Model year record

1997 GMC Sonoma

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 160 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V146001

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
146,167
Reported to NHTSA
1997-09-11
Owners notified
1997-10-20

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

BRAKE FLUID LOSS CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V096001

Seat belts

Component
Seat belts
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
586,058
Reported to NHTSA
1997-06-12
Owners notified
1997-09-22

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip22
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor2054,000 mi
Vehicle speed control7156,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer763,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission566,000 mi
Air bags446,282 mi
Air bags: frontal4
Electrical system3101,256 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system336,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine336,000 mi
Fuel system, other3156,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic336,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components3
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads3
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor3
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings3
Electrical system: ignition254,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers2
Engine and engine cooling249,002 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline2
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner236,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline249,002 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift2
Power train: manual transmission254,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc2
Structure: body2100,150 mi
Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments257,000 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire233,226 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module1181,603 mi
Air bags: side/window1
Electrical system: ignition: switch173,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1
Engine160,985 mi
Equipment149,002 mi
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights136,000 mi
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch154,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal197,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump156,692 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system154,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap1
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system154,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1
Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: latch1
Power train154,000 mi
Seat belts1100,150 mi
Seat belts: front: anchorage1
Seats: front assembly: recliner1
Service brakes, air: antilock131,815 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: shoes/linings1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages199,950 mi
Steering: column1
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device1
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)1
Structure: body: door1
Suspension: front136,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint185,687 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint185,687 mi
Suspension: front: stabilizer bar1
Tires: sidewall118,000 mi
Unknown or other149,002 mi
Visibility1100,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring154,000 mi
Wheels1
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs1

The 1996 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1998 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.