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: 27 of 111 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 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
111 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2002
Visibility
CONSUMER STATES WAS UNABLE TO KEEP WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING, CONSUMER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER RECALL WAS NOT APPLICABLE TO CONSUMER BECAUSE OF THE VIN NUMBER MECHANIC STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMEDIATELY RESULTING IN THE MOTOR TO MALFUNCTION.*J…
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CONSUMER STATES WAS UNABLE TO KEEP WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING, CONSUMER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER RECALL WAS NOT APPLICABLE TO CONSUMER BECAUSE OF THE VIN NUMBER MECHANIC STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMEDIATELY RESULTING IN THE MOTOR TO MALFUNCTION.*JB *YH
NHTSA ODI #8014798
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
DANGEROUS! THROTTLE STUCK OPEN WHEN A COMPONENET RIVETED TO BUTTERFLY "BLADE" BROKE OFF AND LODGED CAUSING ALMOST WIDE OPEN THROTTLE - ENGINE HAD TO BE SHUTOFF TO AVOID ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #763277
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2002
Power Train
VEHICLE WILL STICK IN 4 WHEEL HIGH, CAUSING EXCESSIVE GAS USAGE AND VEHICLE WILL ALSO SHAKE.*AK CONSUMER STATED IT ALSO ALTERNATED BETWEEN 2 WHEEL AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE, REPAIRS WERE MADE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #8011766
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE STARTS W/ A JERK WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED FROM A STOP. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WITH MANY NEEDING AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT AT LOW VEHICLE MILAGES. CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THIS UPDATE BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW.*AK
NHTSA ODI #762265
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2002
Visibility
WHILE DRIVING WINSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8006718
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2002
Fuel System, Other
GAS GAUGE HAS STOPPED WORKING, AND CORRECT GAS LEVEL WILL NOT REGISTER PROPERLY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8006707
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2001
Visibility
THIS IS THE SECOND OF MY THREE 1997 GMC VEHICLES TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. THE WIPER MODULE FAILED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON A 1997 S10 EXT CAB 4WD; IT COST ME $175 TO GET THAT ONE REPAIRED BY DEALER REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE. I HAVE NO YET TAKEN THIS ONE, A 1997 GMC SONOMA , TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CHECKED TO SEE IF THE PA…
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THIS IS THE SECOND OF MY THREE 1997 GMC VEHICLES TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. THE WIPER MODULE FAILED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON A 1997 S10 EXT CAB 4WD; IT COST ME $175 TO GET THAT ONE REPAIRED BY DEALER REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE. I HAVE NO YET TAKEN THIS ONE, A 1997 GMC SONOMA , TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CHECKED TO SEE IF THE PART IS AVAILABLE AT OTHER THAN A DEALERSHIP. IT IS NOT. IF THERE IS NO RECALL THERE SHOULD BE. THERE HAS BEEN AMPLE INCIDENCES REPORTED TO CREATE AT LEAST SOME INVESTIGATION. I CHECKED ON RECALLS FOR THE S10 AND WAS TOLD NO.*AK
NHTSA ODI #752724
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001
Fuel System, Other
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE WHEN VEHICLE IS OUT OF GAS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE ONE NEVER KNOWS WHEN HE IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #893517
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2001
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS TO OPERATE SOME TIMES WHEN I TURN IT ON. AND THEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ITS WORKING AGAIN. I CAN'T DEPEND ON THE WIPERS TO WORK WHEN I NEED THEM. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES. MY LOCAL GM SERVICE CENTER TELLS ME THERE IS SOME ELECTRICAL MODULE CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND WANTS $150 TO FIX…
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WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS TO OPERATE SOME TIMES WHEN I TURN IT ON. AND THEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ITS WORKING AGAIN. I CAN'T DEPEND ON THE WIPERS TO WORK WHEN I NEED THEM. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES. MY LOCAL GM SERVICE CENTER TELLS ME THERE IS SOME ELECTRICAL MODULE CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND WANTS $150 TO FIX.*AK
NHTSA ODI #748171
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT BEGAN TO ACCELLERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELLERATE WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE ACCELLERATOR. AT THE TIME THIS WAS HAPPENING I WAS IN SOME TRAFFIC AND BY BRAKING HEAVILY TO SLOW THE VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT ENOUGH TO PREVENT BEING INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF INCIDENT. …
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I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT BEGAN TO ACCELLERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELLERATE WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE ACCELLERATOR. AT THE TIME THIS WAS HAPPENING I WAS IN SOME TRAFFIC AND BY BRAKING HEAVILY TO SLOW THE VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT ENOUGH TO PREVENT BEING INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF INCIDENT. I THEN PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH. WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED THE TRUCKS ACCELLERATOR CONTINUED TO ACCELLERATE UNCONTROLLABLY TOWARDS THE REDLINE SO I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF.I THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE BECOME UNSTUCK. I WAS ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM A MECHANIC'S SHOP THAT I WAS FAMILIAR WITH AND TRIED TO GET THERE. AS I ACCELLERATED THROUGH THE GEARS THE THROTTLE AGAIN BECAME STUCK AND BEGAN TO ACCELLERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. I SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND COASTED TO THE SHOP. THE MECHANIC THERE FIRST CHECKED THE CABLES THE BE SURE THEY WERE NOT BINDING. HE THEN REMOVED THE BREATHER ASSEMBLY TO CHECK THE THROTTLE BODY TO SEE IF IT WAS BECOMING STUCK. WHEN HE OPENED IT HE SAW THAT A PIECE THAT WAS ATTACHED BY RIVETS TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRONT PORTION OF THE BUTTERFLY VALE HAD PARTIALLY BROKEN LOOSE. IT WAS THEN OBVIOUS THAT THIS WAS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE(RELATIONS) DEPARTMENT . I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER (C04730917)AND TOLD THAT A DEALER WOULD HAVE TO DO THE WORK IF I WERE TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF BEING REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK. I TOLD THE PERSON I THE PHONE THAT I FELT THAT THIS WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. SHE TOLD ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND THEY WOULD DETERMINE IF THIS WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. I TRUELY BELEAVE THAT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANY PLACE AT ANY TIME AND SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE AS LUCK AS I WAS TO BE IN A GOOD PLACE TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENED AND CAUSED ME TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTIANS SATURDAY WITH MY NEPHEW. *AK
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
ON FEBRUARY 18, 2004, ODI OPENED THIS RECALL QUERY (RQ) BASED ON TWO FATALITY REPORTS INVOLVING MY 1997 GM S-10 PICKUP TRUCKS.EACH REPORT ALLEGED THAT THE BELTED DRIVER OCCUPANT WAS EJECTED IN A MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER CRASH.THE MY 1997 S/T SERIES PICKUPS USE AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP IN THE DRIVER SEAT BELT THAT ALLOWS THE WEBBING TO ELONGATE UP TO 10 INCHES (TO MITIGATE DRIVER INJURY IN FRONTAL CRASHES).GM ALSO USED THIS ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP SEAT BELT DESIGN IN MY1997 S/T SERIES UTILITY VEHICLES (CHEVROLET BLAZER, GMC JIMMY AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA).GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (03V-117) TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IN THESE UTILITY VEHILCES BASED ON A HIGHER FATALITY RATE OF EJECTED BELTED DRIVERS IN ROLLOVER CRASHES.BOTH FATAL CRASHES ARE SEVERE ROLLOVER CRASHES (MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER) AND BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE ROOF STRUCTURE.ODI REVIEWED THE FIELD DATA PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND COMPARED THEM TO PEER VEHICLES USING NHTSA'S FATALITY ANALYSIS REPORTING SYSTEM (FARS) DATABASE.THE FARS DATA DID NOT INDICATE A FIELD PERFORMANCE TREND FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seat Belts:front
ON FEBRUARY 18, 2004, ODI OPENED THIS RECALL QUERY (RQ) BASED ON TWO FATALITY REPORTS INVOLVING MY 1997 GM S-10 PICKUP TRUCKS.EACH REPORT ALLEGED THAT THE BELTED DRIVER OCCUPANT WAS EJECTED IN A MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER CRASH.THE MY 1997 S/T SERIES PICKUPS USE AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP IN THE DRIVER SEAT BELT THAT ALLOWS THE WEBBING TO ELONGATE UP TO 10 INCHES (TO MITIGATE DRIVER INJURY IN FRONTAL CRASHES).GM ALSO USED THIS ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP SEAT BELT DESIGN IN MY1997 S/T SERIES UTILITY VEHICLES (CHEVROLET BLAZER, GMC JIMMY AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA).GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (03V-117) TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IN THESE UTILITY VEHILCES BASED ON A HIGHER FATALITY RATE OF EJECTED BELTED DRIVERS IN ROLLOVER CRASHES.BOTH FATAL CRASHES ARE SEVERE ROLLOVER CRASHES (MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER) AND BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE ROOF STRUCTURE.ODI REVIEWED THE FIELD DATA PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND COMPARED THEM TO PEER VEHICLES USING NHTSA'S FATALITY ANALYSIS REPORTING SYSTEM (FARS) DATABASE.THE FARS DATA DID NOT INDICATE A FIELD PERFORMANCE TREND FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Seat Belts:front:webbing
ON FEBRUARY 18, 2004, ODI OPENED THIS RECALL QUERY (RQ) BASED ON TWO FATALITY REPORTS INVOLVING MY 1997 GM S-10 PICKUP TRUCKS.EACH REPORT ALLEGED THAT THE BELTED DRIVER OCCUPANT WAS EJECTED IN A MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER CRASH.THE MY 1997 S/T SERIES PICKUPS USE AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP IN THE DRIVER SEAT BELT THAT ALLOWS THE WEBBING TO ELONGATE UP TO 10 INCHES (TO MITIGATE DRIVER INJURY IN FRONTAL CRASHES).GM ALSO USED THIS ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP SEAT BELT DESIGN IN MY1997 S/T SERIES UTILITY VEHICLES (CHEVROLET BLAZER, GMC JIMMY AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA).GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (03V-117) TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IN THESE UTILITY VEHILCES BASED ON A HIGHER FATALITY RATE OF EJECTED BELTED DRIVERS IN ROLLOVER CRASHES.BOTH FATAL CRASHES ARE SEVERE ROLLOVER CRASHES (MULTIPLE-ROTATION ROLLOVER) AND BOTH VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE ROOF STRUCTURE.ODI REVIEWED THE FIELD DATA PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND COMPARED THEM TO PEER VEHICLES USING NHTSA'S FATALITY ANALYSIS REPORTING SYSTEM (FARS) DATABASE.THE FARS DATA DID NOT INDICATE A FIELD PERFORMANCE TREND FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
EA94038 · Abs Braking System
Opened Oct 31, 1994 · Closed Feb 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
1997 GMC Sonoma Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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