1999 GMC Sonoma Owner Complaints

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THIS MESSAGE WAS ORIGINALLY SENT TO MY BROTHER ADVISING HIM OF THIS PROBLEM. BELOW IS THE EXPLANATION. IMAGINE THE TRUCK HAS A COUPLE OF TOW HOOKS ON THE FRONT END LIKE MINE DID. I WOULD BE CAREFUL USING THEM TO PULL THE VEHICLE OUT OF A HOLE ,USING ANYTHING OTHER THAN A CHAIN. CONVERSELY THE SAME WOULD APPLY IF ON WAS USING THEM TO PULL SOMETHING.*AK I HAVE BEEN USING MINE TO PULL THINGS FROM TIME TO TIME BUT MOSTLY TO RAISE THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK FOR OIL CHANGES ETC. TODAY LIKE ALWAYS, I USED MY AIR BUMPER JACK TO ENGAGE THE TWO HOOKS AND LIFT THE VEHICLE TO WORK ON. BECAUSE THE AIR JACK IS OLD AND LEAKS, WHEN YOU GET TO THE HEIGHT YOU WANT, IN A MOMENT OR TWO, THE JACK WILL USUALLY SETTLE BACK DOWN A BIT UNTIL IT ENGAGES THE SAFETY STOP. THIS USUALLY RESULTS IN A CLUNK AND SOME G LOAD TO THE HOOKS WHEN IT STOPS. TODAY WHEN IT SETTLED ONTO THE STOP, BOTH HOOKS FAILED AT THE FIRST ATTACHING BOLTS! THE AIR JACK VAULTED INTO THE AIR AND THE TRUCK CAME CRASHING DOWN TO THE GROUND. IN ANOTHER MOMENT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HALF UNDER IT PLACING THE JACK STANDS! WHEN I THINK BACK, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I CHANGED THE OIL AND DID OTHER SERVICE WORK ON IT WITH NO SAFETY STANDS, AS THE AIR JACK HAS A SECURE SAFETY LATCH AND THE JACK PADS AND THE TOW HOOKS HAVE A POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT. IN LOOKING AT THE FAILURE, THERE ISN'T MUCH MEAT IN THE HOOK ASSEMBLY WHERE THE ATTACHMENT BOLTS ARE THREADED INTO THE SHANK OF THE HOOK. THE MATERIAL IS QUITE HARD AS THERE IS NO VISIBLE DEFORMATION IN THE FAILURE AREA. I GUESS IN RETROSPECT, THE HOOKS ARE THERE FOR PULLING AND NOT LIFTING BUT IF YOUR TRUCK WAS DOWN IN A DITCH YOU WOULD USE THESE HOOKS TO PULL/LIFT THE VEHICLE OUT. I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE STANDING IN THE WAY IF ONE OF THEM FAILED AND LAUNCHED A HOOK OF CONSIDERABLE MASS INTO THE AIR. JOHN

NHTSA ID

10186129

Incident

Mar 25, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SEAT ADJUST FAILED. NO PRESSURE--COULD BE PUT ON THE SEAT WITHOUT IT MOVING TO THE FULL BACK POSITION. THE DEALER INITIALLY REPLACED THIS IN MAR 05 AFTER ME AND DEALER SPEAKING WITH GMC CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. GMC REIMBURSED ME FOR COSTS. 15 MONTHS [!!] LATER, IT FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER HAD ONLY SEEN THIS ISSUE TWICE, BOTH TIMES WITH MY CAR. GMC INITIALLY DECLINED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THEN, AFTER DISCUSSION WITH ME, THEY OFFERED TO PAY FOR IT WITH ME UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY HAD NO LIABILITY AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY FUTURE REPAIRS OR WOULD OFFER ME $500 CERTIFICATE DISCOUNT ON A NEW GMC TRUCK. WHEN I MENTIONED THE SAFETY ISSUE POTENTIAL, THEY WANTED ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF I ACCEPTED THE MONEY, I WOULD HAVE NO STANDING IN FUTURE PROBLEMS OF THE SAME NATURE. I DECLINE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY POTENTIAL OF THIS. THEY HAVE TWICE CORRECTED THE SYMPTOMS. IS THERE AN UNDERLYING CAUSE??? ARE OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS FOR ME AND, POTENTIALLY, FOR OTHERS, TOO. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ID

10165075

Incident

Mar 15, 2005

Mileage

55,000 mi

NOT SURE IF BELT BROKE FIRST OR FAN BLADE THE BLADE BROKE OFF AND FLEW INSIDE OF TRUCK CAUSING DAMAGE TO PARTS UNDER THE HOOD IT WAS 1000.00 TO FIX ALL THE PARTS BROKEN BY THIS. I HAVE ALL THE OLD PARTS. THE BELT WAS OK BUT SOMETHING CAUSED THE BLADE TO BRAKE OFF AND THERE ARE NOTICEABLE CRACKS IN THE BLADE AROUND THE NUT. BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE I HAD TO REPLACE A LOT OF COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10157484

Incident

May 5, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURED UPON OPENING THE TAILGATE WITHOUT WARNING. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V129000, REGARDING THE TAILGATE HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 05/31/06. *TT

NHTSA ID

10156059

Incident

Apr 25, 2006

Mileage

48,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE TAILGATE WAS OPENED THE HINGES BROKE. THE TAILGATE CAME TO REST ON THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000, REGARDING THE TAILGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE MODEL AND YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WROTE TO GMC INQUIRING WHY THEY WERE ONLY RECALLING 1999-2000 MODELS. WHAT ABOUT OTHER MODELS OF GMC TRUCKS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM LIKE THE 19999-2000 SONOMA'S. *AK

NHTSA ID

10152717

Incident

Feb 15, 2006

Mileage

59,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE CABLE BROKE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TAILGATE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000, REGARDING THE TAILGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152551

Incident

Jan 13, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR HINGE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WORE OUT. THE WORN DOOR HINGE RESULTED IN A HOLE ON THE DOOR FRAME ALONG THE INNER PANEL. THE HINGE WAS REPLACED ONCE BEFORE BY A MECHANIC. THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10143748

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

DT: WHILE THE VEHICLE OWNER WAS DRIVING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF THE WINDSHIELD. THE MIRROR HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE OWNER HAS FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM 7344810803 IS FILE NUMBER GIVEN FOR THIS REPORT. *JB THE TECHNICIAN CLAIMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE HEAT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10126326

Incident

Jun 22, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

TAIL GATE CABLE BROKE WHEN LOADING TRUCK. BOUGHT NEW CABLE AND REPLACED NO OLD PARTS KEPT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10118211

Incident

Feb 1, 2004

1999 GMC SONOMA EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, CD PLAYER, TIRES AND HEATING COIL.*MR CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT DEALER DID NOT TELL THEM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, EXCHANGED REBUILT TORQUE CONVERTER WITH TRANCES FILLER 12 MONTH OR 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10118892

Incident

Feb 8, 2005

FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE AND FLUCTUATES WHEN TRUCK IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL READS BETWEEN 3/4 AND FULL WHEN DRIVING EVEN IF TANK IS CLOSE TO EMPTY. DROPS TO SHOW TANK IS EMPTY WHEN IN PARK EVEN IF FULL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093789

Incident

Oct 7, 2004

Mileage

67,000 mi

WHILE THE DRIVER WAS ADJUSTING THE SEAT THE HANDLE SHEARED OFF. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED DRIVER SIDE SEAT HANDLE. ALSO, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED . *AK THE CONSUMER HAS HAD FOUR HANDLES REPLACED IN ALL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10071678

Incident

Apr 27, 2004

ADJUSTMENT HANDLE BROKE OFF AT THE BASE. AS A RESULT, SEAT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067098

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

Mileage

71,000 mi

DIFERENTIAL HAS A ZUMING VIBRATING AND CLIKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING BOTH AJUSTABLE SEAT HANDELS BROKE AND 3RD SMALL DOOR HANDEL HAS NEVER WORK PROPERLY AND KEEPS BREAKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10054519

Incident

Sep 20, 2003

Mileage

51,000 mi

SEALS AND GASKETS FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL, POWER STEERING, OIL PAN AND DRIVE TRAIN WERE ALL WORN AND NEEDED REPLACING

NHTSA ID

10068940

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

47,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER HIT A COW IN THE ROAD, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE MECHANIC HAD NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10044857

Incident

Oct 26, 2003

Mileage

42,700 mi

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINE HANDLES HAVE COMPLETELY LEAVING BOTH SEATS INCAPABLE OF RECLINING. UNFORTUNATELY, LEAVING THE OCCUPANTS VULNERABLE IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR. DRIVERS SIDE BROKE TWICE. 1ST TIME REPAIRED UNDER WARANTY. DRIVERS SIDE BROKE AFTER WARANTY HAD EXPIRED. PASSANGERS SIDE SAME AFTER WARNTY EXPIRED. NEATHER REPLACED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025612

Incident

Feb 1, 2002