RoadVitals

1999 GMC Sonoma

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
57
Latest Dec 28, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 12, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 57 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 GMC Sonoma, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and interior & seats categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 95 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E021000

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

Mar 12, 2007
742 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
DELPHIView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 57
Airbags
Filed Dec 28, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON A FLOODED DIRT ROAD, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH. AFTER THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS DELAYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CRACKED PELVIS, BROKEN FACIAL BONES, OPTIC NERVE DAMAGE, AND OTHER SEVERE INJURIES TO THE FACE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED BACK WINDSHIELD EXPLODED AND FRAME WAS BENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
11057130
Incident
Nov 22, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 13, 2017

DURING A PANIC STOP THE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES FELT SOFT BUT STILL WORKED. DURING THE DRIVE THE BRAKES BECAME VERY WEAK. WHEN I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID IT WAS EMPTY. I REFILLED IT AND STARTED CHECKING FOR LEAKS. I FOUND THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES WE FRACTURED BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE DURING THE PANIC STOP CAUSING THE RUSTED LINES TO BURST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ( BUT NOT REPORTED) PROBLEM FOR THIS TRUCK IN THE NORTHERN AREA..

NHTSA ID
11054621
Incident
Oct 8, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING OVER UNLEVELED LAND. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID
10733308
Incident
Nov 5, 2014
Mileage
180,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 19, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID
10726262
Incident
Jun 18, 2015
Mileage
156,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 25, 2013

BRAKE LINE HYDRAULIC FAILURE OF HARD STEEL LINE. THE LINE THAT BROKE GOES TO THE BACK WHEELS ALONG THE FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10494706
Incident
Nov 18, 2012
Mileage
165,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 29, 2011

MY 1999 GMC SONOMA HAS HAD A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IT WAS TAKEN INTO JIM CAUSLEY'S PONTIAC/GMC IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI ONCE FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED. SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A BAD VEHICLE GROUND. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS TO THIS DAY. THE ONLY WAY I CAN AVOID RUNNING OUT OF GAS IS TO RESET THE TRIP ODOMETER EVERY TIME I FILL-UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10398309
Incident
Nov 10, 1999
Mileage
8,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 4, 2009
1 injury reported

WHILE STEPPING OFF OF TAILGATE, BOTH CABLES SNAPPED AND THE TAILGATE FELL OFF OF PICKUP. NO BROKEN BONES, BUT BUMPS AND SCRAPES. CABLES ARE SEALED, EXCEPT FOR THE ENDS, WHERE WATER MUST HAVE GOTTEN INTO THEM AND CORRODED THE CABLE FROM THE INSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10291011
Incident
Nov 3, 2009
Mileage
125,501 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 5, 2009

I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHEVY/GMC VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING A LAGGING START AND IN SOME CASES NO START WITHOUT A BOOST. MY SONOMA HAS THE LAG AND I HAVE A FEW FRIENDS THAT HAVE BLAZERS AND FULL SIZE TRUCKS AS WELL. THE VARIATION OF ENGINE SIZES THAT ARE AFFECTED HAS ME PERPLEXED. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO RUN CODES WITH NO FAULT RESULTS. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I ATTEMPT A STARTUP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10253811
Incident
Mar 26, 2003
Mileage
26,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIT3227S

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. Please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle.

17-NA-073

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

PIT3227R

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. Please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle.

PIP4723F

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIT3227Q

EQUIPMENT

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have slack in one of the tailgate cables. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. Please communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle.

PIP4723D

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Sonoma by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006000—
2005100—
2004011—
2003391039.9
2002570034.3
2001891147.5
20001364158.0
1999Viewing571043.8
19981564049.4
19971113259.3
19961489056.8
19952137262.6
19942246159.1
1993584161.5
1992253158.5
1991292158.1
1990100—
1989000—
1988000—
1987000—
1986000—
1985000—
1984100—
1983000—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.