Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1998 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/FMVSS 108/DRL
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.
- Consequence
- THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED WIRING HARNESS THAT CHANGES THE DRL'S FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM DRL'S, AND INSTALL NEW LONG-LIFE LOW BEAM BULBS.
GM/WIRING-HARNESS CLIP
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS CLIP CAN MELT AND DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
- Consequence
- THE CLIP MATERIAL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITE OTHER COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS ARE CONTACTING OWNERS BY TELEPHONE TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO THE DEALER AND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED TO THEM UNTIL THE DEALER CAN REROUTE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS.
GM/BRAKE HOSE FRACTURE
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
- Consequence
- PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.
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 (156)
156 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The visibility is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 156 |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 55 | 35.3% |
| Seats | 29 | 18.6% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 9.6% |
| Structure | 14 | 9% |
| Air bags | 11 | 7.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 11 | 7.1% |
| Power train | 11 | 7.1% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 5.8% |
| Suspension | 7 | 4.5% |
| Equipment | 5 | 3.2% |
How 1998 compares with other Sonoma years
Best and worst Sonoma years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2003 | 39 | 1 |
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 22 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 404 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Pickup Trucks
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 22 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 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 21 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 20 / 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 | 14 / 19 / 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 1998 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
1998 GMC Sonoma FAQ
How many recalls does the 1998 GMC Sonoma have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 00V220000 (lighting), 97V208001 (electrical), 97V218000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1998 GMC Sonoma problems?
Owners filed 156 complaints with NHTSA. Visibility (55), Seats (29), Service brakes (15) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1998 GMC Sonoma get?
EPA rates the 2.2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 20 city, 26 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1998 Sonoma compare with other years?
Among the 1994–2003 GMC Sonoma model years at least five years old, the 2003 drew the fewest complaints (39) and the 1994 the most (224). The 1998 drew 156. 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.