IllustrationABS BRAKE FAILURE.
1994 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sonoma years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 14 of 224 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 131 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.
18 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
224 reportsBRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. NO LEAKS, PADS AND SHOES LOOK FINE.
ENGINE SURGES FOWARD INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO EGR FAILURE PRIOR TO/AFTER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 96I-067.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING FOR A FEW SECONDS WHEN IT RAINS. HOWEVER, IT IS INTERMITTENT, HOWEVER, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 6 TIMES SINCE VEHICLE WAS ACQUIRED. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED.
WEATHER DAMP; VEHICLE STANDING A WHILE. WHEN BRAKES APPLIED WOULD LOCK UP IN REAR GOING LOW SPEED. WENT TO MECHANIC & DRUM REPLACED IN 96. TOOK TO BRAKE SHOP & WAS SHOWN RUSTED SHOE AREA. MOISTURE GETTING INTO BRAKE SHOES. RIGHT ROTOR WORN OUT.
FEEL THAT THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE CRACK BEING WHERE THAT SEAT BOLTS DOWN AND SO NEAR WHERE THE SEATBELT BOLTS DOWN. GMC TOLD ME THAT IF IT WERE A HOLE RUSTING THROUGH THE OUTSIDE OF A FENDER THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. SINCE IT IS THE SEAT FALLING THROUGH THE FLOOR, THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. ANY HELP YOU…
Read full complaint
FEEL THAT THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE CRACK BEING WHERE THAT SEAT BOLTS DOWN AND SO NEAR WHERE THE SEATBELT BOLTS DOWN. GMC TOLD ME THAT IF IT WERE A HOLE RUSTING THROUGH THE OUTSIDE OF A FENDER THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. SINCE IT IS THE SEAT FALLING THROUGH THE FLOOR, THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME WOULD E MUCH APPRECIATED. THE LADY I SPOKE WITH WAS LOURI EMRICH WITH THE GMC CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCK UP ON OCCASION.
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED INTERMITTENTLY THE DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE CHANGES, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
299V193000 · 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.
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.
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
1PE94046 · Abs Braking System Fails
Opened Jun 17, 1994 · Closed Oct 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available