Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 GMC Sonoma, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Visibility55
- Seats29
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Structure14
- Air bags11
- Power train11
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Electrical system9
- Suspension7
- Equipment5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 14 1998 Sonoma vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 10 people died inside them, and 3 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 1998 GMC Sonoma failed the safety check 0.61% of the time — 64% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 139,189 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 GMC Sonoma.
| 2001263 1 Nov 2001 | Electrical Certain vehicles: Light duty trucks. passenger vehicles and sport utility vehicles. Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of C.M.V.S.S. NO. 118,… |
| 1997217 28 Nov 1997 | Brakes Certain vehicles may exhibit a fatigue fracture of the rear axle, right-hand brake pipe. Should the pipe crack a slow brake fluid leak would result causing a so… |
| 1997201 18 Nov 1997 | Engine On certain vehicles, the engine wiring harness clip could melt and drip onto the exhaust manifold. The clip material on the exhaust manifold could ignite and su… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS CLIP CAN MELT AND DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
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 1998 GMC Sonoma: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636523 | INFORMATION ON OVER TORQUING OR A REVERSE BEDRAIL INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 634905 | SOME VEHICLES WILL NOT MOVE WHEN 4-WHEEL DRIVE IS REQUESTED, NOISE, SHUDDER, POOR PERFORMANCE, TRANSMISSION / TRANSFER CASE SLIPS, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT, SLIPS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *TT |
| 634506 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERAL WATERLEAK GUIDE. *TT |
| 634218 | SUBJECT REGARDING RUST IN COOLING SYSTEM, HEATER INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE OVERHEATS (FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM). NLM |
| 631292 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE THIRD DOOR IS HARD TO OPEN AND/OR THE DOOR HANDLE MAY BE BROKEN FOR 1996-2002 CHEVROLET AND GMC S/T EXTENDED CAB PICKUP MODELS.. *SLC |
| 629824 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING CORRODED TRAILER PRE-WIRE HARNESS AT THE REAR BUMPER. *TT |
| 629723 | CONCERNS WITH EXCESSIVE EFFORT OR BREAKING OF THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE ON EXTENDED CAB PICK UPS. *TT |
| 626507 | SUBJECT REGARDING NECESSARY RESURFACING OF THE PARK BRAKE DRUM. *JG |
| 625380 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND HAVING TO ADD OIL BETWEEN CHANGES. *JG |
| 625141 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SEAT RECLINER HANDLE IS STRIPPED. *JG |
| 623792 | INFORMATION REGARDING IMPROVED BUS SEAT DECLINER ASSEMBLIES, THE HANDLE ON THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY IS ATTACHED WITH A NUMBER 20 TORQUE WITH A SHANK LENGTH OF 20 MILLIMETERS. *SLC |
| 623086 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEATER IS INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN OVERHEAT CONDITION OR THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS RUST IN IT. *TT |
| 619740 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SECURITY LAMP ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING; THE SECURITY LAMP MAY BE ON OR OFF; THE SECURITY LAMP IS ILLUMINATED; THE ENGINE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START AND THE SECURITY LAMP IS FLASHING; AND / OR THE ENGINE STARTS THEN STALLS AND THE SECURITY LAMP IS FLASHING. *TT |
| 619027 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE NEW RECLINCER ASSEMBLY. *TT |
| 615103 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN INVOLVING VEHICLES EXHIBITING INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. *TT |
| 613587 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT AND CODE P0300 (GENERAL MISFIRE), WITH DRIVEABILITY COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE MISFIRE, ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION. **MR |
| 611277 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEATER IS INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN OVERHEAT CONDITION OR THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS RUST IN IT. *TT |
| 609717 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEATER IS INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN OVERHEAT CONDITION OR THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS RUST IN IT. *TT |
| 609673 | VALVE ROCKER ARM COVER FAILED, CAUSING OIL CNSUMPTION TO INCREASE. YD |
| 603821 | EXHIBITING INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. *YC |
| 602394 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. *YC |
| 602267 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. *YC |
| 10248444 | Vehicle Recalls |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)