IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
2003 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 GMC Sonoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 57.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →39Owner complaints
Model-year median: 57
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2003 GMC Sonoma
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 39 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Structure: 6 reports
- Latches/locks/linkages: 5 reports
- Power Train: 5 reports
- Equipment: 4 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sonoma years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
80–25K
925–50K
550–75K
475–100K
2100–150K
0150K+
28 reports with mileage · 11 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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
2 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONTAL DAMAGE AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALE…
Read full complaint
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONTAL DAMAGE AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED BUT NO APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE FOR INSPECTION. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - THE CONSUMER HAS BACK PAIN AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. *NM
Recall campaigns
104V132000 · Equipment:other:labels
Mar 18, 2004
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE INCORRECT STATEMENTS ON ONE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.