RoadVitals

2000 GMC Sonoma Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
35
Latest Jul 11, 2020
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.
26%
of 136 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.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 GMC Sonoma submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 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 brake

The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Jul 11, 2020

I HAD A NEAR DEATH ACCIDENTS (TWICE) DUE TO CATASTROPHIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE FROM SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE LINES THE FRONT LEFT AND THE INTERMEDIATE LINE FROM FRONT TO REAR SECTION ON TOP OF FRAME RAIL. FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT SPEED OF 45 MPH ON HIGHWAY WITH HARD STOP REQUIRED TO AVOID STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD. SECOND FAILURE WAS MORE INSIDIOUS WITH PROGRESSIVE BRAKE LINE RUST THROUGH/ LEAK SPOT TO REAR BRAKE LINES WITH FIN THROUGH AND FAILURE. THIS IS NOT COMPLICATED ... SIMPLY SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS FOR ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN A VEHICLE. IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHAT CONDITIONS ARE (IE SALT, COLD, ETC; DESIGN AND MATERIALS SHOULD BE MANDATED FOR BRAKE LINES NOT TO RUST THROUGH. THERE ARE MATERIALS WHICH COULD BE USED TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, PARTICULARLY FOR NORTHERN REGIONS WITH SALT ON ROADS. THE ENTIRE BRKE LINE SYSTEM IS ON THIS VEHILCLE (AND OTHERS) IS AN UNNECESSARY AND AVOIDABLE PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD. SURELY THERE HAVE BEEN DEATHS RESULTING FROM FAILURE, I WAS LUCKY AND HAD TO MANEUVER STRIGHT THROUGH BETWEEN 2 STOPPED VEHICLES AS I HAD NO OTHER OPTION WITH NO BRAKES. ALSO, ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE HANDLE OPERATED PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVERS , AS THE FOOT OPERATED ONE IN THIS VEHICLE WAS USELESS, BUT A PULL TYPE, HAND OPERATED BRAKE HANDLE WOULD HAVE BEEN READILY ACCESSIBLE AND LIKELY PREVENTED NEAR DEATH INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11338735
Incident
Jun 2, 2020
Mileage
102,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 16, 2017

FOR THE THIRD TIME MY BRAKE LINE BROKE AND LOST ALL BRAKES IN MOTION LUCK FOR ME AND MY WIFE WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD GOING TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SHOP FOR REPAIR AGAIN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH GMC QUALITY AND SAFETY.

NHTSA ID
10978723
Incident
Apr 13, 2017
Mileage
101,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 8, 2014

BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON THREE DIFFERENT DATES 2/12/2012. 9/18/2013. 3/6/14 STILL DRIVING THE TRUCK SHOULD I BE WORRIED. UPDATED 3/18/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID
10608921
Incident
Feb 24, 2012
Mileage
90,711 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jun 23, 2013

ON 19 JUNE 2013 I APPLIED THE BRAKES ON A DAMP/WET ROAD. BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP I EXPERIENCED A SORT OF HOPPING OF THE FRONT END WHILE GOING OVER A ROUGH SECTION OF ROADWAY. THIS SENSATION HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE AND I WAS TOLD IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-LOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM BUT NOTHING SPECIFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10521311
Incident
Jun 19, 2013
Mileage
28,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 15, 2008

ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CODE C0265. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS MODEL YEAR (2000) AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS AND SURROUNDING YEARS HAVE THIS FAILURE. GROUNDING FAILURE TO ABS COMPUTER MODULE RESULTING IN THE NECESSITY TO REPLACE MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10238384
Incident
Aug 14, 2008
Mileage
84,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 9, 2007

ABS & EMERGENCY DASH LIGHTS WILL TURN ON/OFF INTERMITTENLY; NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN/HOW OFTEN. HAD GM DEALER CHECK IT. MY EBCM HAD A SHORT, IF LIGHTS WERE ON, HAD NO ABS, JUST HYDRAULIC IF LIGHTS WERE OFF. I HAVE ABS. COST OF NEW MODULE IS $1100.00; PLUS LABOR!! DEALER SUGGESTED I LIVE WITH IT FOR COST OF REPAIR! I AGREED, BUT WORRIED THAT GM PROBABLY WERE IGNORING LIGHTS & THINKING THEY HAD GOOD ABS!!*AK

NHTSA ID
10187402
Incident
Apr 5, 2007
Mileage
45,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 24, 2007

MY ABS LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON WHILE DRIVING. I COULD HEAR THE ABS PUMP RUNNING BUT THE MODULE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I PULLED THE FUSE SO IT WOULD STOP RUNNING AND I COULD GET HOME. AFTER TAKING IT INTO AUTO SERVICE THEY DETERMINED IT NEEDS A ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE AND HAS A KELSEY & HAYES ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM. THE WORK WAS QUOTED AT OVER $700. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE BUT I HAVE LIMITED ANY DRIVING WITH THE TRUCK SINCE IT VALID. *NM

NHTSA ID
10183400
Incident
Oct 20, 2006
Mileage
84,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 10, 2006
Crash reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. AS AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT PUMPED THE BRAKES., RESULTING CONTACT IN A REAR END COLLISION. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOWING SERVICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10147360
Incident
Jan 9, 2006
Mileage
50,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 20, 2005

SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY 2000 GMC SONOMA [XXX] I HAD A "LOW SPEED ACTIVATION" OF THE ABS. SOME TIME LATER THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A GMC DEALER AND WAS TOLD I HAD NO PROBLEMS, BUT THEY DID REPLACE THE BRAKE SHOES. EVER SINCE THEN THE LOW SPEED ACTIVATION WOULD HAPPEN PERIODICALLY. RECENTLY, THE PROBLEM HAS EVOLVED TO EVERY DAY. AND I BELIEVE THIS ROOT PROBLEM IS BEHIND A LOT OF OTHER BRAKE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10137151
Incident
Aug 20, 2005
Mileage
1,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 28, 2004

AFTER DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A STOP BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10083680
Incident
Jul 28, 2004
Brakes
Filed Sep 24, 2003

DEALER REPLACED TWICE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10040508
Incident
Sep 24, 2003
Brakes
Filed May 19, 2003
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10020066
Incident
May 15, 2003
Brakes
Filed Feb 20, 2002

WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABS LIGHT COMES ON, AND BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH BLINKS ALTHOUGH BRAKES ARE NOT BEING APPLIED. BRAKE LIGHT WILL STOP BLINKING IF VEHICLE IS SLOWED DOWN, BUT THE ABS LIGHT WILL STAY ON UNTIL KEY IS TAKEN FROM IGNITION. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 3-4 TIMES, AND CAN NOT FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
8004271
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 11, 2002

DEALER STATED THAT WHEEL WAS AT RISK OF FALLING OFF, FAULTY DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHEEL HUBS CAUSED BRAKES TO FAIL, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE SENSORS AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES. *TT

NHTSA ID
785872
Incident
Jun 26, 2001
Brakes
Filed Feb 5, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH APPLIED BRAKES, AND PEDAL VIBRATED AND WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO BRAKING ACTION. VEHICLE HIT GARAGE WALL. NO INJURIES. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8003595
Incident
Feb 4, 2002
BrakesTires & wheels
Filed Jan 17, 2002

HEAVY VIBRATION THROUGH OUT VEHICLE, WEAR TIRES IMPROPERLY ON STEERING AXLE, ABS NO FUNCTIONING PROPERLY

NHTSA ID
9002078
Incident
Oct 10, 2000
BrakesFuel systemInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Jan 17, 2002

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPHVEHICLE DIED OUT. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER NOTICED THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
8002393
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Dec 18, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL BRAKE PEDAL NEARLY GOES TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8000863
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Nov 28, 2001

BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST GOES TO THE FLOOR CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPLACED MASTER CYCLINDER WHICH DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
899565
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Nov 15, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30MPH, AND UPON MAKING A TURN ONTO A STREET VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. HE LOST STEERING, AND THREW VEHICLE IN PARK. VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. CONSUMER'S HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT DIDN'T HOLD HIM AT ALL. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AGAIN. DURING BOTH INCIDENTS ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
899188
Incident
Nov 9, 2001
Brakes
Filed Nov 6, 2001

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL NEARLY GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
898806
Brakes
Filed Nov 2, 2001

ANTI LOCK BRAKES ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHR DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
898676
Incident
Dec 15, 2000
Brakes
Filed Mar 21, 2001

ROTORS ARE RUSTED ALL FOUR AND WARPED.DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK WARPED ROTORS CAUSED BRAKE PADS TO WEAR PRIMATURELY. *YH

NHTSA ID
883705
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Feb 13, 2001

ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM DEFECTIVE IN STRATEGY OF OPERATIONS. SEEMS DESIGNED FOR ICY ROADS AND ACTIVATES UNDER THE LIGHTEST OF BRAKING APPLICATIONS ON FRONT WHEELS WITH 1-2 SECOND RECOVERY TIME (WITHOUT BRAKES) WITH ONLY SLIGHT PEDAL & SLIGHT WHEEL BOUNCE. THIS HAPPENS WITH 1-2 PASSENGERS & ABOUT 75-100 POUNDS IN TRUCK PED (BED COVER) ON DRY STREETS APPROACHING INTERSECTION WITH RIPPLES OR POTHOLES ON ONE SIDE WITH VERY LIGHT SLOW (GRANDPA STYLE DRIVING) LIGHT BRAKING- FRONT WHEEL SENSES THE SLIGHTEST LOCKUP & DEACTIVATES BRAKES (1-2 SECOND RECOVERY TIME) & THEN REAPPLIES. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE TIMES OF LEAVING ME IN INTERSECTION WITH VEHICLES SKIDDING TO STOP TO KEEP FROM T-BONING MY VEHICLE. HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT, GM DISTRICT FIELD REP WHO TELL ME THIS STRATEDGY IS NORMAL. THIS STRATEDGY WILL GET PEOPLE KILLED IF IT HASN'T ALREADY.THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS REPORT IS BEING MADE TO HOPEFULLY FORCE SOMETHING TO BE DONE. I COULD DO BETTER JOB OF PREVENTING BRAKE LOCK UP USING ANCIENT MODE OF STAB BREAKING IF NECESSARY BUT WOULDN'T NEED TO UNDER DESCIBED SCENARIO.*AK

NHTSA ID
740828
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Jan 17, 2001

WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT SLOWER SPEEDS PEDAL WILL GO ALL WAY TO FLOOR. ONCE PEDAL REACHES FLOOR THERE IS NO BRAKE FUNCTION LEFT. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
878369
Incident
Oct 1, 2000

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .