2001 GMC Sonoma Engine Problems

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

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

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

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER 14,000 MILES. THE BRAKES BEGAN MAKING A SCRAPING NOISE. THE SERVICE DEALER SAID THE FRONT BRAKES WERE HEAVILY CORRODED, THEY WERE REPLACED. *AK THE RADIATOR CAP WAS LEAKING. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10122105

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

Mileage

13,382 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAID AIR PUMP TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. APPROX $700.00 TO REPLACE. NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060520

Incident

Feb 2, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

CONSUMER WAS MERGING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC,WHEN THE VEHICLE DIED OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10 TIMES, BUT DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

10003751

Incident

Dec 11, 2002

Mileage

14,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8006308

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. *AK

NHTSA ID

876468

Incident

Dec 6, 2000