IllustrationTHE VENTILATION SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE WORKS AT START UP BUT ABOUT 20 MIN. LATER THE FORCED AIR FLOW STOPS, THE MOTOR STILL MAKES THE SOUND AS IF IT IS STILL IN OPERATION BUT THERE IS NO AIR FLOW, FOG BUILD UP ON THE WINDSHIELD CAN NOT BE CLEARED CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. NLM
2000 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sonoma years
Owner complaints for the 2000 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
60–25K
2025–50K
1950–75K
1275–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
63 reports with mileage · 73 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.
- Structure. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
136 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER DRIVER STRUCK CONSUMER HEAD-ON AND NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
WHILE ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR, IT WILL SLAM ON IT. ACCORDING TO CONSUMER, VEHICLE IS NOT RELIABLE ENOUGH TO BE DRIVEN. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAREND COLLISION WHITH ANOTHER CAR AT 50-60 MPH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DIFFERENCE IN SPEED OF VEHICLES WAS 15-20 MPH. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES TOO QUICKLY, CAUSING A COLLISION TO OCCUR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN, THERE WAS NO BRAKES OR STEERING. CONSUMER WAS ON THE HIGWAY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AFTER BEING TURNED ON. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY. BEEN IN CONTACTED WITH DEALERSHIP & FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK THE HEAD LIGHTS GO ON OUTOMATICALLY AT DUSK AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN IT OFF. WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILED, THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING A…
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WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AFTER BEING TURNED ON. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY. BEEN IN CONTACTED WITH DEALERSHIP & FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK THE HEAD LIGHTS GO ON OUTOMATICALLY AT DUSK AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN IT OFF. WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILED, THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH. POSSIBLY A CIRCUIT BREAKER KICKED OFF KILLING ALL LIGHTS IN VEHICLE. *YH
WHILE DRIVING SOUTH O I-77 AT ABOUT 10 PM, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OFF. LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE AUTOMATIC:IE, THEY GO ON WHEN IT GETS DARK. I WAS ON A DARK SECTION OF THE INTERSTATE WITH NO SURRONDING TRAFFIC, WHICH IS PROBABLY A GOOD THING BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHERE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I WAS TERRIFIED BUT MANAGED TO…
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WHILE DRIVING SOUTH O I-77 AT ABOUT 10 PM, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OFF. LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE AUTOMATIC:IE, THEY GO ON WHEN IT GETS DARK. I WAS ON A DARK SECTION OF THE INTERSTATE WITH NO SURRONDING TRAFFIC, WHICH IS PROBABLY A GOOD THING BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHERE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I WAS TERRIFIED BUT MANAGED TO COME TO A STOP WITHOUT RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD EASILY RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. I TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON MANUALLY, BUT THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM STAYED OFF. THE NEXT DAY, THE SYSTEM SEEMED OK. I SUSPECT A CIRCUIT BREAKER CUT OFF, BUT THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TO CHECK IT AND WHEN I CALLED GM CONSUMER RELATIONS, THEY DIDN'T SEEM INTERESTED. I HAVE SINCE HEARD OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON A ONE-WEEK OLD CHEVY S-10, THE SAME TRUCK AS THE SONOMA (DIFFERENT GRILL). HOW MANY MORE LIGHT SYSTEM PROBLEMS ARE OUT THERE?
SINCE I GOT THIS VEHICLE ON 9/26/00 I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND FLASH, CAUSING ME TO THINK IT MAY SHUT DOWN ON THE THRUWAY LEAVING ME TERRIFIED. ATLEAST 40 TIMES I WOULD GET INTO THIS VEHICLE AND IT VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START, IF LEFT SIT ALONE FOR 10-15 MIN. I…
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SINCE I GOT THIS VEHICLE ON 9/26/00 I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND FLASH, CAUSING ME TO THINK IT MAY SHUT DOWN ON THE THRUWAY LEAVING ME TERRIFIED. ATLEAST 40 TIMES I WOULD GET INTO THIS VEHICLE AND IT VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START, IF LEFT SIT ALONE FOR 10-15 MIN. IT WOULD START NO PROBLEM. WELL I DONT HAVE 10 MIN TO WAIT EVERY TIME I NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE. THE DOORS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE KEEP FALLING OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSING AN UNTRUE SEAL AND ALLOWING FOR WATER TO LEAK IN TO THE TRUCK. THIS LEAK HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REAK OF MILDEW ON THE INSIDE , WELL THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO DEAL WITH. I HAVE CHRONIC ASTHMA AND BAD ALLERGIES WHICH TRIGGER ATTACKS, THE LAST TIME I PICKED IT BACK UP FROM SUPPOSEDLY BEING FREE FROM SMELL , IT STILL REAKED OF MILDEW AND I DID NOT EVEN GET HOME FROM DEALER BEFORE I STARTED TO WEEZE FROM ASTHMA ATTACK SYMPTONS. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR GMC 3 TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY AFTER TIME AND I WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT, I WAS ALSO TOLD THIS AT THE DEALER. THIS WAS THE 5TH TIME I TOOK IN FOR THE SMELL AND MISCELANOUS THINGS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE SMELL WAS NEVER FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT NOTED ON THE BILL THE FIRST 4 TIMES, AGAIN NOT MY PROBLEM. I COULD GO ON FOREVER , BUT I WILL SAVE IT FOR THE PHONE. I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK FOR 5 DAYS, AND IT IS GOING BACK TO THE DEALER ON 7/26 TO FIX THE SMELL AND REPAINT THE DOOR ROCKER THAT WAS SCRATCHED BY THE DEALER WHEN ALIGNMENT OF THE DOOR TOOK PLACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND URGENCY , I AM AT MY END WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND NEED AN ALLYE?*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A CHEVY FULL SIZE PICK-UP AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH. BOTH ABS/AIR BAGS FAILED TO OPERATE/DEPLOY. VEHICLE LEFT A SKID MARK OF 20 FEET OR MORE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK
Official recalls
300V258001 · Equipment:other:labels
Sep 8, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INCORRECT PAYLOAD INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL. THE PAYLOAD SHOWN ON THE LABEL IS GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM VALIDATED PAYLOAD. IF THE VEHICLE WERE LOADED TO THE INCORRECTLY LABELED PAYLOAD, IT MAY NOT RIDE AND HANDLE IN THE MANNER THAT THE DRIVER EXPECTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OR AN INABILITY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHIN EXPECTED STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A NEW LABEL FOR INSTALLATION ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE VEHICLE.
00V055000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Feb 28, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MOTOR CONTAINING AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION SPRING CLIP. THIS CLIP COULD ALLOW THE MOTOR BEARING TO BECOME MISALIGNED. IF MISALIGNMENT OCCURS, EVENTUALLY THE ABS WOULD BE NON-FUNCTIONAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BASE BRAKES WOULD REMAIN FULLY FUNCTIONAL, BUT THE DYNAMIC REAR PROPORTIONING (DRP) SYSTEM, WHICH OPTIMIZES FRONT TO REAR BRAKE BALANCE, WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULE VALVE ASSEMBLY.
99V220000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Aug 11, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: S -TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 2 WHEEL DRIVE. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE HAD THE RIGHT-HAND ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE FEED PIPE AND/OR BRAKE CROSSOVER PIPE TUBE NUTS TIGHTENED WITHOUT SEATING THE PIPE-FLARED-ENDS ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND NORMAL ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE INPUTS WITHOUT PARTIALLY UNSEATING. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC SERVICE BRAKE NORMAL, EMERGENCY, AND PARK BRAKING PERFORMANCE."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED, THE SEATING SEAL COULD BE BROKEN DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY, OR FROM EARLY ROAD INPUTS OR BRAKE FLUID CYCLING, AND A LEAK COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE PIPE UNION FOR SIGNS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW BRAKE PIPE UNION.
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
1PE02066 · Engine Stall Due To Fuel Starvation
Opened Sep 6, 2002 · Closed Nov 3, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump; Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Fuel System, Gasoline
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Fuel System, Other
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.