IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1996 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sonoma years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 12 of 148 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 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
Visibility complaints
31 reportsI NEED TO KNOW WHAT IF ANY RECALLED DEFECTS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED ON MY VEHICLE...A LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THE ONLY THING THEY KNOW ABOUT RECALLS DEALS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS.....AND NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN SENT TO THEM CONCERNING ANY OTHER RECALLS DEALING WITH 1996 GMC SONOMA SLS 4 CYL, 5 SPD. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. SAW RECALL NOTICE # 98V150001 ON THIS WEB SITE BUT HAD NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. CALLED GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING . DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY MULTIPLE RECALLS BECAUSE IT IS NOT IN THE GMC LIST OF VEHICLES PER ITS VIN NUMBER. THIS IS, INSPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED OTHER SONOMA RECALLS. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE 1995-96 GMC JIMMYS OF WHICH THE SONOMA IS VIRTUALLY THE SAME IN THE ENGI…
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MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY MULTIPLE RECALLS BECAUSE IT IS NOT IN THE GMC LIST OF VEHICLES PER ITS VIN NUMBER. THIS IS, INSPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED OTHER SONOMA RECALLS. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE 1995-96 GMC JIMMYS OF WHICH THE SONOMA IS VIRTUALLY THE SAME IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GMC AS WELL AS THE DEALER HAVE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM OF THIS VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH INFORMATION FROM THIS SITE WAS PRESENTED TO BOTH THE GMC. DEALER AND THE GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. I WAS TOLD BY THE ASSISTANCE CENTER THAT I SHOULD HAVE IT FIXED AS IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT NOW THEY ARE ON RECORD AS STATING THAT THEY RECOMMENDED HAVING IT REPAIRED. BUT THEY REFUSED TO INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE IN THE GENERAL RECALL. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOTOR FAILED WHILE ON THE ROAD. YH
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DURING RAINSTORM - PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 98V15. *YC
WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD MALFUNCTION.
IN RAINY CONDITIONS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. HAS TO TURN ON AND OFF THE SWITCH IN ORDER TO RESTART, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VISIBILITY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
MIRROR FAILED.
Official recalls
699V193000 · 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.
97V146001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 11, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.3L ENGINES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINE CAN CONTACT THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE OIL PAN CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO WEAR TO THE POINT OF BRAKE FLUID LOSS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LOSS CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE OIL PAN AND THE BRAKE LINE. IF THE CLEARANCE IS 6MM OR LESS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL BRAKE LINE CLIP AND IF THERE WAS CONTACT BETWEEN THE OIL PAN AND BRAKE LINE, THE FRONT BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.
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.
97V008001 · Visibility:windshield
Jan 27, 1997
THE TOP COAT PAINT SEVERELY PEELS DUE TO OVERBAKING OF THE POWDER PRIMER PRIOR TO THE TOP COAT APPLICATION. SINCE THE WINDSHIELD PRIMER AND ADHESIVE ADHERE TO THE TOP COAT PAINT ONTHE WINDSHIELD OPENING FLANGE, THE WINDSHIELD DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT STAY IN PLACE AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 212.
Remedy: ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPURCHASED. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100%.
96V035000 · Power Train:manual Transmission
Feb 22, 1996
SOME OF THESE TRUCKS WERE BUILT WITH TRANSMISSIONS CONTAINING PARTS WHICH WERE NOT MACHINED TO GM'S SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE TRANSMISSIONS COULD SEIZE AND LOCK THE REAR DRIVE WHEELS WHILE THE TRUCK IS BEING DRIVEN CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION MAIN SHAFT OUTPUT TORQUE USING A SPECIAL TOOL. IF THE OUTPUT TORQUE DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED.
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.