EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
2003 GMC Sonoma
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 39 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 GMC Sonoma, most frequently naming the interior & seats, brakes and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 411 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2003 | 2 | 2 |
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 3 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 4 |
| Jan 2004 | 2 | 6 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 7 |
| Mar 2004 | 2 | 9 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 10 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 11 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 12 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 13 |
| Jul 2005 | 3 | 16 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 17 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 18 |
| Mar 2006 | 1 | 19 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 20 |
| Nov 2006 | 1 | 21 |
| Apr 2007 | 2 | 23 |
| Jun 2007 | 1 | 24 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 25 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 26 |
| Apr 2009 | 1 | 27 |
| Oct 2009 | 1 | 28 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 29 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 30 |
| Dec 2010 | 1 | 31 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 32 |
| Oct 2011 | 1 | 33 |
| Aug 2013 | 1 | 34 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 35 |
| Oct 2015 | 1 | 36 |
| Jun 2016 | 1 | 37 |
| Jun 2018 | 1 | 38 |
| Mar 2020 | 1 | 39 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Interior & seats816.0%
- Brakes714.0%
- Body & structure612.0%
- Fuel system48.0%
- Powertrain (other)48.0%
- Other / unspecified48.0%
- Visibility36.0%
- Tires & wheels36.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE VEHICLE IS KEPT IN A GARAGE AND WHEN OUTSIDE I USE A SCREEN PROTECTOR. THE DASH AND MANY OTHER INTERIOR PARTS OF THE CAR ARE SIMPLY FALLING APART
- NHTSA ID
- 11316940
- Incident
- Mar 9, 2020
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AMREICAN TIRE DEPOT ON 5/23/18. I HAD TWO FLAT TIRES AND A BENT RIM, I EXPLAINED WHAT I NEEDED AND THEY CONFIRMED. DANIEL WHO ASSISTED ME INFORMED ME HE HAD TO SELL ME FOUR TIMES BECAUSE MY TIRES WERE WORN. I SAID THAT WAS FINE ALTHOUGH MY TIRES WERE NOT THAT BAD. I WAS CHARGED $419.80 AND TOLD TO RETURN IN A FEW DAYS TO GET THE RIM AND FOURTH TIRE, MEAN WHILE THEY WOULD PUT THE SPARE ON SO I COULD DRIVE MY TRUCK. I AGREED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER I CALLED AND SPOKE TO DANIEL, WHO STATED HE WOULD CALL ME BACK. I WAITED A FEW DAYS WITH NO CALL BACK. I AGAIN CALLED AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO DANIEL HOWEVER HE WAS NOT IN. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER AND ERIC GOT ON THE PHONE AND STATED HE WAS THE STORE MANAGER. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, ERIC STATED HE WOULD HAVE DANIEL CALL ME BACK THE NEXT DAY. A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT CONVERSATION I CALLED BACK AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER, AGAIN I GOT ERIC ON THE PHONE WHO STATED THE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS ON VACATION AND HE WAS ACTING AS THE DISTRICT MANAGER IN HIS ABSENCE. I AGAIN ENDED MY CONVERSATION WITHOUT A RESOLUTION. I THEN CALLED AL MENDOZA WHO IS THE DISTRICT MANAGER. AL STATED HE WAS NOT ON VACATION AS ERIC STATED BUT DID TAKE "A FEW" DAYS OFF. I INFORMED HIM OF THE SITUATION AND HE STATED HIS EMPLOYEES DID NOTHING WRONG, HOWEVER HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK TO ME. A FEW DAYS PASSED AND NOTHING. ON 6/20/18 O RECEIVED A CALL STATING MY TIRE AND RIM WERE READY TO BE PICKED UP. I WENT TO THE STORE AT APPROXIMATELY 5:53 TO GET MY TIRE PUT ON. I WAS CHARGED AN ADDITIONAL $96.53. WHEN MY TRUCK WAS READY I WAS CALLED OVER AND GIVEN THE KEYS. I LOOKED IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK AND NOTICED MY SPARE TIRE IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I ASKED THEM TO PLACE MY SPARE BACK UNDER THE BED IN ITS LOCATION SINCE THAT IS WHERE THEY GOT IT FROM. THE TIRE PERSON STATED HE DID NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO PUT THE TIRE BACK WHERE IT BELONGED. I INFORMED HIM THEY PUT IT ON MY TRUCK. JOB NOT DONE
- NHTSA ID
- 11102919
- Incident
- May 23, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10873984
- Incident
- Jun 7, 2016
- Mileage
- 81,000 mi
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK THE BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. TOOK THE TRUCK TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHERE THE LEAF SPRINGS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SHOP COULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR, AND KNEW NO ONE LOCALLY WHO COULD REPAIR THE CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RUST ISSUES WITH THE TRUCK OVER THE YEARS AS FOLLOWS: SPARE TIRE MOUNTING RUSTED THROUGH AND THE SPARE TIRE FLEW OFF THE TRUCK IN TRAFFIC; THE FUEL LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE DUE TO RUST; AND THE REAR BRAKES RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES.
- NHTSA ID
- 10779311
- Incident
- Sep 30, 2015
- Mileage
- 75,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HE DROVE 73 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL INSPECTION THAT ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUG AND THE FUEL CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SPARK PLUG AND FUEL CAP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,984. UPDATED 07/28/14 MA UPDATED 07/29/14
- NHTSA ID
- 10577113
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2013
- Mileage
- 92,984 mi
ABOUT A YEAR AGO HAD ONE STEEL BRAKE LINBE BUST BECAUSE OF RUSTED. NOW TODAY IN MY YARD HIT BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT TO FLOOR AGAIN. RUSTED BRAKE LINE AGAIN. HAVE OTHER BRAKE LINES RUSTED VERY BAD. *TT
- NHTSA ID
- 10537777
- Incident
- Aug 28, 2013
- Mileage
- 43,239 mi
2003 GMC SONOMA. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE SUPPORT CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE RUSTED THROUGH AND THE TIRE FELL OFF, ROLLED DOWN THE ROAD AND HIT ANOTHER CAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED NO DAMAGE WAS DONE AND THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10429873
- Incident
- Oct 1, 2011
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP OPERATING UNEXPECTEDLY. THEY WILL THEN BEGIN OPERATING AGAIN AFTER BEING TURNED OFF FOR PERIOD OF TIME. RECENTLY IN EARLY APRIL 2011 AT ABOUT 91,000 MILES. THEY STOPPED WORKING SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK BEFORE LEAVING THE PARKING LOT.
- NHTSA ID
- 10397873
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2007
- Mileage
- 50,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2003Viewing | 39 | 1 | 0 | 39.9 |
| 2002 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 34.3 |
| 2001 | 89 | 1 | 1 | 47.5 |
| 2000 | 136 | 4 | 1 | 58.0 |
| 1999 | 57 | 1 | 0 | 43.8 |
| 1998 | 156 | 4 | 0 | 49.4 |
| 1997 | 111 | 3 | 2 | 59.3 |
| 1996 | 148 | 9 | 0 | 56.8 |
| 1995 | 213 | 7 | 2 | 62.6 |
| 1994 | 224 | 6 | 1 | 59.1 |
| 1993 | 58 | 4 | 1 | 61.5 |
| 1992 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 58.5 |
| 1991 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 58.1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.