IllustrationAFTER DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A STOP BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
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 reports2000 GMC SONOMA, THIRD DOOR AND HANDLE. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (USED) AND WARRANTY EXPIRED I'VE NOTICED THAT THE THIRD DOOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO OPEN, NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH IT I ASSUMED IT WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE HANDLE BROKE AND YOU COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE HANDLE FOR IT. I WENT TO A LOCAL G…
Read full complaint
2000 GMC SONOMA, THIRD DOOR AND HANDLE. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (USED) AND WARRANTY EXPIRED I'VE NOTICED THAT THE THIRD DOOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO OPEN, NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH IT I ASSUMED IT WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE HANDLE BROKE AND YOU COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE HANDLE FOR IT. I WENT TO A LOCAL GMC DEALERSHIP AND PURCHASED ANOTHER HANDLE ASSEMBLY, ASKED ABOUT ANY RECALLS, OR BULLETINS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING IN THEIR SYSTEM, OR GMC'S, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT I WAS NOT THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I ALSO FOUND A BULLETIN IN A SONOMA WEBSITE/GROUP ONLINE, CONTACTED GMC AND FINALLY GOT THEM TO RESEARCH THE BULLETIN # AND WAS TOLD "YES" THERE IS A BULLETIN, IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE SYSTEM, THEN I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO ANALYZE WHAT CAUSED THE HANDLE TO BREAK AT MY EXPENSE, AS FRUSTRATED AS I WAS I WENT HOME AND FIXED IT THE BEST I COULD BY FOLLOWING THE BULLETIN, BOTTOM LINE THE BULLETIN STATES THAT THE LOCK RODS ARE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED CAUSING TO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE HANDLE, WHICH IN TURN BREAKS THE HANDLE AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHEN TRYING TO OPEN IT. WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS IF THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT THAN THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A REOCCURING PROBLEM WITH THE SAME OUTCOME, YET THEY FEEL THEY STILL HAVE TO ANALYZE WHAT CAUSES EACH HANDLE TO BREAK?*AK
TAILGATE CABLES BROKE WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER INDICATED SONOMA WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GM RECALL YEARS 200-2004.*AK
TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE, TAILGATE WAS DENTED BY BUMPER. *AK
WHILE STANDING ON THE TAILGATE WASHING THE VEHICLE BOTH TAILGATE CABLES SNAPPED. *AK
AFTER HEARING OF THE DODGE DURANGO BALL JOINT ISSUE (HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/STORIES/2003/10/27/EVENINGNEWS/MAIN580233.SHTML) I DECIDED TO WRITE.*AK I HAVE A 2000 GMC SONOMA. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE FRONT-END STEERING COMPONENTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IDLER ARM THREE TIME…
Read full complaint
AFTER HEARING OF THE DODGE DURANGO BALL JOINT ISSUE (HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/STORIES/2003/10/27/EVENINGNEWS/MAIN580233.SHTML) I DECIDED TO WRITE.*AK I HAVE A 2000 GMC SONOMA. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE FRONT-END STEERING COMPONENTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IDLER ARM THREE TIMES ALREADY. TWO OF THESE TIMES WERE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. ALSO, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE PORTIONS OF THE TIE-RODS TWICE, AS WELL AS BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS. I FIND THIS IS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE TALKED TO MY DEALER ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THEY TOLD ME, "IT'S JUST THE WAY TO FRONT-ENDS WERE DESIGNED." FORTUNATELY I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE FOR PARTS AND LABOR. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IN TERMS OF SAFETY. I TRAVEL QUITE A BIT WITH THIS VEHICLE, AS ONE CAN SEE BY THE MILEAGE. I WONDER IF OTHER SONOMA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. I ALSO WONDER IF GMC IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
DEALER REPLACED TWICE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT. *AK
TWICE IN THREE YEARS THE ACCELARATOR CABLE BROKE, LEAVING US SITTING IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME WAS APPROX 3-4 WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND WILL NOT COVER/HONOR THEIR OWN REPAIRS FROM THREE YEARS AGO. WE ARE HAVING TO PAY FOR THE CABLE REPAIR…
Read full complaint
TWICE IN THREE YEARS THE ACCELARATOR CABLE BROKE, LEAVING US SITTING IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME WAS APPROX 3-4 WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND WILL NOT COVER/HONOR THEIR OWN REPAIRS FROM THREE YEARS AGO. WE ARE HAVING TO PAY FOR THE CABLE REPAIR AND NOW FEEL THAT FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 30K MILES-THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU.*AK
DOOR HINGE PINS BREAKAGE RESULTING IN DOOR FALLING OFF TRUCK. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *NLM
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.