530 of the
1,739 complaints filed about the GMC Sonoma
are about the braking system —
30% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1994.
I HAD A NEAR DEATH ACCIDENTS (TWICE) DUE TO CATASTROPHIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE FROM SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE LINES THE FRONT LEFT AND THE INTERMEDIATE LINE FROM FRONT TO REAR SECTION ON TOP OF FRAME RAIL. FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT SPEED OF 45 MPH ON HIGHWAY WITH HARD STOP REQUIRED TO AVOID STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD. SECOND FAILURE WAS MORE INSIDIOUS WITH PROGRESSIVE BRAKE LINE RUST THROUGH/ LEAK SPOT TO REAR BRAKE LINES WITH FIN THROUGH AND FAILURE. THIS IS NOT COMPLICATED ... SIMPLY SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS FOR ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN A VEHICLE. IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHAT CONDITIONS ARE (IE SALT, COLD, ETC; DESIGN AND MATERIALS SHOULD BE MANDATED FOR BRAKE LINES NOT TO RUST THROUGH. THERE ARE MATERIALS WHICH COULD BE USED TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, PARTICULARLY FOR NORTHERN REGIONS WITH SALT ON ROADS. THE ENTIRE BRKE LINE SYSTEM IS ON THIS VEHILCLE (AND OTHERS) IS AN UNNECESSARY AND AVOIDABLE PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD. SURELY THERE HAVE BEEN DEATHS RESULTING FROM FAILURE, I WAS LUCKY AND HAD TO MANEUVER STRIGHT THROUGH BETWEEN 2 STOPPED VEHICLES AS I HAD NO OTHER OPTION WITH NO BRAKES. ALSO, ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE HANDLE OPERATED PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVERS , AS THE FOOT OPERATED ONE IN THIS VEHICLE WAS USELESS, BUT A PULL TYPE, HAND OPERATED BRAKE HANDLE WOULD HAVE BEEN READILY ACCESSIBLE AND LIKELY PREVENTED NEAR DEATH INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11338735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING A PANIC STOP THE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES FELT SOFT BUT STILL WORKED. DURING THE DRIVE THE BRAKES BECAME VERY WEAK. WHEN I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID IT WAS EMPTY. I REFILLED IT AND STARTED CHECKING FOR LEAKS. I FOUND THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES WE FRACTURED BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE DURING THE PANIC STOP CAUSING THE RUSTED LINES TO BURST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ( BUT NOT REPORTED) PROBLEM FOR THIS TRUCK IN THE NORTHERN AREA..
NHTSA complaint #11054621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FOR THE THIRD TIME MY BRAKE LINE BROKE AND LOST ALL BRAKES IN MOTION LUCK FOR ME AND MY WIFE WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD GOING TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SHOP FOR REPAIR AGAIN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH GMC QUALITY AND SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #10978723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK THE BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. TOOK THE TRUCK TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHERE THE LEAF SPRINGS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SHOP COULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR, AND KNEW NO ONE LOCALLY WHO COULD REPAIR THE CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RUST ISSUES WITH THE TRUCK OVER THE YEARS AS FOLLOWS: SPARE TIRE MOUNTING RUSTED THROUGH AND THE SPARE TIRE FLEW OFF THE TRUCK IN TRAFFIC; THE FUEL LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE DUE TO RUST; AND THE REAR BRAKES RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10779311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE BROKE UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAD ESTIMATES THAT WERE WELL OVER $300 TO FIX, AND HAVE NOT YET HAD WORK DONE. I ONLY PARK ON LEVEL ROADS AND HOPE TRANSMISSION WILL HOLD IN PARK. I FEEL THIS MUST BE A DEFECTIVE PART.
NHTSA complaint #10648632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING IN TOWN ABS LIGHT & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON, NO ACCIDENT. LOOKING FOR RECALLS, TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS! LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME I DRIVE TRUCK, SOMETIMES IMMEDIATELY.
NHTSA complaint #10579546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
ABOUT A YEAR AGO HAD ONE STEEL BRAKE LINBE BUST BECAUSE OF RUSTED. NOW TODAY IN MY YARD HIT BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT TO FLOOR AGAIN. RUSTED BRAKE LINE AGAIN. HAVE OTHER BRAKE LINES RUSTED VERY BAD.
NHTSA complaint #10537777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 19 JUNE 2013 I APPLIED THE BRAKES ON A DAMP/WET ROAD. BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP I EXPERIENCED A SORT OF HOPPING OF THE FRONT END WHILE GOING OVER A ROUGH SECTION OF ROADWAY. THIS SENSATION HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE AND I WAS TOLD IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-LOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM BUT NOTHING SPECIFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10521311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNABLE TO STOP DUE TO BRAKE PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR! BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE, AND WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS ALL THE WAY DOWN, FOOT COMES IN CONTACT WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP! THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE GMC PICKUPS, AS I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A 1991 GMC SONOMA. IN THIS CASE, I COULD HAVE AVOIDED A COLLISION, BUT COULD NOT STOP, EVEN THOUGH I HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH PLENTY OF FORCE. GM SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MAJOR DEFECT, WHICH WAS NOT CORRECTED FROM AT LEAST 1991 THROUGH 1997 -- AND PROBABLY BEYOND!
NHTSA complaint #10455314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE BRAKING FOR A YIELD INTERSECTION ON 3/30/2012, APPROX. 10AM, IN DRY AND CLEAR CONDITIONS, BRAKES ON 2002 GMC SONOMA FAILED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE HARD PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RAN THROUGH INTERSECTION ALMOST COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE STOPPED AND PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, BOTH THE ABS AND BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. UPON TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTING, BOTH THE ABS AND BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS CLEARED AND WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO BOTH INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND GM DEALERSHIP MECHANIC AND BOTH CONFIRMED AN ODB II TROUBLE CODE OF C0265 HAD BEEN GENERATED. THIS CODE, I WAS TOLD, INDICATES FAILURE OF THE EBCM (ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE) OF THE ABS SYSTEM. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN TO GM AND IT HAS ISSUED SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALLS. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COULD NOT REPLACE THE EBCM AS LACKED THE PROPRIETARY GM SOFTWARE NEEDED TO PROGRAM IT. GM DEALERSHIP MECHANIC--WHILE CONFIRMING GENERATION OF THE C0265 TROUBLE CODE--REFUSED TO REPLACE THE EBCM INSTEAD SAYING I SHOULD "JUST DRIVE IT AROUND AND SEE IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN." THIS SEEMED A VERY DISMISSIVE APPROACH BY GM TO A KNOWN PROBLEM ON CERTAIN OF THEIR ABS VEHICLES AS THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE ON 3/20/2012 ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. NOT ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE SECOND FAILURE THE GM DEALER WANTS ME TO "WAIT FOR" WOULD RESULT IN.
NHTSA complaint #10455210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE, BUT WAS CONCERNED IT COULD SUDDENLY OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #10453100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CODE C0265. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS MODEL YEAR (2000) AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS AND SURROUNDING YEARS HAVE THIS FAILURE. GROUNDING FAILURE TO ABS COMPUTER MODULE RESULTING IN THE NECESSITY TO REPLACE MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #10238384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT'S SON DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING BRAKE LINE FAILURE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #10236973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS LIGHT IS ON AND DEALER CLAIMS MY 1994 GMC SONOMA NEEDS A $2,200 ABS COMPUTER REPLACED. THERE WAS RECALL ON THE ABS MODULE IN 7/00. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL AFFECTED THE ABS COMPUTER THAT NOW NEEDS REPLACING AND I'M ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE FROM GMC ON SHARING THE REPLACEMENT COSTS.
NHTSA complaint #10221762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILURE AT SLOW SPEEDS-ABS TRIES TO ENGAGE,BRAKE IS SLOW AT FIRST WITH NOISE AND THEN ABS LIGHT APPEARS AND ENGAGES DANGEROUS BRAKING RESETS AFTER TURNING OFF GOES THROUGH IT ALL AGAIN NEST TIME YOU DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10202763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC SONOMA. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE LINE FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED TEMPORARILY. HOWEVER, TWENTY MILES LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE BRAKE LINE FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS REPLACED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL DURING BOTH FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 97V146001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,980.
NHTSA complaint #10197545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS & EMERGENCY DASH LIGHTS WILL TURN ON/OFF INTERMITTENLY; NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN/HOW OFTEN. HAD GM DEALER CHECK IT. MY EBCM HAD A SHORT, IF LIGHTS WERE ON, HAD NO ABS, JUST HYDRAULIC IF LIGHTS WERE OFF. I HAVE ABS. COST OF NEW MODULE IS $1100.00; PLUS LABOR!! DEALER SUGGESTED I LIVE WITH IT FOR COST OF REPAIR! I AGREED, BUT WORRIED THAT GM PROBABLY WERE IGNORING LIGHTS & THINKING THEY HAD GOOD ABS!!
NHTSA complaint #10187402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.