Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 GMC Sonoma, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure26
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Power train10
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Electrical system5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Vehicle speed control5
- Seats5
- Exterior lighting4
- Air bags4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 16 2001 Sonoma vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 13 people died inside them, and 5 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 2001 GMC Sonoma failed the safety check 2.25% of the time — 12% more often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 132,749 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 8 variants: combined 11.3–17.2 L/100 km (about 14–21 mpg US), CO₂ 245–384 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma FFV · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 13.0 | 9.3 | 11.3 |
| Sonoma FFV · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 10.1 | 12.3 |
| Sonoma · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 15.4 | 11.4 | 13.6 |
| Sonoma · Pickup truck: Small · Regular gasoline | 17.0 | 11.9 | 14.7 |
| Sonoma FFV · Pickup truck: Small · E85 ethanol | 17.3 | 12.9 | 15.3 |
| Sonoma 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.2 | 14.5 | 16.5 |
| Sonoma 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 18.6 | 14.3 | 16.7 |
| Sonoma FFV · Pickup truck: Small · E85 ethanol | 19.6 | 14.3 | 17.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
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 2001 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 |
| 634710 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0140. *TT |
| 634506 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERAL WATERLEAK GUIDE. *TT |
| 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 |
| 628934 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP IS ILLUMINATED, NO 3RD AND 4TH GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY, THE TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL OR A LOSS OF DRIVE OCCURS. *TT |
| 628815 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSTIC TIPS FOR SLIPPING OR MISSING SECOND, THIRD AND/OR FOURTH GEAR. *TT |
| 628025 | SOME THREE DOOR PICK-UPS MAY HAVE A THIRD DOOR HANDLE THAT BREAKS OR IS HARD TO OPERATE. *TT |
| 627912 | SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP ILLUMINATED, INCORRECT TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, POOR PERFORMANCE OF ENGINE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *YH |
| 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 |
| 625352 | INFORMATION REGARDING OPERATED IN HOT CLIMATES MAY EMIT AN ODOR FROM THE UNDER HOOD RIGHT OR LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA. *YH |
| 623797 | INFORMATION REGARDING FUEL GAUGES THAT WON'T READ FULL WITH A FULL TANK OF FUEL. *TT |
| 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 |
| 623765 | SUBJECT REGARDING FUEL GAUGE CALIBRATION SCHEDULE. *TT |
| 623714 | THIS MESSAGE STATES THAT THE FUEL GAUGE ON CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY NOT READ FULL WHENTHE FUEL TANK IS FULL. *TT |
| 623398 | SUBJECT REGARDING HARSH SHIFTS ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *SLC |
| 619765 | SUBJECT REGARDING AN INVESTIGATION OF 2-4 BAND OR 3-4 CLUTCH DAMAGE ON 4L60E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TT |
| 619762 | SUBJECT REGARDING INVESTIGATION OF HARSH SHIFTS ON 4L60E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *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 |
| 619246 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS OR INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TT |
| 619226 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.3L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A CLICK / NO START CONDITION IN COLD WEATHER, BUT STARTS AFTER REPEATED KEY CYCLES OR WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES ABOVE 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation