IllustrationWINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS.*MR *CB *JB
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 reports1998 GMC SONOMA, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAIL
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING . *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF INSIDE THE JOINT; HAD TO DRIVE IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED! VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE; $300.00 AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE METAL SEEMED TO BE SOFT AND FAIRLY EASY TO BREAK; I DO NOT CHANGE THE SEAT POSITION OFTEN. 8JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BEEN SPORADIC FOR LAST TWO MONTHS; WAS ABLE TO GET THEM STARTED BY GETTING OUT OF TRUCK AND MOVING THE BLADES BY HAND; LAST WEEK, IN HEAVY DOWN POUR, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL; STOPPED AT AN AUTOBODY SHOP, THE GUY SMACKED THE MOTOR WITH A WRENCH AND GOT THEM WORKING WELL ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET HOME. T…
Read full complaint
WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BEEN SPORADIC FOR LAST TWO MONTHS; WAS ABLE TO GET THEM STARTED BY GETTING OUT OF TRUCK AND MOVING THE BLADES BY HAND; LAST WEEK, IN HEAVY DOWN POUR, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL; STOPPED AT AN AUTOBODY SHOP, THE GUY SMACKED THE MOTOR WITH A WRENCH AND GOT THEM WORKING WELL ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET HOME. THEY ARE STILL NOT WORKING. *JB
WIPERS BROKEN - WORK OCCASSIONALLY WHEN WIRING HARNESS "JIGGLED" - THEN STOP AGAIN.
SEAT RECLINING LEVER BROKE OFF. METAL SNAPPED INSIDE MECHANISM.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. CAUSE OF FAILURE UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME.*AK PER GENERAL MOTORS: CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. *PH *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPER EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V 159 000; BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
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.