IllustrationTAILGATE CABLE CORRODED AND FAILED. *NM
2001 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 GMC Sonoma do not stand out strongly from 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
1525–50K
1550–75K
775–100K
3100–150K
2150K+
48 reports with mileage · 41 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 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Structure complaints
26 reportsTHE TAILGATE CABLE ON MY 2001 GMC SONOMA SNAPPED WHEN I SAT ON THE TAILGATE WHILE IT WAS IN THE LOWERED POSITION. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CABLE IS CORRODED. GMC WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE THE CABLES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE CABLES FOR THIS MODEL. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT …
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THE TAILGATE CABLE ON MY 2001 GMC SONOMA SNAPPED WHEN I SAT ON THE TAILGATE WHILE IT WAS IN THE LOWERED POSITION. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CABLE IS CORRODED. GMC WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE THE CABLES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE CABLES FOR THIS MODEL. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT AND HAS CREATED A SAFETY CONCERN ON THIS TRUCK. AS OF THIS DATE THE CABLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST GM TO FORCE THEM TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM? *NM
BOTH TAILGATE CABLES BROKE ON MY TRUCK AT THE SAME TIME. *NM
2001 GMC SONOMA, BOTH TAIL GATE CABLES BROKE WHEN I STEPPED UP ON IT TO ACCESS THE BED. THE TAIL GATE HIT THE BUMPER AND WAS SCRATCHED AND DENTED. *JB
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I OWN A 2001 GMC SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK. AFTER VERY LIMITED USE OF MY TAILGATE I EXPERIENCED A BREAKAGE OF THE CABLE THAT SUPPORTS THE TAILGATE ON MY TRUCK. IT APPEARS TO BE THAT THE STEEL CABLE HAS RUSTED INSIDE ITS PROTECTIVE PLASTIC COATING CAUSING THE CABLE TO WEAKEN. THE ENDS OF THESE CABLES HAVE A S…
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I OWN A 2001 GMC SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK. AFTER VERY LIMITED USE OF MY TAILGATE I EXPERIENCED A BREAKAGE OF THE CABLE THAT SUPPORTS THE TAILGATE ON MY TRUCK. IT APPEARS TO BE THAT THE STEEL CABLE HAS RUSTED INSIDE ITS PROTECTIVE PLASTIC COATING CAUSING THE CABLE TO WEAKEN. THE ENDS OF THESE CABLES HAVE A SHRINK-WRAP MATERIAL TO SEAL OUT MOISTURE BUT IT LOOK TO HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY ALLOWING MOISTURE TO ENTER AND RUST THE CABLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC TO NO AVAIL AND THEY REFUSE TO RECALL OR FIX THIS PROBLEM. SEEING AS GM'S LARGER TRUCKS HAVE A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE S10 / SONOMA PICKUP TRUCKS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THE ONLY THING I CAN SPECULATE IS THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE SONOMA TAILGATE CABLE COST $50 EACH FROM THE DEALER AND NO ONE HAS SUED THEM FOR INJURY AS OF YET OR THEY HAVE SETTLED OUT OF COURT. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED FROM A TAILGATE COMING DETACHED FROM THE TRUCK IN QUESTION. PAUL DAUBEL PS: HERE IS A THREAD I STARTED IN AN S10 TRUCK FORUM. IT SHOWS THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.S10FORUM.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=175244&PAGE=1&PP=30
2001 GMC SONOMA END GATE / TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE. BOTH AT THE SAME INSTANT IN THE SAME LOCATION ON THE CABLE. THIS CABLE SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER AS A FAULTY COMPONENT. *NM
WHILE LOADING A PUSH MOWER INTO TRUCK BED , CABLES SNAPPED-RUSTED THRU, BLACK VINYL SHIELD HIDE DAMAGE. I SLIPPED OFF TAILGATE AND CUT MY LEG ON SIDE OF TAILGATE WHILE FALLING.
HAVE 2001 GMC SONOMA TRUCK, BOTH TAILGATE STRAPS BROKE AT THE SAME TIME I WAS SITTING ON THE TAILGATE-WEIGH 200 LBS. GM EVIDENTLY RECALLED FULL SIZE TRUCKS BUT THE GMC SONOMA/CHEV. S-10 ARE NOT INCLUDED AND ARE HAVING THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE SAME CONSEQUENCES CERTAINLY WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY/FATALITYS AS WELL. MANY ARE HAVI…
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HAVE 2001 GMC SONOMA TRUCK, BOTH TAILGATE STRAPS BROKE AT THE SAME TIME I WAS SITTING ON THE TAILGATE-WEIGH 200 LBS. GM EVIDENTLY RECALLED FULL SIZE TRUCKS BUT THE GMC SONOMA/CHEV. S-10 ARE NOT INCLUDED AND ARE HAVING THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE SAME CONSEQUENCES CERTAINLY WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY/FATALITYS AS WELL. MANY ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I'M SURE THE NUMBER WILL GROW. GM DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS PRESENT. I WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE PARTS MYSELF BUT THEY WANTED AN ENORMOUSE $147.00 APIECE-NEED TWO, AND THAT ISN'T COUNTING LABOR. THEY MUST BE PROFITTING BIG TIME ON AS THEY KNOW THIS PART WILL FAIL OVER THE CONCERN OF SAFETY. THERE IS A DEFINITE DEFECT AND THE DEFECT THREATENS SAFETY AS WELL. GM MAY DOWNPLAY THIS TO SAVE MONEY BUT IT IS THEIR ENGINEERS,BUYERS,ETC. THAT OPTED FOR THIS QUALITY TO SAVE MONEY IN MANUFACTURING THUS AT NOW THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER'S SAFETY AND THEIR POCKETBOOK. I CAN'T BELIEVE GM IS GETTING AWAY WITH SOMETHING AS DANGEROUS AS THIS AND PROFFITTING BY NOT RECALLING AND GOUDGING THE CUSTOMER WHO BOUGHT THE GMC SONOMA'S/CHEVROLET S-10 MODEL SMALLER TRUCKS. THANKS. DOUG GILLIS DGILLIS001@COMCAST.NET
2001 GMC SONOMA TAILGATE CABLES POPPED WHEN LOADING THE TRUCK. *MR *SC *JB
TAILGATE CABLES BROKE ON MY 2001 GMC SONOMA. ONE PERSON WAS SITTING ON TAILGATE, WHEN SECOND PERSON SAT DOWN. BOTH CABLES BROKE AND DUMPED THEM ON THE GROUND. *AK
Official recalls
100V228003 · Seat Belts
Aug 7, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
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.