RoadVitals

2003 GMC Sonoma

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
39
Latest Mar 9, 2020
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 18, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
3
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • 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.gov

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Mar 18, 2004
183,922 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
The risk: SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE INCORRECT STATEMENTS ON ONE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 04021View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Interior & seats
Filed Mar 9, 2020
Crash reported

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
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 20, 2018

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
Airbags
Filed Jun 13, 2016

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
BrakesFuel systemSuspension
Filed Oct 2, 2015

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
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 3, 2014

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
Brakes
Filed Aug 28, 2013

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
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Oct 14, 2011

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
Visibility
Filed Apr 25, 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.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIP4723J

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.

PIT5099H

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.

PIT5099H

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.

PIT3271P

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.

General Communication

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

GMC Sonoma by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006000
2005100
2004011
2003Viewing391039.9
2002570034.3
2001891147.5
20001364158.0
1999571043.8
19981564049.4
19971113259.3
19961489056.8
19952137262.6
19942246159.1
1993584161.5
1992253158.5
1991292158.1
1990100
1989000
1988000
1987000
1986000
1985000
1984100
1983000

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.