IllustrationABOUT A YEAR AGO HAD ONE STEEL BRAKE LINBE BUST BECAUSE OF RUSTED. NOW TODAY IN MY YARD HIT BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT TO FLOOR AGAIN. RUSTED BRAKE LINE AGAIN. HAVE OTHER BRAKE LINES RUSTED VERY BAD. *TT
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 →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
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
4 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…
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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
DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF VEHICLE HANDLING PROBLEMS SINCE 5000 MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 9-10 TIMES. THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED, AND BELIEVED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE STILL BAD. ALSO, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING BOX. …
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DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF VEHICLE HANDLING PROBLEMS SINCE 5000 MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 9-10 TIMES. THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED, AND BELIEVED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE STILL BAD. ALSO, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING BOX. THIS WAS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. WITH ANY WIND THE VEHICLE WAS BLOWN AROUND. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID IT WOULD MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE, BUT IT WAS NOT STATED ON THE SERVICE REPAIR SHEET. AT ONE POINT LOCK TIGHT WAS PUT ON THE BOLTS TO KEEP THEM FROM COMING LOOSE.*AK THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. *JB
WHEN BRAKING LEFT REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO PULL TO THE LEFT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK *MR
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.