1998 GMC Sonoma

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2008· VISIBILITY

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. IN MARCH OF 1998, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WIPER MODULE AND WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD FOR THEM TO BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

• 12/27/2004· VISIBILITY

  INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED BY THEMSELVES TO THE FASTEST SPEED SETTING WHEN IN THE SLOW SPEED SETTING. ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING, BUT ENGAGED AGAIN WITHIN SECONDS ON TWO OCCASIONS. THEN, FAILED TO COME BACK ON THE THIRD OCCASION. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL 03V159000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 12/15/2008· VISIBILITY

  MY TRUCK HAS 70,000 MILES AND IT HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. YOU CAN HIT ON THE INSIDE OF THE MOTOR AND IT WILL START WORKING. I CAN BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WILL QUIT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

• 12/03/1998· SUSPENSION

  THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH REAR SWAY BAR. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 12/01/1999· SEATS

  SEAT HANDLE FELL OFF WHEN CONSUMER PUSHED IT TO RECLINE THE SEAT. NLM

• 11/24/2003· VISIBILITY

  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

• 11/24/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  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

• 11/24/2000· EQUIPMENT

  THE SYSTEM THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE BROKE AT THE SPRING BOLT/CABLE CONNECTION. MANY CARS AND TRUCKS HAD TO SWERVE TO AVAOID THE TIRE ONCE IT CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK! GMC SAYS THEY WON'T FIX IT, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HISTORY WITH THE PICK UP. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A FRIEND . THAT TIRE CAME OUT AT 25 MPH!!! IT WAS A REAL SCARY SITUATION!

• 11/15/2001· POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THE COMPLAINT IS ABOUT MY TRANSMISSION IN MY 1998 GMC SONOMA. ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED AS PER THE SERVICE BULLETIN. A $2,200-DOLLAR FIX. THE TRUCK IS NOT QUITE 3 YEARS OLD THOUGH I HAVE 59000 MILES ON IT. I CAN TELL YOU THAT IM THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS DRIVEN THIS TRUCK AND IT HAS HAULED NO MORE THAN GROCERIES I CALLED THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND GM HAS SAID THEY WOULD PAY 40 PERCENT OF THE REPAIR REF CASE NUMBER: C05710638. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS WAS BETTER THAN NOTHING. BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE, WARRANTY OR NOT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. THIS IS A MAJOR PART OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD THIS QUICKLY. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO ALL THE RESEARCH I CAN TO SHOW THAT THIS FAILURE IS NOT NORMAL. IF A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED THEN I THINK IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, GM HAS ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE BUT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THIS IS ALL WILL DO. *AK

• 11/15/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IGNITION FAILED, LEFT CONSUMER STRANDED

• 11/14/2003· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT WORK AT ALL.*AK

• 11/13/2003· VISIBILITY

  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

• 11/05/2003· VISIBILITY

  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

• 11/03/2007· STRUCTURE

  TAILGATE CABLES RUSTED, AND BROKE. SEVERAL OTHER GMC PICK UPS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND WAS UNDER RECALL. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY NOT A RECALL ITEM. THIS IS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WHEN HAULING ITEMS WITH TAILGATE DOWN. *TR

• 11/03/2007· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPER INTERMITTENT. CAN CAUSE SEVERE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, ALMOST RESULTING INTO A CRASH WHEN TRYING TO EXIT ROADWAY. *TR

• 11/02/2005· VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

  1998 GMC SONOMA PICK UP. THE WIPERS DON'T WORK OVER HALF THE TIME. AND WHEN YOU SHUT THEM OFF THEY KEEP GOING . IF THEY HAPPEN TO WORK AT THAT TIME. THE HANDLE TO THE DRIVERS DOOR KEEPS BREAKING OFF. *NM

• 11/01/2002· WHEELS

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO COME ON AFTER BEEN TURNED. WILL RESTART ONLY AFTER TUTRNING VEHICLE COMPLETING OFF. HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE FOR DEALER. HE CANT FIX IT IF HE CANT DUPLICATE. DT

• 10/30/2001· SEATS

  ALUMINUM HANDLE FOR RECLINING MECHANISM OF DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, AND HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, HANDLE FOR RECLINING MECHANISM OF FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BROKE, AND WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SHAFTS THAT ARE USED ARE MADE OUT OF CAST ALUMINUM AND ARE SOFT MATERIAL. *JB

• 10/28/1999· SEATS

  CONSUMER PUSHED HANDLE TO RECLINE SEAT WHEN THE HANDLE FELL OFF. NLM

• 10/21/2000· SEATS

  SEAT RECLINER ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *SLC

• 10/21/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 20MPH DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. DRIVER HAS RIB CAGE INJURY. *AK

• 10/20/2004· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  I OWN A 1998 GMC SONOMA PICKUP. BOTH TAILGATE CABLES FAILED BY BREAKING IN HALF BECAUSE OF RUST. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THEM AND AM CURRENTLY NOT USING MY TAILGATE BECAUSE EACH ONE COSTS $42.00 (THEY ARE PART OF THE LATCH ASSEMBLY). GM HAS RECALLED TAILGATE CABLES ON FULL SIZE TRUCKS - DOES ANYBODY BELEIVE THE CABLES ON THEIR SMALLER TRUCKS WERE ANY BETTER? I AM A BELEIVER THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS BUT THEY SELL LESS SMALL TRUCKS SO THERE ARE FEWER COMPLAINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MINE CORRECTED LIKE MANY OTHER GM TRUCK OWNERS HAVE.

• 10/20/2004· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A WINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED, THEN DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER DROVE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

• 10/19/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY TRUCK WILL WORK FOR A WHILE AND THEN LOCK UP, TODAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT WAS RAINING AND THE WIPERS WERE WORKING FINE AND THEN IT BEGAN POURING SUDDENLY THE WIPERS STOPPED ABOUT HALFWAY ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK

• 10/18/2006· VISIBILITY

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON A RAIN DAY, THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AT HIGH SPEED. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND SOMETIMES DID NOT WORK AT ALL. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALERSHIP.

• 10/18/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-45 MPH, TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AND MAKE A TURN, AND BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO TWO TREES, AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 10/15/2003· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS.*MR *CB *JB

• 10/11/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 10/09/1998· STEERING

  STEERING SYSTEM IS TIGHT IN LAST 1/3 TURN BEFORE CENTER AND DOESN'T A;;OW SELF-CENTERING DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THIS REQUIRED CONSTANT CORRECTIONS, BUT OF NO AVAIL. PROBLEM PERSISTS.

• 10/02/2001· SEATS

  THE "METAL" STUD FOR THE SEAT RECLINER HAS BROKEN ON BOTH FRONT SEATS. THE SEATS CAN ONLY BE LEFT IN ONE POSITION, WHICH MENAS ONLY I CAN DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT CANNOT BE MOVED FOR A DIFFERENT SIZED DRIVER.*AK

• 09/24/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN PARKING BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 09/23/2004· SEATS

  THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINER LEVERS BROKE COMPLETELY OFF WITHOUT ANY EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING APPLIED. *JB

• 09/23/2003· SUSPENSION

  1998 GMC SONOMA, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAIL

• 09/22/2003· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING . *AK

• 09/22/2003· VISIBILITY

  INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. *AK

• 09/18/2003· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BEEN SPORADIC FOR LAST TWO MONTHS; WAS ABLE TO GET THEM STARTED BY GETTING OUT OF TRUCK AND MOVING THE BLADES BY HAND; LAST WEEK, IN HEAVY DOWN POUR, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL; STOPPED AT AN AUTOBODY SHOP, THE GUY SMACKED THE MOTOR WITH A WRENCH AND GOT THEM WORKING WELL ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET HOME. THEY ARE STILL NOT WORKING. *JB

• 09/18/2003· SEATS

  THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF INSIDE THE JOINT; HAD TO DRIVE IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED! VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE; $300.00 AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE METAL SEEMED TO BE SOFT AND FAIRLY EASY TO BREAK; I DO NOT CHANGE THE SEAT POSITION OFTEN. 8JB

• 09/18/2002· POWER TRAIN

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 09/16/2002· POWER TRAIN

  AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, SHUTTING DOWN COMPLETELY WITH NO POWER. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT A PUMP FOR TRANSMISSION WASN'T FUNCTIONING, TRANSMISSION BURNED UP INTERNALLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

• 09/15/2005· VISIBILITY

  MY 98 GMC SONOMA'S WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE FAILED CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY DURING RAIN. INITIALLY, I WAS ABLE TO TAP THE MODULE TO REGAIN WIPER USE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME UNMANAGEABLE. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED AT NEIL TWINTER MOTORS COSTING $95.81.*JB

• 09/15/2003· SEATS

  SEAT RECLINING LEVER BROKE OFF. METAL SNAPPED INSIDE MECHANISM.

• 09/15/2003· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. CAUSE OF FAILURE UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.*AK PER GENERAL MOTORS: CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. *PH *JB

• 09/15/2003· VISIBILITY

  WIPERS BROKEN - WORK OCCASSIONALLY WHEN WIRING HARNESS "JIGGLED" - THEN STOP AGAIN.

• 09/14/2000· POWER TRAIN

  TANSMISSION PROBLEM...WHINNING, NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR/ TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE/PILOT BEARING BUSHING REPLACED/CRANK SHAFT REPLACED TWICE/ NOW REFUSES TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE ON TRUCK. HAVE PREGNANT DAUGHTER DRIVING VEHICLE CANNOT SHIFT AGAIN. THIS IS THE SEVENTH TIME I HAVE TAKEN IN FOR SAID REPAIRS. WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY OF PREGNANT DAUGHTER.

• 09/10/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY

  LOST CONTROL WHEN BRAKING, HISTORY SHOWS EITHER PULLS LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN BRAKING AND/OR PULSATING. ALIGN SPEC, TO NO AVAIL. HEADLIGHT INOPERATIVE, RIGHT LOWER BEAM LAMP OPEN, REPLACED RIGHT LOW BEAM LAMP. DRIVER WINDOW BINDS WHEN LOWERING, WINDOW LOOSE IN TRACKS, R&R DRIVERS DOOR PANEL, BEND TO ADJUST FT. RUN CHANNEL SECURE WINDOW AND KEEP ALINGED. CHECK FLUID LEAK UNDER FRONT CAMSHAFT SEAL, REPLACED FRONT CRANK SHAFT SEAL, CRANK SENSOR

• 09/10/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL ON AC DELCO SIDE POST 72MONTH BATTERY POPPED OUT OF BATTERY, RESULTING IN AN ACID SPILL. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT LAST PERFORMED WARRANTY WORK ON THE TRUCK TO INFORM THEM OF MY CONCERNS. I FEEL THE TECHNICIAN THAT WORKED ON THE VEHICLE OVER-TIGHTENED THE BOLT, CAUSING THE LEAD TERMINAL TO COME LOOSE. BECAUSE THE GM WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, AC DELCO INFORMED ME THAT THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE BATTERY HAD ALSO EXPIRED(AT 3 YEARS), SO THIS WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A PROBLEM FOR ME, THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A PROBLEM FOR EVERYONE. FIRST AS A POTENTIAL FIRE AND SAFETY ISSUE, AND SECONDLY AS AN ENVIROMENTAL ISSUE, SULFURIC ACID AND IT'S FUMES CAN CAUSE FIRE AND DEATH. AC DELCO DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT ANY OF THIS, I WAS ONLY TOLD THAT THEY WOULD SUE ME FOR SLANDER IF I WAS TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

• 09/09/2003· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WIPER EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V 159 000; BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 09/08/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BATTERY.

• 09/08/1998· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  HOOD HAS RELEASED BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, CAUSING HOOD TO FLY OPEN AND OBSTRUCT CONSUMER'S VIEW. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

• 09/07/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  I HAVE NOT HAD ANY WRECKS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YET. MY TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK PROPERLY ONE OF MY LOW BEEN HEADLIGHTS KEEPS BLOWING AND MY TAILLIGHTS DON'T WORK. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS JUST FOR THEM TO BLOW WHEN I TEST THEM. AND NO I DO NOT TOUCH THE GLASS ON THE HEADLIGHTS. I SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND ON THE WIRING SYSTEM, COULD THIS BE MY PROBLEM? *TR