Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
31
Latest Dec 29, 2006
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 148 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 GMC Sonoma submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming visibility
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED CONCERNING A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER MOTOR. THE BULLETIN HAS A PRODUCT RECALL. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN TOLD BY GMC THAT THE CAR WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL\ DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL EITHER STAY UP IN THE AIR, WON'T WORK AT ALL, OR SHUT OFF BY THEMSELVES. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS ON DECEMBER 26, 2006. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN IN JULY 2006. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY GAVE HER A SERVICE REQUEST NO. 71-463971283, AND THEN THE DEALER DENIED IT. *AK
NHTSA ID
10177343
Incident
Dec 26, 2006
Mileage
85,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 3, 2003
WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK
NHTSA ID
10038124
Incident
Sep 3, 2003
Visibility
Filed Dec 4, 2002
WIPERS HAVE BEEN INTERMIDENTLY FAILING OVER A SEVERAL YEAR PERIOD BUT NOW HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND LAST LONGER. DT
NHTSA ID
770435
Incident
Dec 4, 2002
Visibility
Filed Oct 30, 2002
Crash reported
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED WIPERS TO FAIL MOSTLY DURING RAINY WEATHER. *TT
NHTSA ID
8021948
Incident
Oct 17, 2002
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 6, 2002
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AS INDICATED IN RECALL 98-V-15-001; BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *YH
NHTSA ID
8009201
Incident
Feb 3, 2002
Visibility
Filed Oct 17, 2001
WIPERS WILL JUST STOP WORKING GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESRCIBED IN A GMC RECALL ON SAME MODELS. MY TRUCK WAS MADE THE NEXT MONTH AFTER THE RECALL WAS STOPPED. I THINK THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE GONE ON FURTHER THAN IT DID COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED TRUCKS. *AK
NHTSA ID
753323
Visibility
Filed Sep 4, 2001
I CALLED GMC AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE WIPER MOTOR PROBLEM, THEY SAID THAT MY TRUCKS' VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL THAT HAD BEEN DONE ON OTHER 1996 GMC SONOMAS OF THE SAME YEAR. MY TRUCK HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS THE OTHER 1.2 MILLION RECALLED S10 & S15 TRUCKS BUT GMC CORP. SAYS THAT IT IS NOT RELATED. ( NHTSA RECALL #98V150001) I FEEL THAT THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO COVER TRUCKS OF THE SAME YEAR THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE GMC RECALL IS FOR TRUCKS BUILD FROM 8-94 TO 5-96. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED BECAUSE SEVERAL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT.*AK
NHTSA ID
751618
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Visibility
Filed Mar 29, 2001
WHEN CONSUME RIS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WINDSHIELD ISN'T PROPERLY IN PLACE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ID
884622
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
TransmissionVisibility
Filed Mar 14, 2001
WHILE EXITING FROM HIGHWAY CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO DOWN SHIFT FROM FORTH GEAR TO THIRD GEAR, BUT IT WOULD ONLY GO TO SECOND GEAR. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY.*AK
NHTSA ID
883038
Incident
Mar 14, 1997
Visibility
Filed Feb 28, 2001
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SOMETIMES FAILS TO OPERATE OR CONTINUE TO OPERATE WHEN SWITCH IS ENGAGED.*AK
NHTSA ID
741703
Incident
Sep 22, 2000
Visibility
Filed Jan 18, 2001
MY WINDSHIELD MODULE WENT OUT AND I WAS TOLD THAT GMC HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MODULES, I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RECALL WAS STOPPED THE PRIOR YEAR TO MY VEHICLE BEING BUILT. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THE TOLD ME THAT EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL ENDED GMC STILL HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH LATER MODEL VEHICLE WITH THE SAME WIPER MODULE DEFECT. I CALLED GMC AND THEY COULD SUPPLY NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE RECALL STOPPED EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. THANKS JOHN MILLER. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, ELECTRICAL PROBLEM RELATED TO POSITIONING OF MOTOR(ELECTRIC). I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTOPARTS DEALER THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS OF BAD MOTORS. I KNOW OF TWO FRIENDS WITH SIMILAR VEHICELS (CHEVY BLAZER AND CHEVY S-10 TRUCK) WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WIPERS WILL WORK FINE SOMETIMES AND THEN JUST STOP IN MID-STROKE. I WAS DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN FIRST OCCURRED. I MOVED WIRING AND THE WIPERS WOULD CUT ON AND OFF, I FOUND THAT IT IS THE WIPER MOTOR HOUSING AND NOT THE WIRES. WEDGED A STICK BETWEEN WIPER MOTOR AND HOUSING AND THEY WORKED FOR A WHILE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY TO THIS STYLE OF VEHICLE AND POTENTIALLY A VERY HAZARDOUS ONE TOO. IF ALL OF THE AUTO PARTS DEALERS ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THIS IS TRUE MAYBE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED BECAUSE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE!*AK
NHTSA ID
735462
Incident
Sep 15, 2000
Visibility
Filed Sep 28, 2000
THE DEALER SAID THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE MY VIN DID NOT COVER DATES OF MANUFACTURE. HOWEVER MY PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE ONE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. GMC ALSO SAID MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.*AK
NHTSA ID
732755
Incident
Jan 5, 2000
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2000
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO A BAD CIRCUT BOARD. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL.*AK
NHTSA ID
867947
Visibility
Filed Aug 8, 2000
WHILE DRIVING AND USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY WILL QUIT WITHOUT A WARNING. *AK SOME TIMES WIPERS WILL NEVER OPERTE AT ALL. *YH
NHTSA ID
867205
Incident
Aug 8, 2000
Visibility
Filed Jul 13, 2000
WIPERS STOP WORKING REPAIRED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD. *ET
NHTSA ID
553005
Visibility
Filed Jun 29, 2000
THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER TRUCKS WITH DIFFERENT VIN NUMBERS. PLEASE EXPAND THE VIN NUMBERS IN THIS RECALL (98V150000) TO INCLUDE ALL SONOMA'S. THANK YOU.O SAFETY DEFECT LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
724773
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Visibility
Filed Jun 16, 2000
UPON USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHILE IT WAS RAINING THEY OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
863681
Visibility
Filed Jun 8, 2000
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENLY AFTER BEING TURNED ON. WOULD STOP WITH ANY WARNING. ALSO, HUMMING NOISES WOULD BE COMING FROM WIPER MOTOR. CONTACTED BOTH MANUFACTURER & DEALERSHIP. INDICATED THE CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ID
863288
Incident
Jan 2, 2000
BrakesTransmissionVisibility
Filed Apr 16, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
721530
Incident
Feb 17, 1999
Visibility
Filed Apr 7, 2000
I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IF ANY RECALLED DEFECTS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED ON MY VEHICLE...A LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THE ONLY THING THEY KNOW ABOUT RECALLS DEALS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS.....AND NOTHING ELSE HAS BEEN SENT TO THEM CONCERNING ANY OTHER RECALLS DEALING WITH 1996 GMC SONOMA SLS 4 CYL, 5 SPD. *AK
NHTSA ID
711106
Visibility
Filed Feb 1, 2000
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. SAW RECALL NOTICE # 98V150001 ON THIS WEB SITE BUT HAD NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. CALLED GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN. *AK
NHTSA ID
718167
Visibility
Filed Jan 22, 2000
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING . DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ID
841850
Incident
Feb 1, 1999
Visibility
Filed Dec 30, 1999
MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY MULTIPLE RECALLS BECAUSE IT IS NOT IN THE GMC LIST OF VEHICLES PER ITS VIN NUMBER. THIS IS, INSPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED OTHER SONOMA RECALLS. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE 1995-96 GMC JIMMYS OF WHICH THE SONOMA IS VIRTUALLY THE SAME IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. GMC AS WELL AS THE DEALER HAVE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM OF THIS VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH INFORMATION FROM THIS SITE WAS PRESENTED TO BOTH THE GMC. DEALER AND THE GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. I WAS TOLD BY THE ASSISTANCE CENTER THAT I SHOULD HAVE IT FIXED AS IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT NOW THEY ARE ON RECORD AS STATING THAT THEY RECOMMENDED HAVING IT REPAIRED. BUT THEY REFUSED TO INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE IN THE GENERAL RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ID
716665
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own