IllustrationWHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED. *AK
1998 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sonoma years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
30–25K
1325–50K
2050–75K
1275–100K
7100–150K
4150K+
59 reports with mileage · 97 unknown
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.
- Visibility. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
156 reports1998 GMC SONOMA HIGHRIDER 4X4. THE HANDLE ON THE BUCKET SEATS THAT LETS THE SEATS DECLINE ARE BROKE OFF THEY ARE MADE OUT OF CHEAP METAL. MY MOM OWNS A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER SAME THING,ALSO ON THE THIRD DOOR THE HANDLE THAT OPENS IT BREAKS EASILY. *NM
CERTAIN GM TRUCKS HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT THE OTHERS HAVE NOT BUT THE SAME COMPONENT WAS USED IN OTHER MODELS AND THE SAME ISUE OCCURS. I HAD A 1997 ISUZU HOMBRE THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM AND NOW I HAVE A 1998 GMC SONOMA NAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. THE 1997 CHEVY S-10S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDE…
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CERTAIN GM TRUCKS HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT THE OTHERS HAVE NOT BUT THE SAME COMPONENT WAS USED IN OTHER MODELS AND THE SAME ISUE OCCURS. I HAD A 1997 ISUZU HOMBRE THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM AND NOW I HAVE A 1998 GMC SONOMA NAD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. THE 1997 CHEVY S-10S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO OTHER YEAS AS WELL. LISTED BELOW IS THE ISSUE WITH THE 1997 S10S. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ON 98 GMC SONOMAS AS WELL. MAKE: CHEVROLET MODEL: S10 YEAR: 1997 RECALL NUMBER: 03V159000 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. CONSEQUENCE: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537. NOTES: GM RECALL NO. 03023. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). *AK
WHENEVER THE PARKING BRAKE WAS PRESSED IT WOULD COME BACK UP. *NM THE PARKING BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *JB
HANDLE TO CHANGE SEAT POSITION BROKE. WITH SO MANY DOCUMENTED REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER CONSUMERS WHY IS THIS NOT RECALLED?*AK
I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE SIX INJECTORS ON THIS TRUCK REPLACED. EACH AT A DIFFERENT TIME, NOW, IT SEEMS AS IF MORE THAN ONE HAS GONE ON THE BLINK. NOT SURE WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING, BUT IT IS RATHER EXPENSIVE TO KEEP REPLACING THESE ONE AT A TIME. I ALSO DUG UP A WEBSITE THAT SHOWS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE INJECTORS; HOWEVE…
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I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE SIX INJECTORS ON THIS TRUCK REPLACED. EACH AT A DIFFERENT TIME, NOW, IT SEEMS AS IF MORE THAN ONE HAS GONE ON THE BLINK. NOT SURE WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING, BUT IT IS RATHER EXPENSIVE TO KEEP REPLACING THESE ONE AT A TIME. I ALSO DUG UP A WEBSITE THAT SHOWS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE INJECTORS; HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT MAY ONLY APPLY TO CALIFORNIA VEHICLES. THE ARTICLE IS AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: HTTP://WWW.ARB.CA.GOV/NEWSREL/NR021103.HTM *LA
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V159 000. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. *JB *NM
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT WORK AT ALL.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND SOMETIMES THEY DID NOT WORK AT ALL. THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE WHERE SHE WAS GOING. ALSO, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED WITH HER 1996 SUBURBAN WHICH WAS RECALLED. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V159000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER MOTOR FAILURE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Official recalls
300V220000 · 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.