IllustrationHANDLE TO ADJ. DRIVER SEATBACK BROKE OFF AT METALIC HUB WITH VERY LITTLE PRESSURE, SEAT LOCKED IN FORWARD UPRIGHT POSTION WHILE DRIVING AND COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO DRIVING POSITION
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 →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
30–25K
1325–50K
2050–75K
1275–100K
7100–150K
4150K+
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
What owners actually said
156 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH CUSTOMER HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *AK
VEHICLE SHAKES AS TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. REPAIR CENTER SAYS THAT THE CLUTCH PLATE IS BINDING. EXTENDED WARRENTY DOES NOT COVER AS IT IS A "WEAR" COMPONENT. SEEMS UNREASONABLE TO ME THAT A CLUTCH PLATE WOULD WEAR OUT AFTER ONLY 50,000 MILES.
ENGINE WOULD MAKE KNOCKING NOISES. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED CONSUMER OF POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CRAHKSHAFT. NO KNOWN SOLUTION FOR KNOCKING PROBLEM. *AK
DECALS ON FRONT BUMPER AND DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WERE PEALING OFF. THESE WERE BOTH REPLACED ON SERVICE ORDER DATED 6-25-98. THIS HOWEVER TOOK 3 TRIPS, 3 DIFFERENT DAYS AND ABOUT 2 WEEKS TIME TO COMPLETE. DECALS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO PEAL OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR IS JOINING IN ON THE PEALING. I TOOK THE TRU…
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DECALS ON FRONT BUMPER AND DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WERE PEALING OFF. THESE WERE BOTH REPLACED ON SERVICE ORDER DATED 6-25-98. THIS HOWEVER TOOK 3 TRIPS, 3 DIFFERENT DAYS AND ABOUT 2 WEEKS TIME TO COMPLETE. DECALS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO PEAL OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR IS JOINING IN ON THE PEALING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY SAID, "STONE CHIPS ON FRT, PASS. DOOR HAS DING FROM ANOTHER VEHICLES DOOR STONE CHIPS -DAMAGE NOT WARRANTABLE-STRIPED ARE WELL ADHERED". I FOUND THIS RATHER AMUSING BECAUSE I CAN TAKE A HOSE AND SPRAY THEM OFF. I ASSUME THEY MUST HAVE A HIGH POWER MICROSCOPE TO SEE A DING IN THE DOOR. I STILL CAN NOT FIND ONE IN THIS AREA. I NOW HAVE ANOTHER GMC DEALER WORKING ON REPLACING THEM FOR THE SECOND TIME. THEY HAVE THEM ON ORDER. 7-26-99
TRUCK MAKES POPPING NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING OR STOPPING HARD. VEHICLE HAS HAD 6 SERVICE ORDERS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 15 VISITS TO THE SHOP. I HAVE TRIED THREE DIFFERENT GMC SERVICE CENTERS. TO DATE THEY HAVE STILL NOT SUCCEEDED AT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM 1ST OCCURRED 3-20-99 WITH 604…
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TRUCK MAKES POPPING NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING OR STOPPING HARD. VEHICLE HAS HAD 6 SERVICE ORDERS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 15 VISITS TO THE SHOP. I HAVE TRIED THREE DIFFERENT GMC SERVICE CENTERS. TO DATE THEY HAVE STILL NOT SUCCEEDED AT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM 1ST OCCURRED 3-20-99 WITH 6045 MILES. EVERY TIME THEY HAVE EITHER TIGHTEN, LUBED OR REPLACED SOMETHING. THE PROBLEM ALWAYS REOCCURS SHORTLY AFTER SERVICE. CURRENTLY THEY ARE ORDERING SOME MORE PARTS TO REPLACE. BETWEEN THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK IN THE SHOP SO MUCH THAT I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A SECOND VEHICLE (NOT A GM PRODUCT!)SO I HAVE SOMETHING TO DRIVE WHEN THIS ONE IS IN THE SHOP. I TRULY FEEL I HAVE A LEMON IN MY DRIVEWAY. I CAN SUBMIT FULL DEALER DOCUMENTATION UPON REQUEST.
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL LOCKS UP AND PULLS THE VEHICLE TO LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL. *AK
HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES. THE ROTORS HAD WORN OUT & WERE SHOT. SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED MANUFACTER OF PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS, BUT NOT THE PADS. WAS CHARGED FOR THE ROTORS, EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED AGAIN & REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE, BUT THE ROTORS WERE TURNED. *AK
UNCCCEPTABLE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED., UNSATISFACTORY DEALER REPAIRS, SERVICE, AND SATISFACTION. NO SAFETY EFECTS LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WILL NOT LOCK INTO PLACE AND SLIDES, REPLACEMENT OF SEAT/TRACK AND LATCH AND SEVERAL REPAIRS HAVE NOT RECTIFIED PROBLEMS. MJS
Official recalls
300V220000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.