Visibility. Review the 200 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

61 crash reports9 fire reports36 injury reports

What owners actually said

613 reports

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2001

Structure

CHEAP HANDLES,BREAK WHILE TRYING TO ADJUST, PUTS PERSON IN UNSAFE POSITIONS WERE IT LOCKS WHEN IT BREAKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753959

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2001

Trailer Hitches

WHILE DRIVING, THE NUT HOLDING THE TRAILER HITCH BALL CAME OFF, ALLOWING THE U-HAUL TRAILER TO MOVE FORWARD AND CAUSE MINOR DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND TAILGATE OF THE TRUCK, CONSUMER HAD PURCHASED THE BALL FROM U-HAUL AND THEY INSTALLED IT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC

NHTSA ODI #563750

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2001

Seats

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753447

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKES THIS IS MY SECOND TIME IN FOR THE BRAKES,MY TRUCK HAS 17,200 MILES ON IT,AN I TOOK IT IN THE FIRST TIME WHILE UNDER WARRENTY AN THEY SAID TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG,NOW THAT THE WARRENTY HAS RAN OUT,THERES SOMETHING WRONG AN I THINK BRAKES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 17,200 MILES ,THIS WILL BE MY CHEVY ,THIS TRUCK IS JUNK.…

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NHTSA ODI #753342

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2001

Structure

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVE A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT FRAME WAS CRACKED. CONSUMER CALLED GMC, AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. DEALER STATED VEHICLE WAS ABUSED AND AGGRESSIVELY TREATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #897745

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2001

Visibility

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WINSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING DECREASED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY DUE TO CRASH. THIS CONDITION IS REMARKABLY SIMILAR TO THE CONDITION DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 98V150001, BUT IT ONLY APPLIES TO 1996 AND 1997 MODELS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO GMC, BUT THEIR BASIC RESPONSE WAS THERE IS NO RECALL, SO APPARENTLY THERE IS NO PROBLEM. IN FACT, THE SAME PART DESCRIBED IN THE PREVIOUSLY-REFERENCED RECALL WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #753233

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

SERPENTINE BELT HAS WORN THROUGH 6 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. WAS REPLACED FIRST TIME 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF BELT HAVING TO BE REPLACED SO FREQUENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #897632

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2001

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN 98/I DON'T DRIVE MUCH AN IT ONLY HAS 17,100MILES ON IT,AN THE BRAKES MAKES AN AWFUL NOISE IN THE FRONT,UNTIL THE I HIT THE BRAKES THEN IT QUITS IT ONLY DOES IT WHEN ITS MOVING.THE WARRENTIE RAN OUT SEPT.1ST,BUT I THINK THE BRAKES AS WELL AS THE TRUCK SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 17,100 MILES.THIS WILL BE MY …

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NHTSA ODI #752975

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2001

Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP AT INTERMEDIATE TIMES AND THEN START BACK WORKING, SOMETIMES THE WIPERS WILL NOT TURN ON AT ALL . I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AS WELL AS THE MANUFACTURE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN A CONCENSUS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS IN OTHER GENERAL MOTOR AUTOMOBILES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRE…

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NHTSA ODI #752823

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2001

Seats

HANDLE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE WHICH WORKS THE REAR ENTRY TO BACKSEAT AND RECLINING MECHANISM. METAL BROKE AT HANDLE CONNECTION WHEN TRYING TO MAKE SEAT COME TO UPRIGHT POSITION. CONTACTED GMC, AND WAS GIVEN A FILE #.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896433

Official recalls

00V374000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Nov 13, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC PASSENGER VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS CONTAINING A NICKEL METAL HYDRIDE (NIMH) BATTERY PACK. THESE VEHICLES CONTAIN SOFTWARE WITHIN THE BATTERY PACK MODULE INTENDED TO DISABLE THE VEHICLE FROM BEING DRIVEN IF THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE WITH THE BATTERY PACK EXCEEDS A PRESCRIBED VALUE. AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL ILLUMINATE THE "SERVICE NOW" AND "REDUCED PERFORMANCE" TELLTALES AND CONTINUE TO FUNCTION IN A REDUCED PERFORMANCE MODEL INSTEAD OF BEING DISABLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE TELLTALES ARE IGNORED AND THE AFFECTED VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN, HEAT COULD BUILD UP AND A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL REVISED SOFTWARE IN THE BATTERY PACK MODULE.

00V220000 · Exterior Lighting

Aug 11, 2000

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 & remedy

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.

00V159000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jun 16, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC PICKUP TRUCKS. A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FUEL-FIRED HEATER FILL PIPE GROUND STRAP CONTACTS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PIPE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD WEAR OFF THE CORROSION PROTECTION ON THE BRAKE PIPE, LEADING TO PREMATURE CORROSION AND EVENTUAL LOSS OF BRAKE PIPE INTEGRITY. WHEN BRAKE PIPE INTEGRITY IS LOST, BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE GROUND STRAP ATTACHMENT, INSPECT THE BRAKE PIPE FOR WEAR, AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE IF NECESSARY.

98V177000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System

Aug 4, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC DRIVE. RAPID FOGGING OF THE INTERIOR GLASS CAN OCCUR WITHIN TWO MINUTES AFTER THE HEAT IS TURNED ON IF (1) THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BETWEEN 35 AND 76 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND (2) WATER HAS COLLECTED ON THE HEAT EXCHANGER DURING PREVIOUS OPERATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF RAPID FOGGING WERE TO OCCUR DURING DRIVING, IT COULD OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VISION INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS ARE BEING PROVIDED WITH A CAUTION LABEL AND SUPPLEMENTAL INSERT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL ADVISING THEM TO FOLLOW A "STOP AND WAIT" PROCEDURE TO HELP AVOID WINDOW FOGGING WHILE DRIVING.

97V208001 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Nov 25, 1997

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 & remedy

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.

97V218000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 24, 1997

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA05008 · Tailgate Support Cables

Opened Apr 14, 2005 · Closed May 19, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch

GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING A SPECIAL POLICY PROGRAM FOR 903,464 OWNERS OF 2000 - 2003 MODEL S/T VEHICLES THROUGH WHICH OWNERS MAY, AT THEIR OPTION, EITHER (1) PERIODICALLY INSPECT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THEIR VEHICLE AND HAVE THE CABLES REPLACED IF THE CABLE COATING EXHIBITS ANY INDICATIONS OF DAMAGE OR DETERIORATION OR (2) REQUEST THAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. GM WILL HONOR ALL REQUESTS BY OWNERS WHO OPT FOR REPLACEMENT WITHOUT QUESTION REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION OR APPEARANCE OF THE CABLES. GM HAS AGREED TO MAIL REMINDER NOTIFICATIONS TO OWNERS EVERY TWO YEARS UNTIL THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS 12 YEARS OLD.ODI'S INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF THE REPORTED COMPLAINTS (87%) AND INJURIES (94%) HAVE OCCURRED IN MY 2000 - 2003 S/T VEHICLES.

RQ04012 · Tailgate Support Cable(s) Break

Opened Nov 22, 2004 · Closed Apr 14, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut

ODI IS UPGRADING RQ04-012 AND OPENING AN EA TO INVESTIGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN 1998 - 2004 MODEL YEAR SONOMA AND S10 MODEL VEHICLES.GENERAL MOTORS IS CONDUCTING RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V-129 TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2004 SIERRAS AND SILVERADOS AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 AVALANCHES AND ESCALADE EXTS (C/K MODELS).GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODITHAT THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES INSTALLED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE FABRICATED USING IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR SHEATHING MATERIAL AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.HOWEVER,GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADVISED ODI THAT SONOMA AND S-10 VEHICLES DIFFER FROM C/K MODELS IN SEVERAL WAYS: THE VEHICLE HEIGHT IS LOWER; THE TAILGATE DISPLACEMENT (DROP) WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES IS SMALLER AND THE TAILGATE COMES TO REST AT A LESS SEVERE TIP ANGLE WHEN NOT SUPPORTED BY THE CABLES; THE TAILGATE MASS IS SMALLER; AND THE SIZE, PAYLOAD, AND USAGE CHARACTERISTCIS ARE LESS DEMANDING THAN C/K MODEL VEHICLES.GM ALSO STATED THAT SONOMA AND S-10 WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION INDICATES A LOWER CLAIM COUNT AND A LOWER CLAIM RATE THAN RECALLED C/K MODELS.NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE INFORMATION, ODI HAS RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 73 NON-INJURY COMPLAINTS AND 10 INJURY COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING RQ04-012 (SINCE NOVEMBER 2004 TO DATE), WHICH JUSTIFIES OPENING AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.

EA99012 · Post Collision Fuel System Integrity

Opened Jun 11, 1999 · Closed Aug 10, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

ALLEGE THAT IN CERTAIN SIDE IMPACT CRASHES, THE SUBJECT FUEL TANKS MAY CONTACT THE PROP SHAFT REAR UNIVERSAL JOINT COMPONENTS WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO PUNCTURE THE TANK.