RoadVitals

2001 GMC Sonoma Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
26
Latest Jan 23, 2010
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.
29%
of 89 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.
0
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 the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 GMC Sonoma submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 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 body or structure

The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Jan 23, 2010

THE TAILGATE CABLES BOTH BROKE WHILE A FRIEND WAS SITTING ON THE TAILGATE CAUSING HER TO FALL. SHE ONLY WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 140 LBS. I HAD NOTICED THAT 1 OF THE CABLES LOOKED WEAK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT THE OTHER SEEMED TO BE STABLE. APPARENTLY NEITHER OF THEM WERE ANY GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10302033
Incident
Jan 22, 2010
Mileage
43,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 23, 2007
1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SONOMA. THE STEEL CABLES THAT HELD THE TAIL GATE SNAPPED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED ON THE TAIL GATE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SCRATCHES ON HIS ARMS AND ELBOWS. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V066000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: TAILGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) FOR THE 2000 GMC SIERRA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ID
10206654
Incident
Oct 9, 2007
Mileage
53,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 26, 2006

OWNER SAT ON OPEN PICKUP TRUCK TAILGATE AND BOTH SUPPORT CABLES FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY CAUSING GATE TO FALL DOWNWARD UNTIL STOPPED BY CONTACT WITH THE REAR BUMPER. REPLACEMENT CABLES WERE SUPPLIED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT INSTALLATION LABOR WAS NOT FUNDED. FAILED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10166596
Incident
Feb 23, 2006
Mileage
63,700 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 23, 2006

FAILURE OF TAILGATE CABLE. THE SECOND CABLE IS STARTING TO BULGE IN MIDDLE, JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THAT ONE GOES. MY WIFE AND I WERE SITTING ON THE TAILGATE WHEN THE RIGHT ONE SNAPPED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10166361
Incident
Aug 19, 2006
Mileage
51,300 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 3, 2006

FAILURE OF TAILGATE CABLE. THE SECOND CABLE IS STARTING TO BULGE IN MIDDLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10161260
Incident
Dec 26, 2005
Mileage
75,629 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 14, 2006

TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE CORRODED AND BROKE CAUSING TAILGATE TO DROP ONTO BUMPER. NORMAL NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF MY 2001 GMC SONOMA PICKUP. (I NOTICE THE GM HAS A RECALL IF JUST THIS THING FOR 1999 AND 2000 SILVERADO AND SIERRA BUT THE SAME HAS HAPPENED ON MY SONOMA...NOT RECALL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10159861
Incident
Sep 15, 2005
Mileage
35,200 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 10, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAILGATE CABLES CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE DEALER WAS SPOKEN TO VERBALLY AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL FOR THE TAILGATE CORROSION. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000, CONCERNING THE TAILGATE CABLES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10154941
Incident
Sep 15, 2005
Mileage
26,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING ON THE TAILGATE, THE CABLE ATTACHMENT FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CABLE, ALTHOUGH ENCASED IN PLASTIC, RETAINED MOISTURE AND RESULTED IN A RUSTING OF THE CABLE MATERIAL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000, REGARDING THE STRUCTURE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID
10154717
Incident
Apr 6, 2006
Mileage
49,580 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 29, 2006

TAIL GATE CABLES RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED ON MY GMC PICK-UP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10153992
Incident
May 16, 2005
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 15, 2006

LOADING, UNLOADING, AND SITTING ON THE TAILGATE OF A 2001 GMC SONOMA LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF BOTH OF THE TAILGATE CABLES. BOTH TAILGATE CABLES BROKE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION TO THE CABLES. SEVERE RUST IS VISIBLE ON THE CABLES. THE CABLES SNAPPED SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE SITTING ON THE TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE, CREATING MINOR DENTS IN THE TAILGATE WHERE IT CONTACTED THE TOPSIDE OF THE REAR BUMPER. THE TAILGATE CABLE AND LATCH ASSEMBLY ARE CONNECTED AS ONE UNIT, WITH ONE UNIT ON EACH SIDE OF THE TAILGATE. BOTH UNITS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW CABLES/LATCH ASSEMBLIES PURCHASED FROM A GMC DEALERSHIP SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT. BOTH OLD CABLES/LATCH ASSEMBLIES ARE STILL AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10152801
Incident
Aug 20, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Jan 22, 2006

TAILGATE CABLE CORRODED AND FAILED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10148321
Incident
Dec 26, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Dec 16, 2005

THE TAILGATE CABLE ON MY 2001 GMC SONOMA SNAPPED WHEN I SAT ON THE TAILGATE WHILE IT WAS IN THE LOWERED POSITION. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CABLE IS CORRODED. GMC WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE THE CABLES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE CABLES FOR THIS MODEL. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT AND HAS CREATED A SAFETY CONCERN ON THIS TRUCK. AS OF THIS DATE THE CABLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST GM TO FORCE THEM TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM? *NM

NHTSA ID
10145472
Incident
Dec 4, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Nov 21, 2005

BOTH TAILGATE CABLES BROKE ON MY TRUCK AT THE SAME TIME. *NM

NHTSA ID
10143369
Incident
Nov 5, 2005
Mileage
28,400 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 27, 2005

2001 GMC SONOMA, BOTH TAIL GATE CABLES BROKE WHEN I STEPPED UP ON IT TO ACCESS THE BED. THE TAIL GATE HIT THE BUMPER AND WAS SCRATCHED AND DENTED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10137878
Incident
Sep 23, 2005
Mileage
43,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 25, 2005

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I OWN A 2001 GMC SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK. AFTER VERY LIMITED USE OF MY TAILGATE I EXPERIENCED A BREAKAGE OF THE CABLE THAT SUPPORTS THE TAILGATE ON MY TRUCK. IT APPEARS TO BE THAT THE STEEL CABLE HAS RUSTED INSIDE ITS PROTECTIVE PLASTIC COATING CAUSING THE CABLE TO WEAKEN. THE ENDS OF THESE CABLES HAVE A SHRINK-WRAP MATERIAL TO SEAL OUT MOISTURE BUT IT LOOK TO HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY ALLOWING MOISTURE TO ENTER AND RUST THE CABLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC TO NO AVAIL AND THEY REFUSE TO RECALL OR FIX THIS PROBLEM. SEEING AS GM'S LARGER TRUCKS HAVE A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE S10 / SONOMA PICKUP TRUCKS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THE ONLY THING I CAN SPECULATE IS THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE SONOMA TAILGATE CABLE COST $50 EACH FROM THE DEALER AND NO ONE HAS SUED THEM FOR INJURY AS OF YET OR THEY HAVE SETTLED OUT OF COURT. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED FROM A TAILGATE COMING DETACHED FROM THE TRUCK IN QUESTION. PAUL DAUBEL PS: HERE IS A THREAD I STARTED IN AN S10 TRUCK FORUM. IT SHOWS THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.S10FORUM.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=175244&PAGE=1&PP=30

NHTSA ID
10134225
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
Mileage
55,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 10, 2005

2001 GMC SONOMA END GATE / TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE. BOTH AT THE SAME INSTANT IN THE SAME LOCATION ON THE CABLE. THIS CABLE SHOULD BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER AS A FAULTY COMPONENT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132252
Incident
Aug 7, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Jun 14, 2005
1 injury reported

WHILE LOADING A PUSH MOWER INTO TRUCK BED , CABLES SNAPPED-RUSTED THRU, BLACK VINYL SHIELD HIDE DAMAGE. I SLIPPED OFF TAILGATE AND CUT MY LEG ON SIDE OF TAILGATE WHILE FALLING.

NHTSA ID
10125296
Incident
May 17, 2005
Mileage
79,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 17, 2005

HAVE 2001 GMC SONOMA TRUCK, BOTH TAILGATE STRAPS BROKE AT THE SAME TIME I WAS SITTING ON THE TAILGATE-WEIGH 200 LBS. GM EVIDENTLY RECALLED FULL SIZE TRUCKS BUT THE GMC SONOMA/CHEV. S-10 ARE NOT INCLUDED AND ARE HAVING THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE SAME CONSEQUENCES CERTAINLY WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY/FATALITYS AS WELL. MANY ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I'M SURE THE NUMBER WILL GROW. GM DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS PRESENT. I WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE PARTS MYSELF BUT THEY WANTED AN ENORMOUSE $147.00 APIECE-NEED TWO, AND THAT ISN'T COUNTING LABOR. THEY MUST BE PROFITTING BIG TIME ON AS THEY KNOW THIS PART WILL FAIL OVER THE CONCERN OF SAFETY. THERE IS A DEFINITE DEFECT AND THE DEFECT THREATENS SAFETY AS WELL. GM MAY DOWNPLAY THIS TO SAVE MONEY BUT IT IS THEIR ENGINEERS,BUYERS,ETC. THAT OPTED FOR THIS QUALITY TO SAVE MONEY IN MANUFACTURING THUS AT NOW THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER'S SAFETY AND THEIR POCKETBOOK. I CAN'T BELIEVE GM IS GETTING AWAY WITH SOMETHING AS DANGEROUS AS THIS AND PROFFITTING BY NOT RECALLING AND GOUDGING THE CUSTOMER WHO BOUGHT THE GMC SONOMA'S/CHEVROLET S-10 MODEL SMALLER TRUCKS. THANKS. DOUG GILLIS [email protected]

NHTSA ID
10121126
Incident
May 13, 2005
Mileage
57,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 13, 2005

2001 GMC SONOMA TAILGATE CABLES POPPED WHEN LOADING THE TRUCK. *MR *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10121552
Incident
May 1, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Apr 25, 2005
1 injury reported

TAILGATE CABLES BROKE ON MY 2001 GMC SONOMA. ONE PERSON WAS SITTING ON TAILGATE, WHEN SECOND PERSON SAT DOWN. BOTH CABLES BROKE AND DUMPED THEM ON THE GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
10118386
Incident
Oct 15, 2004
Mileage
47,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 23, 2004

BOTH TAILGATE STRAPS BROKE ON MY 2001 GMC TRUCK. I ALSO HAVE A 1996 GMC TRUCK AND HAD THE SAME HAPPEN WITH IT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10104420
Incident
May 9, 2003
Mileage
38,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 26, 2004

LEFT TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE BROKE . *AK

NHTSA ID
10096430
Incident
Oct 23, 2004
Mileage
63,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 20, 2004

BOTH TAILGATE CABLES BROKE WHILE THE CONSUMER, WHO WEIGHED 155 LBS, WAS STANDING ON IT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. THE LEFT CABLE BROKE ON THE CONSUMER S-10. *NM

NHTSA ID
10089536
Incident
Mar 17, 2004
Mileage
48,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 30, 2004

THE CABLES THAT HOLDS THE TAILGATE GAVE WAY WHILE CONSUMER WAS ON IT.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HURT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT GMC WAS ISSUING A RECALL AN AS SOON AS THE REPLACEMENT CABLE ARRIVED HE COULD HAVE HIS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT ON JUNE 24, 2004. ON THAT DATE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WAS ONLY FOR THE FULL SIZE TRUCKS NOT THE COMPACT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AGAIN BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONSUMER FINALLY COMPLAINED TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO SOLD HIM THE TRUCK AND HE BOUGHT THE CONSUMER ONE OF THE TWO CABLES WITH HIS OWN MONEY. THE CONSUMER CURRENTLY HAS ONE NEW CABLE AND ONE HOMEMADE CABLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10087077
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Jun 14, 2004

THE CABLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TAILGATE BROKE, AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CABLE STARTED BREAKING. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE RECALL 04V129000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10073702
Incident
Mar 19, 2004
Mileage
91,000 mi

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 .