GMC SONOMA · model year

1996 GMC SONOMA

190 NHTSA complaints, 34 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996GMCSONOMA carries 190 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 34 crashes, 1 fire, 9 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 1996 SONOMA is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 36 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (17) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer (10). 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 1996 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.

190
Complaints
34
Crashes
1
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

190 filings

Crashes Reported

34 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP36
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR17
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER10
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL3

Recent Complaints

20140908AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. IT TURNS OFF SOMETIMES FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR FEWER MINUTES. NO REPAIR SHOP CAN DETERMINE HOW TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT OPERATE THAT'S WHAT I HAVE READ. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG LIGHT? OR IS THERE A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE? *TR

20091008INTERIOR LIGHTING

FUSE BLOWS TO INTERIOR LIGHTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HORN. *TR

20070921STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STRAPS THAT SUPPORT THE TAILGATE FAILED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

Mileage: 150,000

20070726SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC SONOMA. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE LINE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED TEMPORARILY. HOWEVER, TWENTY MILES LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE BRAKE LINE FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS REPLACED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL DURING BOTH FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 97V146001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,980.

Mileage: 104,980

20070412FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FUEL LINE LEAKING . *AK

Mileage: 134,000

20061229VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED CONCERNING A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER MOTOR. THE BULLETIN HAS A PRODUCT RECALL. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN TOLD BY GMC THAT THE CAR WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL\ DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL EITHER STAY UP IN THE AIR, WON'T WORK AT ALL, OR SHUT OFF BY THEMSELVES. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS ON DECEMBER 26, 2006. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN IN JULY 2006. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY GAVE HER A SERVICE REQUEST NO. 71-463971283, AND THEN THE DEALER DENIED IT. *AK

Mileage: 85,000

20061116SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH UNDER NORMAL BRAKING ON WET ROADS, THE ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE THREE SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT WERE NOT CERTAIN THAT THE REPLACEMENT WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED NHTSA RECALL # 99I006000 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK.

Mileage: 98,651

20060912AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

1996 GMAC SONOMA AIR BAG SENSOR RIVET FAILURE. FOUND DRIVERS SIDE SENSOR HANGING FROM ELECTRICAL LEAD, WHEN I INSPECTED THE MOUNTING AREA I FOUND THAT THE TWO RIVETS THAT SECURE THE SENSOR WERE SHEARED OFF. I INSPECTED THE OTHER SENSOR MOUNTING AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE TWO RIVETS WAS ALSO SHEARED OFF. NO FRONT END IMPACT HAD OCCURRED AND NO INDICATIONS WERE NOTED. *JB

Mileage: 166,000

20040511ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY ENGINE HAS BEEN SURGING, SLOW START, RATTLING, ROUGH IDLE, HARD SHIFTING, AND I HAVE HAD THE TRASMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES. MY DEALER TOLD ME AFTER AN INSPECTION THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, BUT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME. GO FIGURE! I HAVE PROOF OF THE NEW TRASMISSIONS. NOW THE COMPRESSOR IS CRACKED, AND IT WILL NOT HOLD COOLANT, AND I CAN HARDLY GET THE TRUCK GOING AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT. THESE REPAIRS ARE COSTING ALOT OF MONEY, AND I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS TRUCK. IT IS NOT WORTH THE COST OF REPAIRS.

20040219SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT

ABS ANTI-BRAKE SYSTEM HAS FAILED. LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY STAYS ON. ANALYSIS HAS DETERMINED THAT THREE OF THE FOUR SENSORS ARE BAD. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. ALSO ANALYSIS HAS DETERMINED THAT THE CATALICTIC CONVERTER IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON "LIGHT" TO BE ON CONTINUOUSLY.

Mileage: 39,000

20040124ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

MY TIMING TENSIONER KEEPS WEARING OUT AFTER ABOUT 15,000 MILES, IT STARTED WHEN I BOUGHT MY TRUCK IN 96 AROUND 25,000 MILES I NOTICE A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE,I TOOK THE TRUCK IS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY TOLD ME I WAS USING THE WRONG OIL FILTER,HA HA. THEY DID SOMETHING TO THE TRUCK BUT THE TICKING STOP UNTIL 36,000 MILES AND THEN MY WARRANTY WAS GONE. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER 7 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK EVER SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED,THE TENSIONER BROKE ONE TIME WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY,BENT TWO VALVES,AND A HEAD JOB LATER STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE I MAY HAVE BOUGHT A LEMON. THIS MAY NOT BE ON ALL TRUCKS BUT IT SURE HAS HAPPEN TO MINE. ITS LIKE THE TIMING SYSTEM DOES NOT LINE UP. TO WEAR THE TENSIONER IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. I HAVE REPLACED WITH GM PARTS. *LA

Mileage: 89,000

20030923ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE ENGINE HAS A MISS IN IT SOMETIMES IT WILL QUIT AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT A HALF HOUR FOR IT TO START AGAIN WE HAVE PUT A NEW COIL, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND A MODULE IT DID NOT FIX IT. WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX IT.

20030923FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

THE ENGINE HAS A MISS IN IT SOMETIMES IT WILL QUIT AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT A HALF HOUR FOR IT TO START AGAIN WE HAVE PUT A NEW COIL, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND A MODULE IT DID NOT FIX IT. WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX IT.

20030923FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

THE ENGINE HAS A MISS IN IT SOMETIMES IT WILL QUIT AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT A HALF HOUR FOR IT TO START AGAIN WE HAVE PUT A NEW COIL, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND A MODULE IT DID NOT FIX IT. WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX IT.

20030923ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE ENGINE HAS A MISS IN IT SOMETIMES IT WILL QUIT AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT A HALF HOUR FOR IT TO START AGAIN WE HAVE PUT A NEW COIL, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND A MODULE IT DID NOT FIX IT. WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX IT.

20030903VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK

20030502UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE BROKE WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO BOUNCE DOWN THE ROAD. *NLM

Mileage: 90,000

20030404EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH

1996 GMC SONOMA - INTERMITTENT BRAKE LIGHTS AND FOUR-WAY FLASHERS. DEFECTIVE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN. *JB

Mileage: 82,800

20030226POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 96V035000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

Mileage: 126,000

20030226SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE BRAKE SYSTEM LEAKED FLUID WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

Compare 1996GMCSONOMA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 GMC SONOMA have?
The 1996 GMC SONOMA has 190 NHTSA complaints, 34 crashes, 1 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 GMC SONOMA?
The most-complained component for the 1996 GMC SONOMA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 36 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER.
Is the 1996 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.