Total Complaints
72 filings
GMC SONOMA · model year
1993 GMC SONOMA
72 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993GMCSONOMA carries 72 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 5 fires, 5 injuries, 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 1993 SONOMA is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 27 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (6) and seats:front assembly:recliner (3). 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 1993 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.
72
Complaints
8
Crashes
5
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
8 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 | 27 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030519POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS STATED IN RECALL#94V09300, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
20021009SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS WEAR EXCESSIVLY ON DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLES WITH FRONT BUCKET SEATS.THIS I BELIEVE IS DUE TO SEAT BELT RUBBING AND FRAYING ON THE COVER FOR THE BELT ON THE FLOORBOARDS ...MY VEHICLE HAS OVER 100K MI.BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS AND POSSIBLY 50 OR 60 K MILES... THE AREA THAT FRAYS IS APPROXIMATELY 5 OR 6 INCHES BEHIND THE RETRACTION STOP ON THE SEAT BELT ...APPEARS ONLY DRIVER SIDE IS AFFECTED. NLM
20010209POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN VEHICLE WAS OWNED BY OTHER FAMILY MEMBER, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A "NO PARK" CONDITION. A CRASHED TOOK PLACE, $2700 IN DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE. AT THE TIME WE WERE UN AWARE OF A RECALL THAT WAS OUT THERE FOR THIS CONDITION. WASN'T WE FOUND THIS OUT, WE CONTACTED GMC. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. WHEN THIS ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. THEY WOULD NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. I WANTED TO CONTACT THE NHTSA TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE CONDITION OF THE TRANSMISSION AND SPEAK TO REPRESENTITIVE. THANK YOU. *AK
20001213SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DEALER FAILED, GM CALLED BUT STEVE, SAID IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DERRY BROTHERS IN BURLINTON, IOWA , BUT STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, HAD TO PIN THE BRAKE CALIPER PINS AND PUT SET SCREW TO HOLD THEM IN, REPLACED WATER PUMP 3 TIMES BRAKES 24 TIMES, CALIPERS 3 TIMES, FRONT ROTTORS 3 TIMES,AND REAR DRUMS 3 TIMES, ELECTICAL COMPONETS EVERY 6MO TO YEAR, NOW RADIATOR IS GOING GO THROUGH 4 TIRES EVERY 4 TO 6 MO,AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH DEALER!!!!!!
20001213SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
DEALER FAILED, GM CALLED BUT STEVE, SAID IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DERRY BROTHERS IN BURLINTON, IOWA , BUT STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, HAD TO PIN THE BRAKE CALIPER PINS AND PUT SET SCREW TO HOLD THEM IN, REPLACED WATER PUMP 3 TIMES BRAKES 24 TIMES, CALIPERS 3 TIMES, FRONT ROTTORS 3 TIMES,AND REAR DRUMS 3 TIMES, ELECTICAL COMPONETS EVERY 6MO TO YEAR, NOW RADIATOR IS GOING GO THROUGH 4 TIRES EVERY 4 TO 6 MO,AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH DEALER!!!!!!
20001213ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
DEALER FAILED, GM CALLED BUT STEVE, SAID IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DERRY BROTHERS IN BURLINTON, IOWA , BUT STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, HAD TO PIN THE BRAKE CALIPER PINS AND PUT SET SCREW TO HOLD THEM IN, REPLACED WATER PUMP 3 TIMES BRAKES 24 TIMES, CALIPERS 3 TIMES, FRONT ROTTORS 3 TIMES,AND REAR DRUMS 3 TIMES, ELECTICAL COMPONETS EVERY 6MO TO YEAR, NOW RADIATOR IS GOING GO THROUGH 4 TIRES EVERY 4 TO 6 MO,AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH DEALER!!!!!!
20001107ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE MAIN COMPUTER FAILED. *YH
20001107SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED. *YH
20000907TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. HAD A BLOWUP THE FIRST TIME. THEN, PULLED OVER AND SAW TREAD OFF THE TIRE. UNIROYAL P235/75 R15.*AK THE CUSTOMER STATES HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND GOT IN THE DITCH WHEN THE TIRE BLEW UP. *YH
20000822ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
THE EGR VALVE GETS FULL OF CARBON AND, ABOUT EVERY 1000 MILES, CAUSE THE TRUCK TO QUIT AND THE BRAKES TO STOP OPERATING, PUTTING OUR SAFETY AT RISK. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED FROM MY FATHER-IN-LAW AND HE DID NOT ENCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THE SAME MECHANIC THAT HE DID AND HE HAS CLEANED OUT THE CARBON TWICE NOW. BUT I TOOK IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM AND SAID THEY HAVE FOUND THAT AROUND THE HIGH 90,000 AND 100,000 MILEAGE MARK, THIS EGR VALVE IS A PROBLEM IN THIS TRUCK ENGINE. IT CONTINUES TO BE A MORE FREQUENT PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY OBVIOUS ON LONGER TRIPS. THE TRUCK SIMPLY QUITS WHEN YOU DECELERATE TO COME TO A STOP AND THE BRAKES GIVE OUT. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY RESTART THE ENGINE OR TRY COASTING INTO THE STOP, PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND KEEP THE ENGINE REVING, SO IT HOPEFULLY WON'T STOP. *AK
20000217STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED THE DEALER MADE THE COMMENT "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THE STEERING COLUMNS. IF YOU CAN SEND ME A E-MAIL ADDRESS I CAN SEND PHOTOS OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE CRACKS IN THE METAL. THERE WAS ONLY ABOUT 3/4 OF AN INCH OF METAL HOLDING THE STEERING COLUMN TOGETHER. I HATE TO THINK WHAT THE RESULTS WOULD BE IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURED IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION. JOE GILARDI. *AK
20000210CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK
20000209VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
WHILE DRIVING HOT WATER HEATER BLEW UP INSIDE OF THE CAB, CAUSING THE CAB TO FILL UP WITH STEAM, AND MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF WINDOWS. MECHANIC SAID HEATER WAS CORRODED. *AK
19991221CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE REPORT FOR THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 94V-93000. THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK IDLING AND IT SURGED FORWARD HITTING A WALL IN A PARKING GARAGE. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC AND THEY HAVE ISSUED ME A FILE # OF 99311914, BUT SAID THAT I MUST CONTACT YOU IN ORDER TO GO ANY FURTHER WITH THIS ISSUE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK
19991215SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAVE TRIED CALLING A DEALER - THEY KNOW NO MORE THAN I DO. HELP!!
19991202SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ABS BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE. WOULD FADE OUT, AND STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INCREASED. VEHICLE ALSO HESITATED IN REVERSE. WHEN IN DRIVE POSITION WOULD RAMBLE & LOSE POWER. ALSO, THERE ARE DEFECTIVE VALVES IN ENGINE. ALSO DEFECTIVE DRIVESHAFT RUBBER BEARINGS CAUSE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO MIDAS & NOT DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED. *AK
19991202ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ABS BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE. WOULD FADE OUT, AND STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INCREASED. VEHICLE ALSO HESITATED IN REVERSE. WHEN IN DRIVE POSITION WOULD RAMBLE & LOSE POWER. ALSO, THERE ARE DEFECTIVE VALVES IN ENGINE. ALSO DEFECTIVE DRIVESHAFT RUBBER BEARINGS CAUSE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO MIDAS & NOT DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED. *AK
19991202POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ABS BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE. WOULD FADE OUT, AND STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INCREASED. VEHICLE ALSO HESITATED IN REVERSE. WHEN IN DRIVE POSITION WOULD RAMBLE & LOSE POWER. ALSO, THERE ARE DEFECTIVE VALVES IN ENGINE. ALSO DEFECTIVE DRIVESHAFT RUBBER BEARINGS CAUSE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO MIDAS & NOT DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED. *AK
19991202POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ABS BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE. WOULD FADE OUT, AND STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN INCREASED. VEHICLE ALSO HESITATED IN REVERSE. WHEN IN DRIVE POSITION WOULD RAMBLE & LOSE POWER. ALSO, THERE ARE DEFECTIVE VALVES IN ENGINE. ALSO DEFECTIVE DRIVESHAFT RUBBER BEARINGS CAUSE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO MIDAS & NOT DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED. *AK
19991029ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
ENGINE OIL COOLER LINE HOSE BROKEN CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE, DUE TO DESIGN FLAW, BOTH BRAKE LINE AND COOLER LINE ARE LOCATED TOGETHER AND THE FRICTION/CHAFFING RESULTED IN BROKEN LINE. YH
Compare 1993GMCSONOMA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 GMC SONOMA have?▼
The 1993 GMC SONOMA has 72 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 5 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 GMC SONOMA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 GMC SONOMA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 27 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER.
Is the 1993 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.