IllustrationTHE TRUCKS BEEN HANDLING FINE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE OIL PAN BLOWS OUT ON THE TRUCK AND I THINK IT THREW A ROD. WHICH IS NOT MY FAULT A PIECE CAME APART OR CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE CAUSING ALL THAT PRESSURE TO BUILD UP AND MESS IT UP. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION NOT GOING OVER 60
2000 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sonoma years
Owner complaints for the 2000 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
60–25K
2025–50K
1950–75K
1275–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
63 reports with mileage · 73 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.
- Structure. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports
Seats complaints
11 reportsPASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS IN MY 2000 GMC SONOMA HAVE SEAT POSITIONING CONTROLS AND LOCKING MECHANISIMS THAT DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK PROPERLY AND/OR GET JAMMED UP AND HAVE BROKEN. A FRIEND WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT FAILED TO LOCK INTO PLACE TO KEEP IT FROM SLIDING FORWARD. I ADJUSTED THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE SEAT TO T…
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PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS IN MY 2000 GMC SONOMA HAVE SEAT POSITIONING CONTROLS AND LOCKING MECHANISIMS THAT DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK PROPERLY AND/OR GET JAMMED UP AND HAVE BROKEN. A FRIEND WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT FAILED TO LOCK INTO PLACE TO KEEP IT FROM SLIDING FORWARD. I ADJUSTED THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE TO HELP 'REALIGN' THE SEAT FRAME SO THAT THE MECHANISM THAT KEEPS THE SEAT FROM SIDING FRONT AND BACK WOULD KEEP THE SEAT LOCKED INTO POSITION ONCE THE SEATING DISTANCE IS SET. ALSO, THE RECLINING HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF, NOT ALLOWING FOR SEAT BACK SUPPORT ANGLE ADJUSTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK SUPPORT ADJUSTMENT LEVER OFTEN 'STICKS' OR 'LOCKS' INTO POSITION....NOT ALLOWING FOR SEAT BACK REST ADJUSTMENT. REAR DIFFERENTIAL SOMETIMES LOCKS UP AND OR SLIPS AND SHAKES AND MAKES NOISE...ESPECIALLY WHEN SIDEWAYS FORCE IS APPLIED...SUCH AS WHEN TURNING IN A CURVE OR CIRCULAR FASHION WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. BOTH TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE ON THE TRUCK. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BEARING HAD EXCESS WEAR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 65 000 KM. DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER ARM GOT DISLODGED FROM THE SHAFT THAT TURNS IT AND WAS KNOCKED OUT OF POSITION ON 2 OCCASIONS. POWER STEERING FAILS FOR SHORT INTERMITTENT PERIODS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED FROM A 'COLD' AND 'WARM' STATE AND THE STEERING BECOMES STIFFER AND LESS RESPONSIVE. MOST NOTICABLE AT SLOWER VEHICLE SPEEDS.
GMC SONOMA 2000 THIRD DOOR LATCH BROKE SO THAT DOOR WON'T OPEN BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT HANDLE TO ADJUST SEAT BROKE OFF SO THAT THE SEAT IS IN A TILT POSITION AND WILL NOT ADJUST. ALMOST TO A POSITION OF 50% BACK. *NM
I ATTEMPTED TO RECLINE THE DRIVERS SEAT AND THE HANDLE SHEARED OFF IN MY HAND. *JB
MY 4 YEAR OLD GRANDSON REACHED DOWN TO RECLINE THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK AND THE HANDLE SHEARED OFF IN HIS HAND. *JB
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPHVEHICLE DIED OUT. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER NOTICED THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME.*AK
THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE AT ALL. SEAT FRAME, AND SEAT TRACKS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY LUCK. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK AS A CERTIFIED GMC TRUCK WITH 17K MILES. THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK FROM DAY 1. DEALER HAS NO IDEA HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFRAID OF POSSIBLE INJURIES/FATALITIES TO A PASSENGER IF INVO…
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THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE AT ALL. SEAT FRAME, AND SEAT TRACKS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY LUCK. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK AS A CERTIFIED GMC TRUCK WITH 17K MILES. THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK FROM DAY 1. DEALER HAS NO IDEA HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFRAID OF POSSIBLE INJURIES/FATALITIES TO A PASSENGER IF INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE SEAT SLIDES ALL THE WAY FORWARD, AND ALL THE WAY BACK FREELY, AND WILL NOT LOCK. WHEN REPAIRS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED, THE SEAT STAYS LOCKED FOR AN HOUR OR SO, OR UNTIL IT IS ADJUSTED ANY AMOUNT FORWARD OR REVERSE. IN THE 11 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, IT HAS LOST $6000 IN BLUE BOOK VALUE, AND SO I OWE MORE THAN IT IS WORTH. SO I AM STUCK WITH A DEFECTIVE TRUCK. MY NEXT VEHICLE IS NOT GOING TO BE A GMC. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY COMPLAINT FOR THIS PROBLEM TO NHTSA, AND THE DEALER ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM. NEED A RECALL BADLY! HELP! *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER DELAY IS DEFECTIVE. BIG OAK PONTIAC/GMC IN BARTOW, FL TRIED TO REPAIR AND CLAIMS TO HAVE REPLACED THE NECESSARY COMPONENT, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NEVER EFFECTIVE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE DELAY SOMETIMES WORKS, SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK AT ALL AND SOMETIMES WORKS BUT WITH ERRATIC TIME INTERVALS BETWEEN WIPES. THE PROBLE…
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WINDSHIELD WIPER DELAY IS DEFECTIVE. BIG OAK PONTIAC/GMC IN BARTOW, FL TRIED TO REPAIR AND CLAIMS TO HAVE REPLACED THE NECESSARY COMPONENT, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NEVER EFFECTIVE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE DELAY SOMETIMES WORKS, SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK AT ALL AND SOMETIMES WORKS BUT WITH ERRATIC TIME INTERVALS BETWEEN WIPES. THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT IS THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE AFTER THE SEAT HAS BEEN TILTED FORWARD.*AK *JB ***** DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/03 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****750084.
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS DO NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. IT SLIDES FREELY BACK, AND FORWARD ON TRACKS. DEALER HAS CHANGED RAILS ONCE, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED.*AK *SLC
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WILL NOT STAY LOCKED IN PLACE, AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE SEAT UNLATCHES AND SLIDES BACK AND FORTH, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC
Official recalls
300V258001 · Equipment:other:labels
Sep 8, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INCORRECT PAYLOAD INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL. THE PAYLOAD SHOWN ON THE LABEL IS GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM VALIDATED PAYLOAD. IF THE VEHICLE WERE LOADED TO THE INCORRECTLY LABELED PAYLOAD, IT MAY NOT RIDE AND HANDLE IN THE MANNER THAT THE DRIVER EXPECTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OR AN INABILITY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHIN EXPECTED STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A NEW LABEL FOR INSTALLATION ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE VEHICLE.
00V055000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Feb 28, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MOTOR CONTAINING AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION SPRING CLIP. THIS CLIP COULD ALLOW THE MOTOR BEARING TO BECOME MISALIGNED. IF MISALIGNMENT OCCURS, EVENTUALLY THE ABS WOULD BE NON-FUNCTIONAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BASE BRAKES WOULD REMAIN FULLY FUNCTIONAL, BUT THE DYNAMIC REAR PROPORTIONING (DRP) SYSTEM, WHICH OPTIMIZES FRONT TO REAR BRAKE BALANCE, WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULE VALVE ASSEMBLY.
99V220000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Aug 11, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: S -TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 2 WHEEL DRIVE. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE HAD THE RIGHT-HAND ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE FEED PIPE AND/OR BRAKE CROSSOVER PIPE TUBE NUTS TIGHTENED WITHOUT SEATING THE PIPE-FLARED-ENDS ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND NORMAL ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE INPUTS WITHOUT PARTIALLY UNSEATING. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKE NORMAL, EMERGENCY, AND PARK BRAKING PERFORMANCE."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED, THE SEATING SEAL COULD BE BROKEN DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY, OR FROM EARLY ROAD INPUTS OR BRAKE FLUID CYCLING, AND A LEAK COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE PIPE UNION FOR SIGNS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW BRAKE PIPE UNION.
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
1PE02066 · Engine Stall Due To Fuel Starvation
Opened Sep 6, 2002 · Closed Nov 3, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump; Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Fuel System, Gasoline
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Fuel System, Other
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.