Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 GMC Sonoma, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic131
- Visibility53
- Vehicle speed control12
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Power train10
- Electrical system8
- Suspension7
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Service brakes, air5
- Exterior lighting4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 1994 Sonoma vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1994 GMC Sonoma failed the safety check 1.39% of the time — 5% more often than the average 1994 passenger car (1.33%). Median odometer at inspection: 136,970 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1994 GMC Sonoma.
| 1999135 26 Jul 1999 | Brakes Certain four wheel drive vehicles may experience increased stopping distances during ABS stops while in the two-wheel drive mode. A switch can erroneously sign… |
| 1998150 22 Jul 1998 | Visual System Certain vehicles may have windshield wiper motors with solder joints near the wiring harness connector that could crack. This could cause the windshield wiper t… |
| 1997152 8 Sept 1997 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the driver's and/or passenger's front outboard seat-belt webbing could separate during a frontal impact having at least the same dynamics a… |
| 1994013 25 Jan 1994 | Fuel System Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS.301- Fuel System Integrity. Fuel tank filler pipes may not be to specification. Thus when tested to CMVSS 301 the veh… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS WHILE IN THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What GMC told its dealers about the 1994 GMC Sonoma: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 608382 | SUBJECT REGARDING ABS 3-SENSOR EBC4 - SPECIAL POLICY. *TT |
| 52935 | INFORMATION CONCERNING ENGINE KNOCK/RATTLE OR TAP NOISE BEFORE ENGINE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR UNDER LIGHT LOAD CONDITIONS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE (REPLACE PISTON AND/OR ROD ASSEMBLIES). AK |
| 51302 | KNOCK, RATTLE OR TAP NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE THE ENGINE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR UNDER LIGHT LOAD CONDITIONS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE KNOCK, RATTLE OR TAP NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE THE ENGINE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR UNDER LIGHT LOAD CONDITIONS AT RATURE (REPLACE PISTON AND/OR ROD ASSEMBLIES). *TW |
| 41078 | STEPPER MOTOR CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT RESUME OR RESET (REPLACE SMCC MODULE). *TW |
| 41076 | WATER LEAK AT THE A/C RECIRCULATION DOOR (INSTALL NEW HOOD HINGE SEAL). *TW |
| 41072 | END GATE LATCH RATTLE (INSTALL REVISED STRIKER). *TW |
| 4069300 | UNKNOWN |
| 39816 | LIGHT SURGE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING LIGHT THROTTLE. *TW |
| 39728 | REAR SEAT RATTLES/LOOSENESS (INSTALL REAR SEAT LATCH). *TW |
| 39287 | CLUTCH PEDAL SQUEAK NOISE. *TW |
| 39284 | PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 94-C-61 - CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT TO RECALL CERTAIN 1994 S-TRUCK PICK-UP MODELS TO CORRECT THE VACUUM HOSE DETATCHMENT FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE AS A RESULT OF AN ENGINE BACKFIRE. *TW |
| 39085 | BACKFIRE ON ACCELERATION. *TW |
| 37934 | IMPROPERLY CONSTRUCTED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAUSING ERRATIC TEMPERATURE GAUGE READINGS. *TW |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation