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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.

About this comparison →
39Owner complaints

Model-year median: 57

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
136
200089
200157
200239
20030
20041
2005
Compare all Sonoma years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
6Latches/locks/linkages
5Power Train
5Equipment
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
3Seats
3Tires
3Visibility
3Air Bags
2Parking Brake
2Suspension
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Electrical System
1Engine
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Service Brakes
1Steering
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

5 reports
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89,000 miles · Dec 6, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

THERE ARE 4 LATCHES ON 2003 GMC SONOMA TRUCK AND THREE IMPACT PERSONAL SAFETY. TAILGATE DOES NOT AS PERSON DOES NOT RIDE IN TRUCK BED. THE PASSENGER DOOR LATCHES ARE METAL. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH IS PLASTIC AND BROKE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.BOTH TIME SAME DEFECT. IN EMERGENCY IF PERSON IN JUMP SEAT CAN'T GET OUT DUE TO DEFECT…

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THERE ARE 4 LATCHES ON 2003 GMC SONOMA TRUCK AND THREE IMPACT PERSONAL SAFETY. TAILGATE DOES NOT AS PERSON DOES NOT RIDE IN TRUCK BED. THE PASSENGER DOOR LATCHES ARE METAL. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH IS PLASTIC AND BROKE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.BOTH TIME SAME DEFECT. IN EMERGENCY IF PERSON IN JUMP SEAT CAN'T GET OUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH. FOURTH LATCH IS SEAT RECLINES VIA LATCH. HANDLE HAS BROKE. IF SEAT RECLINES PERSON IN JUMP SEAT HAS TROUBLE EXITING VEHICLE. IF SEAT IS IN RECLINE PERSON CANNOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY. LATCHES ARE PLASTIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369302

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

TAILGATE FELL OFF TRUCK WHILE BEING DRIVEN. SAFETY CABLES HAD RUST, METAL FATIGUE, AND BROKE ALLOWING TAILGATE TO COMPLETELY DETACH FROM VEHICLE. NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE INJURED. TAILGATE WAS RECOVERED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344477

27,400 miles · Apr 21, 2007
Latches/locks/linkages

LT TRUCK 3RD DOOR LATCH ON GMC SONOMA (15760310) BREAKS AT TOP OF BRACKET, WITH LESS THAN 600 USES. I AM QUADRIPLEGIC AND COULD NOT ACCESS OR LOAD WHEELCHAIR DUE TO FAILURE, HAD TO FIND HELP AT OUTSIDE LOCATION AND RESIDENCE, BUT COULD RESULT IN HYPERTHERMIA OR HEAT STROKE IF OCCURRED IN REMOTE OR SECLUDED LOCATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10188494

31,198 miles · Apr 16, 2007
Latches/locks/linkages

THE 3RD DOOR LATCH ON CHEVROLET/GMC EXTENDED CABS IS SUBJECT TO FAILURE WITH FEWER THAN 1000 OPENINGS. I AM QUADRIPLEGIC AND STORE MY WHEEL CHAIR USING THE SPACE; AND HAVE HAD 2 FAILURES IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. READING BLOCS IT HAS BEEN A CONTINUED REPORTED ISSUE. SINCE THERE IS ONLY THE ONE DOOR RELEASE, AND I HAVE BEEN STRANDE…

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THE 3RD DOOR LATCH ON CHEVROLET/GMC EXTENDED CABS IS SUBJECT TO FAILURE WITH FEWER THAN 1000 OPENINGS. I AM QUADRIPLEGIC AND STORE MY WHEEL CHAIR USING THE SPACE; AND HAVE HAD 2 FAILURES IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. READING BLOCS IT HAS BEEN A CONTINUED REPORTED ISSUE. SINCE THERE IS ONLY THE ONE DOOR RELEASE, AND I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TWICE DUE TO THE FAILED PART LATCH ASSEMBLY A REDESIGN RECALL OR SECONDARY RELEASE BE ADDED AFTER BY MFG FOR ALL AFFECTED MODELS. PART NUMBER: 15760310. *AK THERE IS NO WARNING, THE PLASTIC NEEDS TO BE METAL, AND A SECONDARY RELEASE FOR EMERGENCY. PEOPLE CAN BE TRAPPED OR IN MY CASE CONFINED WITH NO WAY TO GET AWAY/OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10188037

6,980 miles · Nov 8, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LEFT DOOR HANDLE DETACHED AND MOVED FREELY WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR HANDLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LEFT DOOR HANDLE DETACHED AND MOVED FREELY WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR HANDLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED TWICE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, YET THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED.

NHTSA ODI #10172915

Official recalls

1

04V132000 · 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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.