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1995 GMC Sonoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sonoma years

Owner complaints for the 1995 GMC Sonoma are substantially higher than the model-year median of 57.

About this comparison →
213Owner complaints

Model-year median: 57

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
25
199258
1993224
1994213
1995148
1996111
1997156
1998
Compare all Sonoma years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
80Visibility
52Engine And Engine Cooling
26Air Bags
13Fuel System, Gasoline
11
All reported categories
Electrical System
9Power Train
7Seat Belts
7Seats
6Tires
6Service Brakes, Air
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Equipment
3Exterior Lighting
2Steering
2Structure
2Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Wheels
1

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: 7 of 213 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 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

27 crash reports0 fire reports12 injury reports

What owners actually said

213 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEAD GASKET OF THE ENGINE HAS BLOWN OUT CAUSING A COOLENT LEAK ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS MADE THE STATEMENT THAT HE HAS SEEN 5 OR 6 OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. THE LEAK STARTED OFF SMALL BUT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVEL…

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THE HEAD GASKET OF THE ENGINE HAS BLOWN OUT CAUSING A COOLENT LEAK ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS MADE THE STATEMENT THAT HE HAS SEEN 5 OR 6 OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. THE LEAK STARTED OFF SMALL BUT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS. IF THIS IS TRUE AT ALL THE OTHER DEALERSHIPS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A HIGH FAILURE RATE FOR THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719544

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH BRAKES WENT OUT. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED THERE WAS RESISTANCE, AND BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. TO SLOW DOWN, CONSUMER HAD TO DOWNSHIFT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856478

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLING SYSTEM FAN BELT HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT, AND ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR TWO YEARS. BOTH PROBLEMS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #855947

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR SHUTS DOWN FOR NO REASON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855581

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH WHEELS LOCKING UP INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRAVELING ON WET ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855374

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN A SLOW SPEED SITUATIONS THEY CAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM TO ENGAGE IN A ABS MODE, AND A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM WHEELS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SERVERAL OCCASIONS, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854267

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, VEHICLE HIT BUMP & ABS BRAKES KICKED IN. VEHICLE KEPT GOING. IT FAILED TO STOP AT STOP SIGN. TURNED VEHICLE OFF TO STOP. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE ABS BRAKE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855063

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS SYSTEM CONTINUALLY FAILING, RECALL REPAIR CAN NOT BE DONE AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP & OWNER IS NOT SATISFIED ABOUT TRAVELING A DISTANCE FOR REPAIR IN A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *ET

NHTSA ODI #784430

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE A HOLE IN MY GAS TANK, IT HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. GMC TOLD ME THAT IF THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM THAT IF IT WAS A BAD PART THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, TERRY JONES (SERVICE MANAGER) TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO CONTACT THEM AND TELL THEM IT NEEDED A NEW GAS TANK. I…

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I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE A HOLE IN MY GAS TANK, IT HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. GMC TOLD ME THAT IF THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM THAT IF IT WAS A BAD PART THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, TERRY JONES (SERVICE MANAGER) TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO CONTACT THEM AND TELL THEM IT NEEDED A NEW GAS TANK. I CALLED GMC BACK AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS TERRY JONES' DECISION TO PAY ONLY 50% OF THE PARTS AND NO LABOR. I CONTACTED JOHN VANDERGRIFF (SALES MANAGER) HE TOLD ME HE WOULD COVER THE LABOR. I WAS TOLD TERRY JONES MADE THIS DECISION BASED ON THE MILEAGE, YEAR OF MY TRUCK, AND NON CUSTOMER LOYALTY TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. IN MY OPINION THIS IS NOT A FAIR JUDGEMENT, I HAVE PURCHASED TWO VEHICLES FROM THIS DEALERSHIP, ON MY FIRST VEHICLE, IT WAS TAKEN TO THEM FOR ALL SERVICE. DURING A CHANGE OVER IN THERE SYSTEM, THEY HAD LOST ALL RECORDS OF SERVICE ON THAT VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM, AND SAID FACTORS LEADING TO THIS JUDGEMENT ARE IRRELAVENT TO THIS PROBLEM,GAS TANK IS STILL LEAKING, CANNOT DRIVE MY TRUCK DUE TO DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI #716891

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES GM TO RECALL VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR LACK OF BRAKING POWER. CONSUMER HAS NOT RECIEVE RECALL NOTICE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #550341

Official recalls

3

99V193000 · 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.

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

2

EA97022 · Windshield Wiper Failure

Opened Oct 23, 1997 · Closed Jul 2, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Visibility

There is no summary currently available

Visibility

There is no summary currently available

PE97028 · Windshield Wiper

Opened Jun 17, 1997 · Closed Oct 23, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

DURING THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION, OVER 400 ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS WERE FURNISHED BY GM.IN ADDITION GM REPORTED OVER 3000 WIPER SYSTEM WARRANTY REPAIRS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.