Total Complaints
35 filings
GMC SONOMA · model year
1991 GMC SONOMA
35 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991GMCSONOMA carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 SONOMA is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 10 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (2) and electrical system:wiring:front underhood (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1991 SONOMA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
35
Complaints
3
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 10 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| STEERING:COLUMN | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20130102TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED FROM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED HAT THE SPARE TIRE HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF A FRACTURED SUPPORT CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. .... UPDATED 02-20-13 *BF UPDATED 02/25/2013 *JS
Mileage: 85,000
20100618LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GM SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20 MPH, THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DOOR LATCH PIN WAS FOUND TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND WERE NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Mileage: 80,000
20080616STEERING
1991 GMC SONOMA. TILT STEERING HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE HAS NOT CAUSED ANY WRECKS OR DAMAGE AFRAID TO DRIVE. HAVE NOT TAKEN FOR REPAIRS. MILEAGE COUNTER BROKE SOME YEARS AGO THIS TRUCK HAS APROX. 200,000 MILES ON WITH NO OTHER COMPLAINTS, DID HAVE MANUAL TRANS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY MANY YEARS AGO. *TR
20041206ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE WOULD CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT, AND PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK
Mileage: 104,000
20031021ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
PROBLEM WITH EXHAUST PIPE ON MUFFLER.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO A MUFFLER SHOP TO HAVE A PATCH PUT ON THE FRONT HEADER PIPE AND WAS NOT GIVEN ANY OPTION TO HAVE IT FIXED CORRECTLY *TS *JB
Mileage: 95,486
20030714SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND TAIL PIPE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR EXHAUST REPAIR. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT EH CONSUMER TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE MUFFLER SHOP FOR A HEADER PIPE PATCH. THE CONSUMER IS INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF A HEADER PIPE PATCH IS ILLEGAL WITH THE PRESENT VEHICLE EMISSIONS STANDARD. *MR *CB *NLM
20030714ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND TAIL PIPE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR EXHAUST REPAIR. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT EH CONSUMER TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE MUFFLER SHOP FOR A HEADER PIPE PATCH. THE CONSUMER IS INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF A HEADER PIPE PATCH IS ILLEGAL WITH THE PRESENT VEHICLE EMISSIONS STANDARD. *MR *CB *NLM
20020130POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER HOOD, AND NOTICE CLUTCH FAN WAS SEATING ON FRAME, AND A HOLE WAS IN RADIATOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN, AND WAS INFORMED CLUTCH FAN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
20020130ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER HOOD, AND NOTICE CLUTCH FAN WAS SEATING ON FRAME, AND A HOLE WAS IN RADIATOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN, AND WAS INFORMED CLUTCH FAN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
20010316FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER, THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NLM
20010131SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V193, HOWEVER THE DEALER IS STATING THAT THE CONSUMER IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE SERIAL NUMBER DID NOT COME UP ON HIS COMPUTER. *SLC
20000918STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING WHEEL AND TILT ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE, MAKING VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. TOLD BY VARIOUS GM MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY GM TILT COLUMNS ON ALL MODELS.
20000424SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO SEATBELT RUBBING AGAINST THE SEATBELT HOUSING AND FORMING A GROVE IN THE HOUSING WHICH CAUSED THE SEATBELT NOT TO RETRACT. THIS WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
20000217FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HEARD A WHISTLING KIND OF NOISE BEFORE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, THEN, WHEN SHE PULLED OFF ROAD SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE HOOD. *AK
19990809CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND CAUSING A MINOR COLLISION. *AK
19990305EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE UNDER TRUCK BED BROKE, CAUSING ME TO LOSE MY SPARE TIRE. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE TIRE AFTER I REALIZED IT WAS GONE AND I WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVERS FOLLOWING BEHIND.
19990217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. STATED TO CONSUMER THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. *AK
19980527SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER HAD TO DOWNSHIFT IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. NOTICED THAT BRAKE LINE HAD BECOME LOOSE FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. *AK
19980226CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT THE PEDAL WILL TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/INJURIES. *AK
19980123SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MPH THE CONSUMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE REAR ABS. THE CONSUMER SAID: THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP LIKE IT SHOULD BE. THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *AK
Compare 1991GMCSONOMA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 GMC SONOMA have?▼
The 1991 GMC SONOMA has 35 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 GMC SONOMA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 GMC SONOMA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD.
Is the 1991 GMC SONOMA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.