IllustrationCONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*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 reportsWIPER COVER CIRCUIT BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *MR THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*TS *JB
1998 GMC SONOMA 2WD HAS IDENTICAL WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MALFUNCTION TO ALREADY RECALLED 1997 SONOMAS. CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS IN THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD CAUSES WIPER FAILURE. THE 1998 SONOMA'S NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GM RECALL.*AK
MY WIPERS ON MY 1998 SONOMA PICK-UP STOPPED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAIN STORM WHILE I WAS DRIVING A 70MPH. I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT CRASHING. AFTER WAITING FOR THIRTY MINUITES I COULD GET THEM TO OPERATE ON LOW SPEED IN ORDER TO GET HOME. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THESE WIPERS…
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MY WIPERS ON MY 1998 SONOMA PICK-UP STOPPED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAIN STORM WHILE I WAS DRIVING A 70MPH. I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT CRASHING. AFTER WAITING FOR THIRTY MINUITES I COULD GET THEM TO OPERATE ON LOW SPEED IN ORDER TO GET HOME. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THESE WIPERS. ON OTHER OCCASSIONS I HAVE TURNED THEM ON TO WIPE INTERMITTENTLY AND THEY GO TO CONSTANT WIPING AND I CANNOT GET THEM TO TURN OFF. I HEARD OF A RECALL, BUT HAVE RECIEVED NO NOTICE OF THIS RECALL AND WHEN INVESTIGATING IT ON THE WEB, I HAVE COME ACROSS SEVERAL POSTINGS WHERE GMC DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELL FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I AM POSTING THIS IN THE HOPES OF GETTING THE PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS CRASH AND LAWSUIT.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOP WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING RAIN. THEY WILL RESUME WHEN THEY DRY OUT. *NLM
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. WAS TRAVELING THROUGH DOWNTOWN DALLAS IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN THE WIPERS STOPPED AND I HAD TO STOP IMMEDIATELY ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAIT FOR THEM TO START WORKING AGAIN. TOOK TO A REPAIR SHOP IN OKLAHOMA AND HAD THE CONNECTIONS CLEANED AND…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. WAS TRAVELING THROUGH DOWNTOWN DALLAS IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN THE WIPERS STOPPED AND I HAD TO STOP IMMEDIATELY ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAIT FOR THEM TO START WORKING AGAIN. TOOK TO A REPAIR SHOP IN OKLAHOMA AND HAD THE CONNECTIONS CLEANED AND EVENTUALLY RE-SOLDERED. WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND WILL PROBABLY NEED TO REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR? *NLM
PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. PASSENGERS SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD WITH ALMOST EVERY PRESS OF THE GAS AND BRAKE. ALONG WITH THE BROKEN RECLINER LEVER(BOTH SIDES) WHICH HAS LEFT THE SEAT IN A SEMI-RECLINED POSITION, MY PASSENGERS ARE IN FOR A NOT SO PLEASANT RIDE. *JB
THE HANDLES THAT RECLINE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE OFF WITH VERY LITTLE FORCE. MY PASSENGER SEAT IS ALWAYS SLIGHTLY RECLINED NOW AND MY DRIVER'S SEAT IS STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A RECALL AND ACCORDING TO THEM ITS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. MY WARRANTY IS UP B…
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THE HANDLES THAT RECLINE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE OFF WITH VERY LITTLE FORCE. MY PASSENGER SEAT IS ALWAYS SLIGHTLY RECLINED NOW AND MY DRIVER'S SEAT IS STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A RECALL AND ACCORDING TO THEM ITS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. MY WARRANTY IS UP BUT I FEEL THIS GOES BEYOND WARRANTY AND IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *JB
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
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.