IllustrationPAPER OR SOME LIKE OBJECT MUST HAVE BLOWEN ONTO THE MUFFLER FROM THE ROAD SURFACE, CATCHING TRUCK ON FIRE. *AK
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 35 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, SHOULDER BELT DIDN'T HOLD CONSUMER FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
DRIVER PUSHED HANDLE TO MOVE DRIVER'S SEATBACK FORWARD, PUSHED HANDLE TO RETURN SEATBACK TO SITTING POSITION WHEN HANDLE BROKE OFF LOCKING THE SEATBACK IN A FORWARD POSITION.
PARKING BRAKE SPRING RETURN FAILED. YH
LEFT FRONT INSIDE DOOR PILLAR FAILED. YH
A/C CLUTCH FAILED. NLM
ROCKER PLATE GASKET FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. MJS
OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE APPROX. 15 DEGREES, TRUCK SLID INTO SNOW PILE GOING APPROX. 2 MILE PER HOUR WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVE. FRONT BUMPER BROKE LIKE A PIECE OF GLASS. NO OTHER PHYSICAL DAMAGE. I BELIEVE BUMPER SHOULD HAVE NOT BORKE IN THE MIDDLE WITH SUCH A SMALL AND LIGHT IMPACT. I BELIEVE THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO FAULTY BUMPER…
Read full complaint
OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE APPROX. 15 DEGREES, TRUCK SLID INTO SNOW PILE GOING APPROX. 2 MILE PER HOUR WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVE. FRONT BUMPER BROKE LIKE A PIECE OF GLASS. NO OTHER PHYSICAL DAMAGE. I BELIEVE BUMPER SHOULD HAVE NOT BORKE IN THE MIDDLE WITH SUCH A SMALL AND LIGHT IMPACT. I BELIEVE THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO FAULTY BUMPER MAKEUP THAT DID NOT HOLD UP UNDER THE COLD WEATHER CONDITION, BUT SHOULD HAVE.
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH REAR SWAY BAR. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
STEERING SYSTEM IS TIGHT IN LAST 1/3 TURN BEFORE CENTER AND DOESN'T A;;OW SELF-CENTERING DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THIS REQUIRED CONSTANT CORRECTIONS, BUT OF NO AVAIL. PROBLEM PERSISTS.
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.