1998 GMC Sonoma Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ..UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS PERIODICALLY STOPPED WORKING IN THE RAIN. UPDATED 09/28/11*JB

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER THEY ARE RUN. IN THE HEAVIEST RAIN YOU CANNOT COUNT ON THEM AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T COME ON AT ALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN THEY QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAIN. THEY HAVE NOT MADE IT A WHOLE TRIP IN THE RAIN AND STAYED WORKING- ALWAYS ONLY INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO PULL OVER UNTIL THEY DECIDE TO COME ON AGAIN. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. PASSENGERS SEAT SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD , AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON , LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND BRAKE DON'T COME ON. *TR

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINING LEVERS BROKEN. THIRD DOOR HANDLE BROKEN. THIRD DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. SEAT LEVERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT DIDN'T LAST. CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS PERMANENTLY? *TR

IN APRIL 2006, A BRAKE LINE ON MY 1998 GMC SONOMA PICKUP BROKE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT APPROX 50 MPH. I HAD TO STOP RATHER QUICKLY DUE TO TRAFFIC BACKING UP ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE BRAKE LINE BURST, MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, THE BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE AND DOWNSHIFT (STD SHIFT) TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE BROKEN LINE (FROM HYDRAULIC ABS TO JUNCTION) AND ALSO THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE TRUCK HAD 107,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I DECIDED TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO OTHERS, RESULTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*JB

1998 GMC SONOMA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *MR THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED IN RAINY WEATHER, THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED, THE RECLINER HANDLE HAD BROKEN OFF, AND THE HANDLE TO THE SIDE DOOR HAD BROKEN AS WELL. *SC *JB

DRIVER WAS GOING APPROX. 40MPH DOWN THE RURAL HIGHWAY IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER CAME TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA SAW THE TRUCK IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA HIT THE STOPPED TRUCK AND TOTALED THE SONOMA. AT NO POINT DID THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUSTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE FRAME TO SEPARATE INTO TWO PIECES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000...UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 10/05/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 264,477.

PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. PASSENGERS SEAT SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD , AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON , LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND BRAKE DON'T COME ON. *TR

I HAVE NOT HAD ANY WRECKS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YET. MY TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK PROPERLY ONE OF MY LOW BEEN HEADLIGHTS KEEPS BLOWING AND MY TAILLIGHTS DON'T WORK. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS JUST FOR THEM TO BLOW WHEN I TEST THEM. AND NO I DO NOT TOUCH THE GLASS ON THE HEADLIGHTS. I SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND ON THE WIRING SYSTEM, COULD THIS BE MY PROBLEM? *TR

1998 GMC SONOMA ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR A STRANGE SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY MAINTENANCED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO COMPENSATED FOR A PORTION OF THE DAMAGES. *SC

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1998 GMC SONOMA PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY OF 1999. VEHICLE PROPERLY MAINTAINED DRIVEN AS A COMMUTER VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 7,400 MILES PER YEAR. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. 59,000 MILES BEGINS TO SURGE AND SLIP. ACCELERATION IS GREATLY REDUCED WITH HARSH SHIFTING. GREATLY COMPROMISING MY SAFETY. ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3100.00 GMC WILL NOT REIMBURSE REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. MY CLAIMS WERE "DENIED" BY THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A WINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED, THEN DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER DROVE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ALL ELECTRICAL SHUTS DOWN ENGINE , EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!

DT: THE ELECTRIC WIRING FROM THE MAIN TRUNK THAT COMES FROM THE FIREWALL AND THE MOTOR SYSTEM. BRANCHED OFF FROM THE MAIN BRANCH TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WHO ONLY WORKED 67% OF THE TIME.*AK

DRIVER WAS GOING APPROX. 40MPH DOWN THE RURAL HIGHWAY IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER CAME TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA SAW THE TRUCK IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA HIT THE STOPPED TRUCK AND TOTALED THE SONOMA. AT NO POINT DID THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOY. *TR

1998 GMC SONOMA, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAIL

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINING LEVERS BROKEN. THIRD DOOR HANDLE BROKEN. THIRD DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. SEAT LEVERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT DIDN'T LAST. CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS PERMANENTLY? *TR

WINDSHIELD WIPER ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OR CIRCUIT BOARD FAILS DURING WET WEATHER CAUSING WIPER FAILURE AND LOSS OF VISIBILITY. I PERSONALLY REPLACED FAULTY WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY. *JB

DRIVER WAS GOING APPROX. 40MPH DOWN THE RURAL HIGHWAY IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER CAME TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA SAW THE TRUCK IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA HIT THE STOPPED TRUCK AND TOTALED THE SONOMA. AT NO POINT DID THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOY. *TR

STAMPED ALUMINUM SHAFT BROKE OFF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE RECLINER RELEASES WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER.*AK

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HWY, DRIVING BETWEEN 35-60 MPH BECAUSE OF ICY, SNOWY, SLUSHY, 35 MPH WINDY CONDITIONS. MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING CRAZILY AND MY TRUCK KEPT WANTING TO PULL ITSELF TO THE LEFT. I FELT BUMPING EVERY TIME THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL MADE A REVOLUTION. WITH 1 1/2 HOURS OF DRIVING TIME LEFT I KEPT HOPING I WOULD MAKE IT HOME SAFELY, WHICH I DID. I TOOK MY TRUCK IN THE NEXT DAY ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME ALL FOUR TIRES OF MINE WERE SHOT - CORDS IN TWO TIRES SNAPPED, AND BUBBLING AND THREAD/TREADWEAR IN THE OTHER TWO. GRANTED, I HAD THE TIRES FOR 7 YEARS. HOWEVER, THEY WERE 70,000 MILES TIRES THAT LASTED 31,000 MILES. PREMATURE TREADWEAR WAS EVIDENT AFTER DRIVING THE FIRST 10,000 MILES AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I MAINTAINED REGULAR TIRE ROTATION SCHEDULE THROUGHOUT. NOT ONE TIME DID MY MECHANIC MENTION ANY PROBLEMS, EVEN WHEN ASKED. KUMHO 205/75 TIRES ARE CRAP, THEY ARE GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY AND THE COMPANY KNOWS IT. DO MINIMAL RESEARCH AND YOU'LL DISCOVER THIS YOURSELF. TIRE PLACES WHO DON'T KNOW THIS HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH OR DON'T CARE. IS THAT WHO YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM? NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT ALL FOUR TIRES OF MINE NEEDED REPLACING AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THE ONES WHO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THESE TIRES, THEY BLAMED ME - 7 YEARS IS TOO LONG, DIDN'T ROTATE TIRES ENOUGH, DIDN'T INSPECT THEM MYSELF EVERY TIME I HOPPED IN MY TRUCK, MY TRUCK SAT TOO LONG WITHOUT BE DRIVEN, ALIGNMENTS NOT DONE EVERY YEAR, NOBODY HAS EVER COMPLAINED ABOUT KUMHO TIRES (BIG FAT LIE!), THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS (BIGGER, FATTEST LIE), BLAH BLAH BLAH! SOUNDS LIKE A CONSPIRACY TO ME. GET KUMHO TIRES OFF THE SHELVES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! *TR

I LOST THE TREAD ON ONE OF MY TOYO TIRES AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. IT COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE! IT WAS THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND CALL FOR HELP. I'VE ALREADY HAD IT REPLACED BUT THE DEALER I WENT TO (DISCOUNT TIRES) WHERE I PURCHASED THE DEFECTIVE ONE TOLD ME THEY ARE GOOD TIRES AND CONVINCED ME TO BUY ANOTHER TOYO. NOW I'M WORRIED. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. PASSENGERS SEAT SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD , AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON , LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND BRAKE DON'T COME ON. *TR

I HAVE NOT HAD ANY WRECKS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YET. MY TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK PROPERLY ONE OF MY LOW BEEN HEADLIGHTS KEEPS BLOWING AND MY TAILLIGHTS DON'T WORK. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS JUST FOR THEM TO BLOW WHEN I TEST THEM. AND NO I DO NOT TOUCH THE GLASS ON THE HEADLIGHTS. I SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND ON THE WIRING SYSTEM, COULD THIS BE MY PROBLEM? *TR

STARTED OFF WITH A SUDDEN FAILURE TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY THEN CORRECTED ITSELF; ON AND OFF FOR A FEW WEEKS. DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WAS FAILING TO RETURN TO STARTING POSITION; REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER TO ELIMINATE SOFT PEDAL BUT STILL STICKING AND NOT RETURNING TO STARTING POSITION. CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *NLM

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AND DROPS INTO NEUTRAL FOR 1-2 SECONDS, AND THEN GOES BACK INTO GEAR, CAUSING A REVVING IN ENGINE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN JULY 2000, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION STICKING IN GEAR. SAME DEALER CLAIMS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES STUCK GEAR RESULTED IN AN ENGINE BRAKE CONDITION IN A REDUCED SPEED ZONE WHERE VEHICLE SPEED IS SUDDENLY REDUCED WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS ON, CONSUMER FOUND TSB 99-07-30-005 REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND STATED THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER THIS WAS NOT BEEN DONE UNTIL THE VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY FAILED WHICH CAUSED 3RD GEAR TO LOCK ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSUME RWANTS GM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *SLC

1998 GMC SONOMA PICK UP WITH 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE FUEL LINE MOUNTING BRACKET LOCATED ON THE BELL HOUSING RUBBED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE ALLOWING GASOLINE TO DRIP ON THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE. IT TOOK THREE DEALERS AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO FIND THE LEAK. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND REFUSED TO REPAIR OR ASSIST IN REPAIR WITH ESTIMATED COST OF $400-$600. THIS LEAK PRESENTED AN EXTREME FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD. I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF A GAS LINE RUBBING THROUGH ON ANY VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS ANYTHING BUT A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *JB

I HAVE HAD TWO OF THE SIX INJECTORS ON THIS TRUCK REPLACED. EACH AT A DIFFERENT TIME, NOW, IT SEEMS AS IF MORE THAN ONE HAS GONE ON THE BLINK. NOT SURE WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING, BUT IT IS RATHER EXPENSIVE TO KEEP REPLACING THESE ONE AT A TIME. I ALSO DUG UP A WEBSITE THAT SHOWS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE INJECTORS; HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT MAY ONLY APPLY TO CALIFORNIA VEHICLES. THE ARTICLE IS AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: HTTP://WWW.ARB.CA.GOV/NEWSREL/NR021103.HTM *LA

CONSUMER PUSHED HANDLE TO RECLINE SEAT WHEN THE HANDLE FELL OFF. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, SHOULDER BELT DIDN'T HOLD CONSUMER FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

A/C CLUTCH FAILED. NLM

UNCCCEPTABLE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED., UNSATISFACTORY DEALER REPAIRS, SERVICE, AND SATISFACTION. NO SAFETY EFECTS LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK