FaultScore

1996 GMC Sonoma engine problems

21 of the 190 complaints about the 1996 GMC Sonoma are about the engine — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 89,000 miles.

B

21

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gasoline 8 38.1%
Engine 6 28.6%
Cooling System 3 14.3%
Emission Control 2 9.5%
Radiator Assembly 1 4.8%
Belts AND Associated Pulleys 1 4.8%

Engine & Cooling across every GMC Sonoma year

1994 20 21.5%
1995 30 32.3%
1996 21 22.6%
1997 11 11.8%
1998 11 11.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Nashville, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY ENGINE HAS BEEN SURGING, SLOW START, RATTLING, ROUGH IDLE, HARD SHIFTING, AND I HAVE HAD THE TRASMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES. MY DEALER TOLD ME AFTER AN INSPECTION THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, BUT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME. GO FIGURE! I HAVE PROOF OF THE NEW TRASMISSIONS. NOW THE COMPRESSOR IS CRACKED, AND IT WILL NOT HOLD COOLANT, AND I CAN HARDLY GET THE TRUCK GOING AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT. THESE REPAIRS ARE COSTING ALOT OF MONEY, AND I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS TRUCK. IT IS NOT WORTH THE COST OF REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10072453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Walkertown, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

MY TIMING TENSIONER KEEPS WEARING OUT AFTER ABOUT 15,000 MILES, IT STARTED WHEN I BOUGHT MY TRUCK IN 96 AROUND 25,000 MILES I NOTICE A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE,I TOOK THE TRUCK IS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY TOLD ME I WAS USING THE WRONG OIL FILTER,HA HA. THEY DID SOMETHING TO THE TRUCK BUT THE TICKING STOP UNTIL 36,000 MILES AND THEN MY WARRANTY WAS GONE. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER 7 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK EVER SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED,THE TENSIONER BROKE ONE TIME WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY,BENT TWO VALVES,AND A HEAD JOB LATER STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE I MAY HAVE BOUGHT A LEMON. THIS MAY NOT BE ON ALL TRUCKS BUT IT SURE HAS HAPPEN TO MINE. ITS LIKE THE TIMING SYSTEM DOES NOT LINE UP. TO WEAR THE TENSIONER IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. I HAVE REPLACED WITH GM PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #10054782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Birmingham, AL Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE., AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLED CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM CYLINDER ONTO HEAD GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #8015898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elkhart, IN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #748258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dayton, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT ONLY 42,000 MILES, AND WHILE DRIVING, IT CAUSES VALVE TO PUSH THROUGH HEAD.

NHTSA complaint #879286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stephens City, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE WILL STOP WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. AT TIMES, VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE STALL SIX TIMES. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE VEHICLE CAN BE DECLARED LEMON.

NHTSA complaint #875108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodridge, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING CHAIN IS MAKING CLANKING NOISE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TIMING CHAIN WAS NOT COVER UNDER A MFR'S RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #865032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington Beach, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

NOTICED SMELL FOR LONG TIME. STARTED TO TRY AND FIX 7 MONTHS AGO, 11/17. FILLING LEAKING COOLANT, NOTICING FLUXUATIONS IN ENGINE TEMP. CHANGED THERMOSTAT. RECEIVED NOTIFICATION LETTER(SPECIFICALLY STATING NOT RECALL CAMPAIGN) FROM GMC POSTMARKED 5/30/00 OF THIS PROBLEM. DEALER CONFLICT ON FIXING THIS FOR ME. CONCERNED ABOUT COMBUSTION AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY.

NHTSA complaint #723803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington Beach, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

NOTICED SMELL FOR LONG TIME. STARTED TO TRY AND FIX 7 MONTHS AGO, 11/17. FILLING LEAKING COOLANT, NOTICING FLUXUATIONS IN ENGINE TEMP. CHANGED THERMOSTAT. RECEIVED NOTIFICATION LETTER(SPECIFICALLY STATING NOT RECALL CAMPAIGN) FROM GMC POSTMARKED 5/30/00 OF THIS PROBLEM. DEALER CONFLICT ON FIXING THIS FOR ME. CONCERNED ABOUT COMBUSTION AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY.

NHTSA complaint #723803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milford, DE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FLASHES. THEN VEHICLE CUTS OFF, AND VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #858841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sturgeon, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, AND IT HAPPENS ONLY IN COLD WEATHER. SPEED DOES NOT COME INTO IT. THE MECHANIC, AT DEALERSHIP, COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #847830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centreville, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VALVE SEALS ON ORIGINAL/NEW ENGINE SEATED IMPROPERLY CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL USE AND ENGINE MISFIRE. VALVE SEALS REPLACED BY DEALER PER GMC NOTICE SOCMP96C17. TWO MONTHS LATER IN JANUARY, 1997, VALVE SEALS #4 AND #6 AGAIN FAILED WITH SAME SYMPTOMS BUT WERE REPLACED BY DEALER SINCE FAILURE TOOK PLACE WITHIN A YEAR OF ORIGINAL GMC NOTICE. IN 1999 SAME SYMPTOMS AGAIN SHOWED UP BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN JUNE, 1999, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE SEALS BECAUSE GMC SAID THEY WERE NO LONGER COVERED. GMC DEALER HAD ASSURED ME IN JANUARY, 1997, THAT SEALS WOULD BE COVERED AS LONG AS I OWNED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #710257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reno, NV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, PULLEY CAME OFF, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE IGINTION SWITCH OFF.

NHTSA complaint #835619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Branc, IA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLS.

NHTSA complaint #534829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Conyers, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING OR FAILS TO START AND THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME CHRONIC, CANNOT DIAGNOSE WHY THIS OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #522465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Conyers, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STALLS, FAILS TO RESTART, REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALLS.

NHTSA complaint #523168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Barbara, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WATER PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #603867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Semmes, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #520067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Semmes, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

POOR GAS MILEAGE.

NHTSA complaint #520067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Vegas, NV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE RACES VERY SLOWLY WHEN ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED AND SOMETIMES RACES BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTS.

NHTSA complaint #516069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carlsbad, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #602979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 GMC Sonoma problems

← Full 1996 GMC Sonoma report