GMC SONOMA · model year

1998 GMC SONOMA

202 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998GMCSONOMA carries 202 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 15 crashes, 2 fires, 2 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 1998 SONOMA is visibility:windshield wiper/washer with 23 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (20) and seats:front assembly:recliner (19). 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 1998 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.

202
Complaints
15
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

202 filings

Crashes Reported

15 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER23
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR20
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER19
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP11
SEATS11
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS4
AIR BAGS4
VISIBILITY4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2

Recent Complaints

20170411ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ALL ELECTRICAL SHUTS DOWN ENGINE , EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!

Mileage: 80,000

20160411AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 264,477.

Mileage: 264,477

20130602SEATS

PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. PASSENGERS SEAT SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD , AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON , LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND BRAKE DON'T COME ON. *TR

Mileage: 178,000

20130602AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. PASSENGERS SEAT SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD , AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON , LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND BRAKE DON'T COME ON. *TR

Mileage: 178,000

20130602EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. PASSENGERS SEAT SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD , AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON , LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND BRAKE DON'T COME ON. *TR

Mileage: 178,000

20130220TIRES

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HWY, DRIVING BETWEEN 35-60 MPH BECAUSE OF ICY, SNOWY, SLUSHY, 35 MPH WINDY CONDITIONS. MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING CRAZILY AND MY TRUCK KEPT WANTING TO PULL ITSELF TO THE LEFT. I FELT BUMPING EVERY TIME THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL MADE A REVOLUTION. WITH 1 1/2 HOURS OF DRIVING TIME LEFT I KEPT HOPING I WOULD MAKE IT HOME SAFELY, WHICH I DID. I TOOK MY TRUCK IN THE NEXT DAY ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME ALL FOUR TIRES OF MINE WERE SHOT - CORDS IN TWO TIRES SNAPPED, AND BUBBLING AND THREAD/TREADWEAR IN THE OTHER TWO. GRANTED, I HAD THE TIRES FOR 7 YEARS. HOWEVER, THEY WERE 70,000 MILES TIRES THAT LASTED 31,000 MILES. PREMATURE TREADWEAR WAS EVIDENT AFTER DRIVING THE FIRST 10,000 MILES AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I MAINTAINED REGULAR TIRE ROTATION SCHEDULE THROUGHOUT. NOT ONE TIME DID MY MECHANIC MENTION ANY PROBLEMS, EVEN WHEN ASKED. KUMHO 205/75 TIRES ARE CRAP, THEY ARE GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY AND THE COMPANY KNOWS IT. DO MINIMAL RESEARCH AND YOU'L

Mileage: 91,700

20120712CrashAIR BAGS

DRIVER WAS GOING APPROX. 40MPH DOWN THE RURAL HIGHWAY IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER CAME TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA SAW THE TRUCK IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA HIT THE STOPPED TRUCK AND TOTALED THE SONOMA. AT NO POINT DID THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

20120712CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

DRIVER WAS GOING APPROX. 40MPH DOWN THE RURAL HIGHWAY IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER CAME TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA SAW THE TRUCK IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA HIT THE STOPPED TRUCK AND TOTALED THE SONOMA. AT NO POINT DID THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

20120712CrashSTEERING

DRIVER WAS GOING APPROX. 40MPH DOWN THE RURAL HIGHWAY IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER CAME TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA SAW THE TRUCK IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA HIT THE STOPPED TRUCK AND TOTALED THE SONOMA. AT NO POINT DID THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

20120712CrashSUSPENSION

DRIVER WAS GOING APPROX. 40MPH DOWN THE RURAL HIGHWAY IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER CAME TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA SAW THE TRUCK IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA HIT THE STOPPED TRUCK AND TOTALED THE SONOMA. AT NO POINT DID THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

20110729VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. ..UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS PERIODICALLY STOPPED WORKING IN THE RAIN. UPDATED 09/28/11*JB

Mileage: 50,000

20110718STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUSTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE FRAME TO SEPARATE INTO TWO PIECES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000...UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 10/05/11

Mileage: 100,000

20110219TIRES

I LOST THE TREAD ON ONE OF MY TOYO TIRES AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. IT COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE! IT WAS THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND CALL FOR HELP. I'VE ALREADY HAD IT REPLACED BUT THE DEALER I WENT TO (DISCOUNT TIRES) WHERE I PURCHASED THE DEFECTIVE ONE TOLD ME THEY ARE GOOD TIRES AND CONVINCED ME TO BUY ANOTHER TOYO. NOW I'M WORRIED. *TR

Mileage: 146,000

20100308VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE ONLY WORKED INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER THEY ARE RUN. IN THE HEAVIEST RAIN YOU CANNOT COUNT ON THEM AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T COME ON AT ALL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN THEY QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAIN. THEY HAVE NOT MADE IT A WHOLE TRIP IN THE RAIN AND STAYED WORKING- ALWAYS ONLY INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO PULL OVER UNTIL THEY DECIDE TO COME ON AGAIN. *TR

20090907EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE NOT HAD ANY WRECKS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YET. MY TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK PROPERLY ONE OF MY LOW BEEN HEADLIGHTS KEEPS BLOWING AND MY TAILLIGHTS DON'T WORK. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS JUST FOR THEM TO BLOW WHEN I TEST THEM. AND NO I DO NOT TOUCH THE GLASS ON THE HEADLIGHTS. I SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND ON THE WIRING SYSTEM, COULD THIS BE MY PROBLEM? *TR

Mileage: 179,500

20090907ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE NOT HAD ANY WRECKS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YET. MY TURN SIGNALS DON'T WORK PROPERLY ONE OF MY LOW BEEN HEADLIGHTS KEEPS BLOWING AND MY TAILLIGHTS DON'T WORK. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS JUST FOR THEM TO BLOW WHEN I TEST THEM. AND NO I DO NOT TOUCH THE GLASS ON THE HEADLIGHTS. I SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LIGHTING SYSTEM AND ON THE WIRING SYSTEM, COULD THIS BE MY PROBLEM? *TR

Mileage: 179,500

20081230VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. IN MARCH OF 1998, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WIPER MODULE AND WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD FOR THEM TO BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

Mileage: 10,000

20081215VISIBILITY

MY TRUCK HAS 70,000 MILES AND IT HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. YOU CAN HIT ON THE INSIDE OF THE MOTOR AND IT WILL START WORKING. I CAN BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WILL QUIT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20080730VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER INITIALLY STATED THAT THEY WOULD APPROVE THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, THEY ARE CURRENTLY REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, WIPER/WASHER) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TWICE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR BOARD. UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

Mileage: 42,000

20080518VISIBILITY

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING WITHOUT NOTICE. *TR

Compare 1998GMCSONOMA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 GMC SONOMA have?
The 1998 GMC SONOMA has 202 NHTSA complaints, 15 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC SONOMA?
The most-complained component for the 1998 GMC SONOMA is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER with 23 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR and SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER.
Is the 1998 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.