IllustrationWINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP OPERATING UNEXPECTEDLY. THEY WILL THEN BEGIN OPERATING AGAIN AFTER BEING TURNED OFF FOR PERIOD OF TIME. RECENTLY IN EARLY APRIL 2011 AT ABOUT 91,000 MILES. THEY STOPPED WORKING SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK BEFORE LEAVING THE PARKING LOT.
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
Visibility complaints
3 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED A NEW HAVAC CONTROL HEAD, THREE MODE ACTUATORS, AND THE STORAGE TANK AND SWITCH LINE NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED OUT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/17/…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED A NEW HAVAC CONTROL HEAD, THREE MODE ACTUATORS, AND THE STORAGE TANK AND SWITCH LINE NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED OUT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/17/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/18/08. *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN CENTER OF WINDSHIELD WHEN ON, USUALLY AT EARLY MORNING STARTUP. WINDSHIELD WIPERS PARK IN CENTER OF WINDSHIELD. RENTAL VEHICLE.*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.