RoadVitals

2001 GMC Sonoma Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
89
Latest Mar 11, 2016
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.
8
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 13, 2000

What this page shows

Our database holds 89 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 GMC Sonoma. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 89 · page 1 of 4

Fuel system
Filed Mar 11, 2016

CAN NOT LOCATE FUEL LINES FOR GMC. WHEN I TRY TO FIND THE FUEL LINES IT IS MARKED THAT THEY ARE UN-AVAILABLE.LINES HAVE RUSTED OUT AND LEAK.HAD NEW FUEL PUMP INSTALLED WHEN THIS WAS NOTICED.

NHTSA ID
10846068
Incident
Mar 4, 2016
Mileage
190,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 7, 2015

MY IGNITION SWITCH SOMETIMES STICKS. ABLE TO TAKE KEY OUT WHEN RUNNING

NHTSA ID
10732508
Incident
Jan 5, 2015
Mileage
200,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 19, 2014

THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE BROKE UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAD ESTIMATES THAT WERE WELL OVER $300 TO FIX, AND HAVE NOT YET HAD WORK DONE. I ONLY PARK ON LEVEL ROADS AND HOPE TRANSMISSION WILL HOLD IN PARK. I FEEL THIS MUST BE A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10648632
Incident
Apr 1, 2012
Mileage
55,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 2014

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10639477
Incident
Sep 28, 1990
Mileage
95,424 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 14, 2014

DRIVING IN TOWN ABS LIGHT & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON, NO ACCIDENT. LOOKING FOR RECALLS, TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS! LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME I DRIVE TRUCK, SOMETIMES IMMEDIATELY. *JS

NHTSA ID
10579546
Incident
Apr 11, 2014
Mileage
69,010 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 9, 2013

MY TRUCK RADIATOR STARTED TO SMELL AS IF IT HAD A LEAK. I TOOK IT TO A RADIATOR SHOP. THIS SHOP HAPPENS TO BE VERY CLOSE TO THE GM PLANT IN DAYTON, OHIO. THE MAN TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE TRUCK. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT ALL THE RADIATORS FOR THIS TRUCK FROM THE 2001 YEARS WERE SENT TO HIM PRIOR TO INSTALLING. HE SAID THEY HAD BEEN LEFT OUTSIDE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND ALL OF THEM HAD TO BE CLEANED OUT BECAUSE OF HEAVY RUST. HE STATED MINE MUST OF BEEN MISSED. THE RUST IN THE RADIATOR WAS SO THICK IT WAS LIKE MUD! HE REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES AND EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR FLUID RESERVOIR BECAUSE IT LITERALLY HAD INCHES OF RUST IN IT. THIS IS SOMETHING THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT AND I SHOULD NOT OF HAD TO REPLACE IT. THE NEXT THING TO HAPPEN IS TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE TRUCK IS MAKING A WHINING NOISE - SOUNDS LIKE SOME TIRES DO. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL PLACES TO REPAIR AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE SOUND. WE HAVE REPLACED SO MANY PARTS, MANY OF THEM MORE THAN ONCE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE PUT OVER $3000 OF WORK IN THE TRUCK JUST OVER THE LAST MONTH AND AM NOT YET FINISHED. THE BRACKETS HOLDING THE REAR SUSPENSION IN PLACE ARE CRUMBLING IN MY HAND. THE MUFFLER IS LEAKING. IT IS STALLING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AND IS IDLING VERY FAST EVEN THO IT HAS HAD REGULAR TUNE UPS AND MAINTENANCE. THE TAILGATE IS BROKEN - YOU CAN JUST PULL IT OFF THE TRUCK. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE WHINING CONTINUES WHENEVER IT IS BEING DRIVEN. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO COMPANIES BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE! GOD KNOWS MOST OF US CANT BUY A NEW ONE AT $35,000+ TO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10524047
Incident
Oct 8, 2012
Mileage
78,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 3, 2011

IN THE LAST 6 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS; BOTH UPPER AND LOWER AND SHOCKS ALL AROUND FOR THE SECOND TIME. I DO NOT GO OUT 4-WHEELING AND BASICALLY DRIVE MY VEHICLE ONLY IN TOWN DRIVING. I DO NOT THINK THESE PARTS SHOULD BE WEARING OUT SO QUICKLY ON THIS VEHICLE. *KB

NHTSA ID
10416866
Incident
Jul 23, 2011
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
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 5, 2009

I WAS DRIVING MY HUSBANDS 2001 GMC SONOMA FROM OHIO BACK TO FLORIDA WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND MUFFLER. THIS EVENT LED TO US HAVING TO REPLACE THE REAR DRIVESHAFT, FUEL TANK, AND HE REPAIRED THE MUFFLER. WE RESEARCHED GMC DRIVESHAFT FAILURES ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DRIVESHAFT BREAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10291037
Incident
Sep 13, 2006
Mileage
114,000 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
Brakes
Filed Sep 12, 2007

ABS FAILURE AT SLOW SPEEDS-ABS TRIES TO ENGAGE,BRAKE IS SLOW AT FIRST WITH NOISE AND THEN ABS LIGHT APPEARS AND ENGAGES DANGEROUS BRAKING RESETS AFTER TURNING OFF GOES THROUGH IT ALL AGAIN NEST TIME YOU DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10202763
Incident
Sep 1, 2007
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 25, 2007
Crash reported

THERE HAD BEEN A WHINING(LIKE THE OLD RADIAL TIRES USED TO MAKE) NOISE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND I JUST FIGURED IT WAS THE TIRES. IT GOT LOUD ON 8/24 AND I STOPPED AND PUT IT IN PARK, AS I GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK, IT STARTED ROLLING AND ROLLED DOWN INTO THE WOODS, WE HAVE FILED A POLICE REPORT AND REPORTED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET THE TRUCK OUT. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS LYING WHERE THE TRUCK WAS PUT IN PARK.,,ALTHOUGH THE PARK DID NOT HOLD. THE DRIVE SHAFT TWISTED AND SPLIT,,,EXPLODED BY THE LOOKS OF IT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DRIVE SHAFT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200749
Incident
Aug 24, 2007
Mileage
99,285 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 16, 2007

P235/SSR16 GDY BW EAG G/A 96T 45K TIRE DEFECT: TREAD SEPARATION FROM INNER CORE. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TRUCK. DEFECT OCCURRED AT LESS THAN 38,000 MILES ON VEHICLE/TIRE. NOTED THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND SEVERE SHAKING OF FRONT END. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED CONTACTING GOODYEAR WHICH HAS BEEN DONE BUT NO ACTION TO DATE.

NHTSA ID
10185340
Incident
Mar 16, 2007
Mileage
38,000 mi
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Oct 4, 2006

ON 9/27/2006 AROUND 8:45 PM (DARK) JUST NORTH OF PAYSON, AZ ON AZ HWY 260, I STOPPED FOR AN ACCIDENT BLOCKING A NARROW PART OF THE ROAD AND TURNED ON THE HAZARD FLASHERS ON MY 2001 GMC SONOMA. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (2-3 MIN.) THE HAZARD LIGHTS JUST QUIT FLASHING. I ALSO LOST MY TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I VISITED A DEALER IN SHOW LOW, AZ WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM & GAVE EST. OF $400-$500 BUT COULD NOT REPAIR (PART NOT IN STOCK). I SPENT $50 TO PURCHASE MAG-MOUNTED LIGHTS THAT I WIRED INTO THE HIGH CENTER-MOUNTED LIGHT AT REAR OF THE CAB (THIS LIGHT WORKED, BUT IT IS HIDDEN BY A SHELL OVER BED OF TRUCK) & USED THIS TO DRIVE HOME TO UTAH. I CHECKED INTO RECALLS AND FOUND NONE ONE THE SONOMA BUT DID SEE ONE ISSUED ON JIMMY, BLAZER, TRAILBLAZER, ENVOY, AND BRAVADA (ALL SIMILAR TO SONOMA). THIS SAFETY RECALL DESCRIBED EXACTLY THE FAILURE I EXPERIENCED (NHTSA # 01V364000, GM # 01073A). ON TUE, OCT 3, 2006 I HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A DEALER IN AMERICAN FORK, UT, COST: $447.34. I CALLED GM TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER IT (REF # 1-435884993). GM DECLINED TO COVER IT BECAUSE THE SONOMA MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. FOLLOWING UP, I LEARNED THE FOLLOWING: - MY VIN IS IN THE RANGE OF VINS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL AS VEHICLES THAT MAY BE AFFECTED. - MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AT ONE OF TWO PLANTS INVOLVED IN THIS (LINDEN). - THE RESULTS OF THE "INSPECTION PROCEDURE" SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL MATCH EXACTLY THE SITUATION WITH MY VEHICLE, INCLUDING REPLACING THE "MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH." - PART # 26100837 SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL IS THE PART #USED ON BOTH THE JIMMY AND THE SONOMA (MY VEHICLE). MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. MY FAMILY AND I WERE AT RISK AND COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. THAT IS WHY I AM PURSUING THIS. THE DEALER WHO DID THE REPAIR DISPOSED OF THE OLD PART. THE GM AGENT I SPOKE WITH AGREED MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT GM POLICY PROHIBITED HER FROM APPROVING TO COVER IT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10169942
Incident
Sep 27, 2006
Mileage
100,600 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 15, 2006

PURCHASED TRUCK IN 2006. MILEAGE AT 48,000. TROUBLE STARTING, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. OIL COOLING LINES REPLACED. SUBSEQUENTLY, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 2 WD TO 4 WD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATOR IS NOT DEPRESSED, AND WHEELS ARE TURNED, TO TURN A CORNER OR TO TURN INTO/OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. USUALLY THERE IS A DEPRESSION IN PATH AS WELL, I.E. CURB/DIP AT DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE, POTHOLE, ETC. ENGINE IS NOT ALWAYS COLD; SOMETIMES SHIFTS AT END OF TRIP, SOMETIMES AT BEGINNING, NO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID
10168398
Incident
Mar 1, 2006
Mileage
48,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 27, 2006

2001 GMC SONOMA SLS. STARTED IN MAY 2006 WITH 52,449 MILES ON VEHICLE: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER IDENTIFIED BAD O2 SENSOR AND REPLACED ($253). TWO WEEKS LATER AT 53,131, SES LIGHT AGAIN. DEALER INSTALLED NEW CHECK VALVE ($116). 3-4 WEEKS LATER AT 53,892, SES LIGHT AGAIN. DEALER SAID WATER IN AIR PUMP, REPLACED AIR PUMP AND HOSE ($357). NOW ON 26 AUG (54,084) SES LIGHT JUST CAME ON AGAIN. IN 60 DAYS, THE LIGHT HAS BEEN CLEARED & RESET 3 TIMES WITH OVER $700 IN REPAIRS AND NOW ANOTHER TROUBLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10166633
Incident
May 8, 2006
Mileage
52,449 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
Brakes
Filed May 25, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGED RESULTING IN AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE ACTIVATION OCCURRED. THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 6/16/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10158256
Incident
May 22, 2006
Mileage
53,000 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

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.

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