GMC SONOMA · model year

1999 GMC SONOMA

78 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999GMCSONOMA carries 78 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 3 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 1999 SONOMA is seats:front assembly:recliner with 6 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4). 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 1999 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.

78
Complaints
6
Crashes
3
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

78 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
SEATS2
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
SERVICE BRAKES2

Recent Complaints

20171228CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON A FLOODED DIRT ROAD, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH. AFTER THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS DELAYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CRACKED PELVIS, BROKEN FACIAL BONES, OPTIC NERVE DAMAGE, AND OTHER SEVERE INJURIES TO THE FACE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED BACK WINDSHIELD EXPLODED AND FRAME WAS BENT. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

20171213SERVICE BRAKES

DURING A PANIC STOP THE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES FELT SOFT BUT STILL WORKED. DURING THE DRIVE THE BRAKES BECAME VERY WEAK. WHEN I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID IT WAS EMPTY. I REFILLED IT AND STARTED CHECKING FOR LEAKS. I FOUND THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES WE FRACTURED BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE DURING THE PANIC STOP CAUSING THE RUSTED LINES TO BURST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ( BUT NOT REPORTED) PROBLEM FOR THIS TRUCK IN THE NORTHERN AREA..

Mileage: 100,000

20150710AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING OVER UNLEVELED LAND. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

20150619ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

Mileage: 156,000

20130125SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINE HYDRAULIC FAILURE OF HARD STEEL LINE. THE LINE THAT BROKE GOES TO THE BACK WHEELS ALONG THE FRAME. *TR

Mileage: 165,000

20110429FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY 1999 GMC SONOMA HAS HAD A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IT WAS TAKEN INTO JIM CAUSLEY'S PONTIAC/GMC IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI ONCE FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED. SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A BAD VEHICLE GROUND. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS TO THIS DAY. THE ONLY WAY I CAN AVOID RUNNING OUT OF GAS IS TO RESET THE TRIP ODOMETER EVERY TIME I FILL-UP. *TR

Mileage: 8,000

20091104STRUCTURE:BODY

WHILE STEPPING OFF OF TAILGATE, BOTH CABLES SNAPPED AND THE TAILGATE FELL OFF OF PICKUP. NO BROKEN BONES, BUT BUMPS AND SCRAPES. CABLES ARE SEALED, EXCEPT FOR THE ENDS, WHERE WATER MUST HAVE GOTTEN INTO THEM AND CORRODED THE CABLE FROM THE INSIDE. *TR

Mileage: 125,501

20090105ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHEVY/GMC VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING A LAGGING START AND IN SOME CASES NO START WITHOUT A BOOST. MY SONOMA HAS THE LAG AND I HAVE A FEW FRIENDS THAT HAVE BLAZERS AND FULL SIZE TRUCKS AS WELL. THE VARIATION OF ENGINE SIZES THAT ARE AFFECTED HAS ME PERPLEXED. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO RUN CODES WITH NO FAULT RESULTS. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I ATTEMPT A STARTUP. *TR

Mileage: 26,000

20070325STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THIS MESSAGE WAS ORIGINALLY SENT TO MY BROTHER ADVISING HIM OF THIS PROBLEM. BELOW IS THE EXPLANATION. IMAGINE THE TRUCK HAS A COUPLE OF TOW HOOKS ON THE FRONT END LIKE MINE DID. I WOULD BE CAREFUL USING THEM TO PULL THE VEHICLE OUT OF A HOLE ,USING ANYTHING OTHER THAN A CHAIN. CONVERSELY THE SAME WOULD APPLY IF ON WAS USING THEM TO PULL SOMETHING.*AK I HAVE BEEN USING MINE TO PULL THINGS FROM TIME TO TIME BUT MOSTLY TO RAISE THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK FOR OIL CHANGES ETC. TODAY LIKE ALWAYS, I USED MY AIR BUMPER JACK TO ENGAGE THE TWO HOOKS AND LIFT THE VEHICLE TO WORK ON. BECAUSE THE AIR JACK IS OLD AND LEAKS, WHEN YOU GET TO THE HEIGHT YOU WANT, IN A MOMENT OR TWO, THE JACK WILL USUALLY SETTLE BACK DOWN A BIT UNTIL IT ENGAGES THE SAFETY STOP. THIS USUALLY RESULTS IN A CLUNK AND SOME G LOAD TO THE HOOKS WHEN IT STOPS. TODAY WHEN IT SETTLED ONTO THE STOP, BOTH HOOKS FAILED AT THE FIRST ATTACHING BOLTS! THE AIR JACK VAULTED INTO THE AIR AND THE TRUCK CAME CRASHING DOWN TO THE GR

Mileage: 100,000

20060809SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

THE DRIVER'S SEAT ADJUST FAILED. NO PRESSURE--COULD BE PUT ON THE SEAT WITHOUT IT MOVING TO THE FULL BACK POSITION. THE DEALER INITIALLY REPLACED THIS IN MAR 05 AFTER ME AND DEALER SPEAKING WITH GMC CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. GMC REIMBURSED ME FOR COSTS. 15 MONTHS [!!] LATER, IT FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER HAD ONLY SEEN THIS ISSUE TWICE, BOTH TIMES WITH MY CAR. GMC INITIALLY DECLINED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THEN, AFTER DISCUSSION WITH ME, THEY OFFERED TO PAY FOR IT WITH ME UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY HAD NO LIABILITY AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY FUTURE REPAIRS OR WOULD OFFER ME $500 CERTIFICATE DISCOUNT ON A NEW GMC TRUCK. WHEN I MENTIONED THE SAFETY ISSUE POTENTIAL, THEY WANTED ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF I ACCEPTED THE MONEY, I WOULD HAVE NO STANDING IN FUTURE PROBLEMS OF THE SAME NATURE. I DECLINE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY POTENTIAL OF THIS. THEY HAVE TWICE CORRECTED THE SYMPTOMS. IS THERE AN UNDERLYING CAUSE??? ARE OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP TO GET A HANDLE

Mileage: 55,000

20060513ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

NOT SURE IF BELT BROKE FIRST OR FAN BLADE THE BLADE BROKE OFF AND FLEW INSIDE OF TRUCK CAUSING DAMAGE TO PARTS UNDER THE HOOD IT WAS 1000.00 TO FIX ALL THE PARTS BROKEN BY THIS. I HAVE ALL THE OLD PARTS. THE BELT WAS OK BUT SOMETHING CAUSED THE BLADE TO BRAKE OFF AND THERE ARE NOTICEABLE CRACKS IN THE BLADE AROUND THE NUT. BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE I HAD TO REPLACE A LOT OF COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD. *NM

Mileage: 100,000

20060425STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEEL TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES FRACTURED UPON OPENING THE TAILGATE WITHOUT WARNING. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V129000, REGARDING THE TAILGATE HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 05/31/06. *TT

Mileage: 48,000

20060314STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE TAILGATE WAS OPENED THE HINGES BROKE. THE TAILGATE CAME TO REST ON THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000, REGARDING THE TAILGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE MODEL AND YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WROTE TO GMC INQUIRING WHY THEY WERE ONLY RECALLING 1999-2000 MODELS. WHAT ABOUT OTHER MODELS OF GMC TRUCKS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM LIKE THE 19999-2000 SONOMA'S. *AK

Mileage: 59,000

20060313STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE CABLE BROKE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TAILGATE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000, REGARDING THE TAILGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB

Mileage: 45,000

20051128STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR HINGE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WORE OUT. THE WORN DOOR HINGE RESULTED IN A HOLE ON THE DOOR FRAME ALONG THE INNER PANEL. THE HINGE WAS REPLACED ONCE BEFORE BY A MECHANIC. THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 50,000

20050623VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR

DT: WHILE THE VEHICLE OWNER WAS DRIVING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF THE WINDSHIELD. THE MIRROR HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE OWNER HAS FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM 7344810803 IS FILE NUMBER GIVEN FOR THIS REPORT. *JB THE TECHNICIAN CLAIMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE HEAT. *NM

Mileage: 60,000

20050421STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

TAIL GATE CABLE BROKE WHEN LOADING TRUCK. BOUGHT NEW CABLE AND REPLACED NO OLD PARTS KEPT. *NM

20050420POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1999 GMC SONOMA EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, CD PLAYER, TIRES AND HEATING COIL.*MR CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT DEALER DID NOT TELL THEM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, EXCHANGED REBUILT TORQUE CONVERTER WITH TRANCES FILLER 12 MONTH OR 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. *BF *NM

20050420TIRES

1999 GMC SONOMA EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, CD PLAYER, TIRES AND HEATING COIL.*MR CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT DEALER DID NOT TELL THEM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, EXCHANGED REBUILT TORQUE CONVERTER WITH TRANCES FILLER 12 MONTH OR 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. *BF *NM

20050420UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1999 GMC SONOMA EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, CD PLAYER, TIRES AND HEATING COIL.*MR CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT DEALER DID NOT TELL THEM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, EXCHANGED REBUILT TORQUE CONVERTER WITH TRANCES FILLER 12 MONTH OR 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. *BF *NM

Compare 1999GMCSONOMA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 GMC SONOMA have?
The 1999 GMC SONOMA has 78 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 GMC SONOMA?
The most-complained component for the 1999 GMC SONOMA is SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1999 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.