Known Recalls

Model year record

1998 GMC Sonoma

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 202 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V220000

Exterior lighting

Component
Exterior lighting
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
14,279
Reported to NHTSA
2000-08-11
Owners notified
2000-09-13

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V208001

Electrical system: wiring: front underhood

Component
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
33,973
Reported to NHTSA
1997-11-25
Owners notified
1997-11-14

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS CLIP CAN MELT AND DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

Safety risk

THE CLIP MATERIAL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITE OTHER COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V218000

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
19,716
Reported to NHTSA
1997-11-24
Owners notified
1997-12-15

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer2366,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor2050,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner1963,500 mi
Seats11178,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1180,000 mi
Air bags: frontal7—
Power train: automatic transmission759,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring567,880 mi
Air bags4178,000 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments432,000 mi
Unknown or other4—
Visibility450,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine346,637 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing344,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery2—
Electrical system: ignition2—
Electrical system: wiring268,480 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline2—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe2101,500 mi
Equipment283,000 mi
Equipment: mechanical: carrier/rack2—
Exterior lighting2178,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch2—
Parking brake254,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission2—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor2—
Steering2145,000 mi
Structure: body2145,000 mi
Structure: body: door210,752 mi
Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments246,000 mi
Suspension: front2—
Tires291,700 mi
Vehicle speed control257,000 mi
Electrical system180,000 mi
Electrical system: starter assembly167,880 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1—
Engine and engine cooling1179,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system1—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys1—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system1—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1—
Exterior lighting: brake lights1—
Exterior lighting: headlights1—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump1—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings190,500 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors1—
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1—
Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: latch197,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly1—
Power train: driveline: differential unit1—
Seat belts: front: anchorage1—
Seat belts: front: webbing1—
Seats: mid/rear assembly1—
Service brakes, hydraulic157,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1107,030 mi
Steering: gear box: shaft sector1—
Steering: linkages1—
Structure150,000 mi
Structure: body: bumpers1—
Structure: body: hood1—
Structure: body: tailgate150,000 mi
Structure: frame and members1100,000 mi
Suspension1145,000 mi
Suspension: rear1—
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire1—
Vehicle speed control: cruise control1—
Visibility: power window devices and controls1—
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer168,480 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices1—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages125 mi
Wheels1—

The 1997 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 1999 model has 3 times 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.