FaultScore

1997 GMC Sonoma engine problems

11 of the 160 complaints about the 1997 GMC Sonoma are about the engine — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 51,501 miles.

A

11

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 3 27.3%
Cooling System 3 27.3%
Gasoline 2 18.2%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 2 18.2%
Engine 1 9.1%

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.

at 60,985 miles Indianapols, IN

ENGINE

APPROX ONE MILE FROM HOME AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER A FEW SECONDS MANAGED TO RESTART ENGINE. ENGINE SHUT DOWN TWICE MORE BEFORE ARRIVING BACK HOME. AT HOME WAS UNABLE TO RESTART ENGINE HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GMC/BUICK DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AT A COST OF $600.23, I WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS NOT ON CURRENT RECALL LIST. IF NOT, WHY NOT. THANK GOD I WAS NOT ON INTERSTATE WITH A 16 WHEELER BEHIND ME. I CONTACTED GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ABOVE COST. REQUEST DENIED BECAUSE VEHICLE NOT ON RECALL LIST. I ALSO HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC WHICH IS ON RECALL LIST FOR IGNITION SWITCH NEVER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER UNTIL I COMPLAINED AT ABOVE CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY DID SEND ME RECALL LETTER CONCERNING CADILLAC. UNABLE TO HAVE SWITCH REPAIRED BECAUSE CADILLAC DEALER CANNOT GET PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #10626728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Rochester, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WE HAVE A 1997 GMC SONOMA WITH A VOTREC 4.3 X. OVER 2 YEARS AGO, WE STARTED GETTING MISFIRES. WE TRIED EVERYTHING WE COULD THINK OF, TO NO AVAIL. IN THE PAST MONTH I'VE PUT OVER $500 ALONE. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING IT UP ON-LINE, AND HAVE REALIZED, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. THERE HAS EVEN BEEN A RECALL IN CALIFORNIA, BUT ONLY THERE. GM TOLD ME THEY HAVE DIFFERENT GAS OUT THERE. ANOTHER MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE HAS BEEN THE WIPER MOTOR FAILURE, THAT HAD A RECALL. GM TOLD ME MY VIN # WAS NOT ON THE LIST, BUT I BATTLE MY WIPERS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. I HAVE TO YANK THE BLADES HALF WAY UP THE WINDOW BEFORE THEY GRAB AND START TO WORK. ONE MORE PROBLEM THAT I NOW KNOW I AM NOT ALONE ON IS THE ISSUE WITH DEX-COOL. WE HAVE FLUSHED AND REFILLED THE SYSTEM AT LEAST THREE TIMES, ONLY TO HAVE IT GUNK-UP AGAIN. PLEASE HELP ME AND ALL THE OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO GOT TRAPPED WITH JUNK VEHICLES. WE HAVE HAD TOO MANY OTHER FAILURES TO COUNT!

NHTSA complaint #10116406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Rochester, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WE HAVE A 1997 GMC SONOMA WITH A VOTREC 4.3 X. OVER 2 YEARS AGO, WE STARTED GETTING MISFIRES. WE TRIED EVERYTHING WE COULD THINK OF, TO NO AVAIL. IN THE PAST MONTH I'VE PUT OVER $500 ALONE. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING IT UP ON-LINE, AND HAVE REALIZED, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. THERE HAS EVEN BEEN A RECALL IN CALIFORNIA, BUT ONLY THERE. GM TOLD ME THEY HAVE DIFFERENT GAS OUT THERE. ANOTHER MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE HAS BEEN THE WIPER MOTOR FAILURE, THAT HAD A RECALL. GM TOLD ME MY VIN # WAS NOT ON THE LIST, BUT I BATTLE MY WIPERS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. I HAVE TO YANK THE BLADES HALF WAY UP THE WINDOW BEFORE THEY GRAB AND START TO WORK. ONE MORE PROBLEM THAT I NOW KNOW I AM NOT ALONE ON IS THE ISSUE WITH DEX-COOL. WE HAVE FLUSHED AND REFILLED THE SYSTEM AT LEAST THREE TIMES, ONLY TO HAVE IT GUNK-UP AGAIN. PLEASE HELP ME AND ALL THE OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO GOT TRAPPED WITH JUNK VEHICLES. WE HAVE HAD TOO MANY OTHER FAILURES TO COUNT!

NHTSA complaint #10116406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,002 miles Norco, LA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SINCE DAY ONE OF GETTING THE TRUCK, I NOTICE THAT THE GAS TANK METER WAS BROKE. BROUGHT IT BACK IN TO THEM FOR METER PLUS THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THEY FIXED THE METER PROBLEM BUT THEY SAID NEEDED BRAKE PADS CHANGED. SO I WENT HOME CHANGED THE BRAKE PAD, ROTOR, DRUMS. WENT BACK IN EVER SINCE THEN TILL NOW FOR COOLANT, KNOCKING OF ENGINE, A/C, MAIN ENGINE SEAL GASKETS, BRACKETS, FUEL SYSTEM, MOTOR MOUNTS, BELTS, SEALS, NIPPLES, STUDS, FAN CLUTCH, PULLEYS, PLUS BRAKES ARE STILL FAILING,(WENT ON LINE FOUND OUT BRAKES ARE RECALLED THEY FAILED TO TELL ME THAT). AS FAR AS I CAN SEE THE MOTOR IS BAD. THE TRUCK HAS COST ME MONEY OUT OF POCKET, WORK TIME, AS WELL AS MY OWN ON A PERSISTENT BASIS. THE TRUCK IS JUNK.

NHTSA complaint #10071111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Norco, LA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A 1997 GMC SONOMA S.N. [XXX]. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF THINGS WRONG WITH IT. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WENT OUT, THE MOTOR MOUND BROKE, THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, THE BRAKES FAIL, THE VALVES ARE TAPPING, MAIN FRONT BEARING SEAL IS LEAKING, BLINKERS ARE NOT WORKING,OIL IS LEAKING ON TOP OF ENGINE BY A/C, WATER IS LEAKING FROM HEATING COIL, WATER PUMP IS OUT NOW,GOD THAT IS ONLY SOME OF THE THINGS. I HAVE HAD IT 1YR. 7 MON. WHAT CAN I DO? I GOT THE WARRANTY. AND THANK GOD I DID. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10043608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Norco, LA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I HAVE A 1997 GMC SONOMA S.N. [XXX]. I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF THINGS WRONG WITH IT. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WENT OUT, THE MOTOR MOUND BROKE, THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, THE BRAKES FAIL, THE VALVES ARE TAPPING, MAIN FRONT BEARING SEAL IS LEAKING, BLINKERS ARE NOT WORKING,OIL IS LEAKING ON TOP OF ENGINE BY A/C, WATER IS LEAKING FROM HEATING COIL, WATER PUMP IS OUT NOW,GOD THAT IS ONLY SOME OF THE THINGS. I HAVE HAD IT 1YR. 7 MON. WHAT CAN I DO? I GOT THE WARRANTY. AND THANK GOD I DID. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10043608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miami, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER WAS REPLACING THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10031874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Edgewood, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AIR CONDITIONING FAILED AS WELL, AFTER ARGUING WITH DEALER EACH TIME GOT A RENTAL VEHICLE AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. TRUCK IS UNDEPENDABLE! WANT A VEHICLE BUY BACK!

NHTSA complaint #706367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mardela SP, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #538521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Vernon, IN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSTANT VIBRATION FROM ENGINE DUE TO A MISSING ENGINE MOUNT.

NHTSA complaint #535865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mcdonough, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

OIL COOLER LINE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO OIL PAN, RUBS AGAINST UNIT.

NHTSA complaint #531633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 GMC Sonoma problems

← Full 1997 GMC Sonoma report