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1998 GMC Sonoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sonoma years

Owner complaints for the 1998 GMC Sonoma are substantially higher than the model-year median of 57.

About this comparison →
156Owner complaints

Model-year median: 57

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
213
1995148
1996111
1997156
199857
1999136
200089
2001
Compare all Sonoma years →

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

What owners reported most

Visibility
55Seats
29Service Brakes, Hydraulic
15Structure
14Air Bags
11
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
11Power Train
11Electrical System
9Suspension
7Equipment
5Exterior Lighting
4Latches/locks/linkages
4Steering
4Unknown Or Other
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3Tires
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Parking Brake
2Seat Belts
2Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

59 reports with mileage · 97 unknown

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.

  • Visibility. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

15 reports
Clear category filter
107,030 miles · Jan 27, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

IN APRIL 2006, A BRAKE LINE ON MY 1998 GMC SONOMA PICKUP BROKE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT APPROX 50 MPH. I HAD TO STOP RATHER QUICKLY DUE TO TRAFFIC BACKING UP ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE BRAKE LINE BURST, MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, THE BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE. FO…

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IN APRIL 2006, A BRAKE LINE ON MY 1998 GMC SONOMA PICKUP BROKE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT APPROX 50 MPH. I HAD TO STOP RATHER QUICKLY DUE TO TRAFFIC BACKING UP ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE BRAKE LINE BURST, MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, THE BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE AND DOWNSHIFT (STD SHIFT) TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE BROKEN LINE (FROM HYDRAULIC ABS TO JUNCTION) AND ALSO THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE TRUCK HAD 107,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I DECIDED TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO OTHERS, RESULTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10180903

80,000 miles · Sep 24, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN PARKING BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10094287

57,000 miles · Mar 17, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

STARTED OFF WITH A SUDDEN FAILURE TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY THEN CORRECTED ITSELF; ON AND OFF FOR A FEW WEEKS. DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WAS FAILING TO RETURN TO STARTING POSITION; REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER TO ELIMINATE SOFT PEDAL BUT STILL STICKING AND NOT RETURNING TO STARTING POSITION. CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10010619

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED UP, WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10009054

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO STOP WHEN PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT DID GRAB ABRUPTLY. DISC BRAKES ARE ON THE FRONT AND REAR ARE DRUM BRAKES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8016169

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN SNOWY WEATHER THERE IS CLICKING SOUND PRESENT AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8005070

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN HE APPLYING BRAKES ABS BRAKING LIGHT CAME ON. THEREFORE, SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT EBCM DEVICES WERE BAD .THIS WAS BRAIN UNIT TO THIS DEVICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881365

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 1998 GMC SONOMA DEVELOPED A BRAKING PROBLEM - PULLING HARD RIGHT. THE VEHICLE (UNDER WARRANTY - 15,000 MILES) WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE TURNED, PADS DEGLAZED, WHEEL BEARINGS REPACKED, REAR DRUMS TURNED AND SHOES ADJUSTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE COST TO ME WAS $217. I HAV…

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MY 1998 GMC SONOMA DEVELOPED A BRAKING PROBLEM - PULLING HARD RIGHT. THE VEHICLE (UNDER WARRANTY - 15,000 MILES) WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE TURNED, PADS DEGLAZED, WHEEL BEARINGS REPACKED, REAR DRUMS TURNED AND SHOES ADJUSTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE COST TO ME WAS $217. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS AT SUCH LOW MILAGE ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. I AM CONVINCED THAT A DEFECT EXISTS IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM THAT GM IS ATTEMPTING TO BLAME ON THE CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720273

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS: WHNY APPLYING BRAKES DURING AN EMERGENCY ON WET PAVEMENT/ICY OR SNOWY ROADS, BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM, AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #856827

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1999
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 20MPH DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. DRIVER HAS RIB CAGE INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851367

Official recalls

3

00V220000 · Exterior Lighting

Aug 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED WIRING HARNESS THAT CHANGES THE DRL'S FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM DRL'S, AND INSTALL NEW LONG-LIFE LOW BEAM BULBS.

97V208001 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Nov 25, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS CLIP CAN MELT AND DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CLIP MATERIAL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITE OTHER COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE CONTACTING OWNERS BY TELEPHONE TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO THE DEALER AND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED TO THEM UNTIL THE DEALER CAN REROUTE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS.

97V218000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 24, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.

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.