FaultScore

Worst years for a GMC Sonoma

Owners have filed 1,739 complaints about the GMC Sonoma with NHTSA across model years 1984 to 2005. More of them are about the brakes than anything else.

Avoid

1995 GMC Sonoma

254 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly brakes.

Cleanest on record

2002 GMC Sonoma

74 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every GMC Sonoma year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2005 1 0 0 Seat Belts
2003 C 53 3 1 44,119 Transmission & Drivetrain
2002 B 74 2 1 37,900 Brakes
2001 C 108 9 1 52,724 Body & Structure
2000 C 180 17 0 60,000 Body & Structure
1999 C 78 6 3 55,000 Brakes
1998 C 202 15 2 68,180 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
1997 C 160 20 0 54,000 Brakes
1996 D 190 34 1 94,325 Brakes
1995 D 254 35 0 96,500 Brakes
1994 D 297 23 2 115,000 Brakes
1993 C 72 8 5 Brakes
1992 33 3 0 Brakes
1991 35 3 3 Brakes
1990 1 0 0 Seat Belts
1984 1 1 0 Brakes

What breaks on a GMC Sonoma

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Brakes 530 30.5%

Worst in 1994

Worst in 1994

Engine & Cooling 134 7.7%

Worst in 1995

Body & Structure 125 7.2%

Worst in 2000

Worst in 1996

Seats 79 4.5%

Worst in 1998

Worst in 1994

Airbags 68 3.9%

Worst in 1995

Worst in 1995

Worst in 1994

Suspension 47 2.7%

Worst in 2000

Lights 36 2.1%

Worst in 2001

Worst in 2000

Tires 31 1.8%

Worst in 1995

Exactly what failed on a GMC Sonoma

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 339 40.0%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 99 11.7%
Motor 98 11.6%
Hinge AND Attachments 72 8.5%
Automatic Transmission 48 5.7%
Recliner 45 5.3%
Frontal 45 5.3%
Foundation Components 39 4.6%
Engine 34 4.0%
Gasoline 29 3.4%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every GMC Sonoma, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jan 1995 peak 40 Jul 2025

GMC Sonoma problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the GMC Sonoma

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.