56 of the
1,739 complaints filed about the GMC Sonoma
are about the throttle and cruise control —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1994.
56
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
DRIVING MY 1994 SONOMA AT APPROX 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL STARTED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY FOOT AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN (AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TAKING OVER). I THINK THAT I THEN TAPPED THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE WENT BACK TO NORMAL SPEED, WHICH WAS TO DECELERATE AS MY FOOT WAS STILL OFF THE GAS PEDAL. I DO NOT USE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS IN THE ON POSITION. I HAVE SINCE SWITCHED CRUISE CONTROL TO OFF POSITION AND DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL MODULE HARNESS, AND WILL LEAVE IT DISCONNECTED.
NHTSA complaint #11384921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE THROTTLE STICKS AT 1500RPM AND WILL STICK ABOVE 1500RPM IF DOWNSHIFTED OR INCREASING SPEED. THE ONLY WAY TO LOWER THE RPM TO IDLE IS SHIFT TO NEUTRAL A N D COME TO A COMPLETE STOP -- FIRMLY HOLDING BRAKE TO MAXIMUM DEPRESSION AND THEN ONLY AFTER A FEW SECOND DELAY. UPON ENTERING ANY GEAR [AUTOMATIC XMSN] THE RPM WILL AGAIN GO TO 1500, BUT IF BRAKE PEDAL REMAINS DEPRESSED FOR ABOUT 10SEC THE RPM WILL GO BACK TO IDLE. ANY SLICK ROADS OR MOUNTAIN/STEEP DOWNHILL DRIVING IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS! CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON AND COMPUTER READING CALLS FOR REPLACEMENT OF A SENSOR WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE DIRECTIONS SAY TO LET THE NEW SENSOR "BREAK IN" BY IDLING FOR 20 MINUTES MINIMUM PRIOR TO DRIVING. IT DOES NOT WORK! THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN WHEREIN A SENSOR OR COMPONENT MALFUNCTION RESULTS IN THROTTLE BOOST BEYOND OPERATOR CONTROL AND IS OFTEN AT RPM'S ABOVE 2500 !!! THE MALFUNCTION IS PERMANENT AND THE INCIDENT OCCURS EVERY DAY THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN !!!
NHTSA complaint #10374650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT THEN ABRUPTLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE REAR WHEELS CONTINUED SPINNING AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE AT EXTREMELY HIGH RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER; NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,210. UPDATED 5/12/10 *CN WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT, AT TIMES THE ENGINE WOULD ABRUPTLY GO TO FULL THROTTLE. UPDATED 06/04/10.
NHTSA complaint #10321610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT (GOING APPROX 20 MPH) WHEN THE THROTTLE STUCK AND QUICKLY SURGED TO RED LINE. I SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TACHOMETER WAS PEGGED OUT. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE (~8 YEARS AGO) WHILE I WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY. DURING THAT INCIDENT I ALSO SHUT OFF THE IGNITION BUT ACCIDENTALLY LOCKED THE STEERING WHEEL AND ENDED UP IN THE DITCH. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE DURING THAT INCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS GOING ABOUT 60 MPH AND HAD NO POWER BRAKES SINCE THE IGNITION WAS OFF. I WAS UNHURT BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED DURING THAT INCIDENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING AT THAT TIME. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10182935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. HE WAS UNABLE TO DEACTIVATE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE AND TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10146001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ACCELERATOR CABLE POPPED OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC,THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO IDLE AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO FIVE MILES AN HOUR. PEOPLE STARTED BLOWING THEIR HORN AT ME AS I ATTEMPTED TO FIND A SPOT TO PULL OUT OF THE TRAFFIC FLOW. THIS DID OCCUR AT A RELATIVELY SLOW 20-25 MILES PER HOUR, IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON AN ACCESS RAMP THE RESULTING SLOWDOWN WOULD MOST LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED AND I WILL NOT PAY THE DEALER OR GENERAL MOTORS TO FIX WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #10141992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF VEHICLE HANDLING PROBLEMS SINCE 5000 MILES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 9-10 TIMES. THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED, AND BELIEVED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE STILL BAD. ALSO, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING BOX. THIS WAS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. WITH ANY WIND THE VEHICLE WAS BLOWN AROUND. THE SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID IT WOULD MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE, BUT IT WAS NOT STATED ON THE SERVICE REPAIR SHEET. AT ONE POINT LOCK TIGHT WAS PUT ON THE BOLTS TO KEEP THEM FROM COMING LOOSE.*AK THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10125412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE ACCELERATOR CABLE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE GAS PEDAL HAS COME OFF THE PEDAL. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND IT IS SCARY WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO 10 MILES PER HOUR AS THE ENGINE DROPS TO IDLE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED IT WAS DAYTIME AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A GARAGE WHERE THE MECHANIC FIXED IT RIGHT AWAY, HE SAID THIS HAPPENS ENOUGH THAT HE KNEW HOW TO FIX IT EASILY. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS AT NIGHT AND FIVE MILES FROM HOME, I WAS ABLE TO IDLE MY WAY HOME (FLATLAND) AND FIXED IT MYSELF IN THE MORNING. THIS TIME IT WAS IN THE MORNING AT THE END OF MY STREET AND I AGAIN WAS ABLE TO IDLE HOME AND FIX IT. IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR ON THE INTERSTATE IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10098058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10071986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD BEFORE BRAKING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10063598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TWICE IN THREE YEARS THE ACCELARATOR CABLE BROKE, LEAVING US SITTING IN TRAFFIC. THE FIRST TIME WAS APPROX 3-4 WEEKS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND WILL NOT COVER/HONOR THEIR OWN REPAIRS FROM THREE YEARS AGO. WE ARE HAVING TO PAY FOR THE CABLE REPAIR AND NOW FEEL THAT FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 30K MILES-THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10033116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT STUCK OPEN, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WHICH SEEMED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10016064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STARTED OFF WITH A SUDDEN FAILURE TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY THEN CORRECTED ITSELF; ON AND OFF FOR A FEW WEEKS. DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND WAS FAILING TO RETURN TO STARTING POSITION; REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER TO ELIMINATE SOFT PEDAL BUT STILL STICKING AND NOT RETURNING TO STARTING POSITION. CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL INDICATOR READS VEHICLE IS FULL OF GAS. WHEN IN ACTUALITY VEHICLE IS EMPTY. AND WHEN TANK IS EMPTY IT READS FULL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #10001630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DANGEROUS! THROTTLE STUCK OPEN WHEN A COMPONENET RIVETED TO BUTTERFLY "BLADE" BROKE OFF AND LODGED CAUSING ALMOST WIDE OPEN THROTTLE - ENGINE HAD TO BE SHUTOFF TO AVOID ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #763277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE STARTS W/ A JERK WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED FROM A STOP. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WITH MANY NEEDING AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT AT LOW VEHICLE MILAGES. CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THIS UPDATE BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #762265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUST PULLED INTO THE MAIN STREET, DROVE A WAY DOWN THE ROAD, AND BECAUSE BRAKES DID NOT CATCH, REAR ENDED ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, WHILE BRAKING THE ENGINE WAS RACING, WHICH MADE IT HARDER FOR AUTO TO SLOW DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #8000959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AT TIMES WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF THE CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED DURING THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE WLL RUN AROUND 3000 RPM FOR APPROX. 15 SECONDS BEFORE IT RETURNS TO NORMAL IDLE. DEALER CLAIMS NO CODES AND ENGINE IS OPERATING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THEY TEST DROVE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEIR STATEMENT TO ME WAS " WE CAN NOT FIX IT IF WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO FIX". I ASKED THEM IF THEY HAD CALLED GMC TO TROUBLE SHOOT THE PROBLEM AND THEIR REPLY WAS YES AND THEY DID NOT KNOW AND HAD NO OTHER REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM. I PICKED THE TRUCK UP FROM THE DEALER ON 9/21 AND DROVE IT ON 9/22 AROUND TOWN WITH NO PROBLEM. THEN ON 9/23 AFTER A 3 STOP SHOPPING TRIP, THE TRUCK INCURED THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. MY DEALER HAS OFFERED TO KEEP THE TRUCK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS OF TEST DRIVING BUT I AM AFFRAID THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY DROVE IT 60 MILES THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD IT.
NHTSA complaint #752541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.