IllustrationVEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AN ADJUSTABLE HEADREST. DURING A REAR END ACCIDENT CONSUMER SUFFERED WHIPLASH DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE HEAD REST WAS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE HEAD. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
1996 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sonoma years
Owner complaints for the 1996 GMC Sonoma are substantially higher than the model-year median of 57.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sonoma years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 12 of 148 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
148 reportsDUE TO DEFECTIVE OVERSPEED SENSOR VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, AND IT HAPPENS ONLY IN COLD WEATHER. SPEED DOES NOT COME INTO IT. THE MECHANIC, AT DEALERSHIP, COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF STALLING. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE APPLIED THE ABS BRAKES ANDTHE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE BATHROOM OF THE HOUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE DOES NOT IDLE DOWN WHEN YOU RELEASE THE CLUTCH OR RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL WHILE DRIVING. MJS
VALVE SEALS ON ORIGINAL/NEW ENGINE SEATED IMPROPERLY CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL USE AND ENGINE MISFIRE. VALVE SEALS REPLACED BY DEALER PER GMC NOTICE SOCMP96C17. TWO MONTHS LATER IN JANUARY, 1997, VALVE SEALS #4 AND #6 AGAIN FAILED WITH SAME SYMPTOMS BUT WERE REPLACED BY DEALER SINCE FAILURE TOOK PLACE WITHIN A YEAR OF ORIGINAL GMC…
Read full complaint
VALVE SEALS ON ORIGINAL/NEW ENGINE SEATED IMPROPERLY CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL USE AND ENGINE MISFIRE. VALVE SEALS REPLACED BY DEALER PER GMC NOTICE SOCMP96C17. TWO MONTHS LATER IN JANUARY, 1997, VALVE SEALS #4 AND #6 AGAIN FAILED WITH SAME SYMPTOMS BUT WERE REPLACED BY DEALER SINCE FAILURE TOOK PLACE WITHIN A YEAR OF ORIGINAL GMC NOTICE. IN 1999 SAME SYMPTOMS AGAIN SHOWED UP BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN JUNE, 1999, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE SEALS BECAUSE GMC SAID THEY WERE NO LONGER COVERED. GMC DEALER HAD ASSURED ME IN JANUARY, 1997, THAT SEALS WOULD BE COVERED AS LONG AS I OWNED THE VEHICLE.
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED MAKING HTE BRAKE PEDAL DIFFUCULT TO DEPRESS, EVEN WHEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. NLM
THE BRAKES ARE WARPING EVERY 6 MONTHS, CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *AK
Official recalls
699V193000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Jul 19, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS WHILE IN THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.
98V150001 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Jul 1, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.
97V146001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 11, 1997
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 & remedy
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.
97V096001 · Seat Belts
Jun 12, 1997
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 & remedy
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.
97V008001 · Visibility:windshield
Jan 27, 1997
THE TOP COAT PAINT SEVERELY PEELS DUE TO OVERBAKING OF THE POWDER PRIMER PRIOR TO THE TOP COAT APPLICATION. SINCE THE WINDSHIELD PRIMER AND ADHESIVE ADHERE TO THE TOP COAT PAINT ONTHE WINDSHIELD OPENING FLANGE, THE WINDSHIELD DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT STAY IN PLACE AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 212.
Remedy: ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPURCHASED. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100%.
96V035000 · Power Train:manual Transmission
Feb 22, 1996
SOME OF THESE TRUCKS WERE BUILT WITH TRANSMISSIONS CONTAINING PARTS WHICH WERE NOT MACHINED TO GM'S SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE TRANSMISSIONS COULD SEIZE AND LOCK THE REAR DRIVE WHEELS WHILE THE TRUCK IS BEING DRIVEN CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION MAIN SHAFT OUTPUT TORQUE USING A SPECIAL TOOL. IF THE OUTPUT TORQUE DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.