IllustrationDRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP I HEARD MY SPARE TIRE HIT THE GROUND WITH THE SUPPORT CABLE AND OTHER METAL PIECES. LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND FOUND THAT THE CABLE JUST SNAP. *TR
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
Structure complaints
6 reportsTAILGATE 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
WHEN STANDING ON THE TAILGATE THE TAILGATE SUPPORT STRAPS SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE DRIVER DOOR SEEMED TO BE OFF THE HINGES WHICH ALLOWED AIR AND WATER TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THE CONSUMER CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *NM *JB
I HAVE A GMC"03"SONOMA 4X4 X2.....THE FRONT TIRES HIT FRONT SWAY BAR EACH TIME I TURN INTO PARKING SPOT,OR JUST TURN AROUND.TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAY IT WAS A HARMLESSS SIDE AFFECT OF THE TYPE OF TRUCK PACKAGE I HAVE!!BOTH SIDES OF SWAY BARS SHOW THE RUBBING...I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY CAR THAT ALLOWS THE TIRES TO HIT ANY UNDERCAR…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A GMC"03"SONOMA 4X4 X2.....THE FRONT TIRES HIT FRONT SWAY BAR EACH TIME I TURN INTO PARKING SPOT,OR JUST TURN AROUND.TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAY IT WAS A HARMLESSS SIDE AFFECT OF THE TYPE OF TRUCK PACKAGE I HAVE!!BOTH SIDES OF SWAY BARS SHOW THE RUBBING...I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY CAR THAT ALLOWS THE TIRES TO HIT ANY UNDERCARRIAGE PART.WHAT CAN I DO? *AK
CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS STRUCTURE COMPLAINT.*AK
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.