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
What owners actually said
148 reports
89,000 miles · Jan 24, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY TIMING TENSIONER KEEPS WEARING OUT AFTER ABOUT 15,000 MILES, IT STARTED WHEN I BOUGHT MY TRUCK IN 96 AROUND 25,000 MILES I NOTICE A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE,I TOOK THE TRUCK IS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY TOLD ME I WAS USING THE WRONG OIL FILTER,HA HA. THEY DID SOMETHING TO THE TRUCK BUT THE TICKING STOP UNTIL 36,00…
Read full complaint
MY TIMING TENSIONER KEEPS WEARING OUT AFTER ABOUT 15,000 MILES, IT STARTED WHEN I BOUGHT MY TRUCK IN 96 AROUND 25,000 MILES I NOTICE A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE,I TOOK THE TRUCK IS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY TOLD ME I WAS USING THE WRONG OIL FILTER,HA HA. THEY DID SOMETHING TO THE TRUCK BUT THE TICKING STOP UNTIL 36,000 MILES AND THEN MY WARRANTY WAS GONE. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER 7 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK EVER SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED,THE TENSIONER BROKE ONE TIME WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY,BENT TWO VALVES,AND A HEAD JOB LATER STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE I MAY HAVE BOUGHT A LEMON. THIS MAY NOT BE ON ALL TRUCKS BUT IT SURE HAS HAPPEN TO MINE. ITS LIKE THE TIMING SYSTEM DOES NOT LINE UP. TO WEAR THE TENSIONER IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. I HAVE REPLACED WITH GM PARTS. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10054782
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2003
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
THE ENGINE HAS A MISS IN IT SOMETIMES IT WILL QUIT AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT A HALF HOUR FOR IT TO START AGAIN WE HAVE PUT A NEW COIL, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND A MODULE IT DID NOT FIX IT. WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX IT.
NHTSA ODI #10039329
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2003
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10038124
90,000 miles · May 2, 2003
Unknown Or Other
THE CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE BROKE WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO BOUNCE DOWN THE ROAD. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10018056
82,800 miles · Apr 4, 2003
Exterior Lighting
1996 GMC SONOMA - INTERMITTENT BRAKE LIGHTS AND FOUR-WAY FLASHERS. DEFECTIVE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10013979
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE BRAKE SYSTEM LEAKED FLUID WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10009331
126,000 miles · Feb 26, 2003
Power Train
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 96V035000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10009330
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2003
Air BagsCrash
CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10007312
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2002
Visibility
WIPERS HAVE BEEN INTERMIDENTLY FAILING OVER A SEVERAL YEAR PERIOD BUT NOW HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND LAST LONGER. DT
NHTSA ODI #770435
Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2002
Power Train
CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE VEHICLE WAS NOT GAINING ANY POWER. VEHICLE WAS SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTICE THAT TRANSMISSION WAS OVER HEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1996 GMC Sonoma Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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