 1994 the most (224). The 1997 drew 111. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.