35 of the
1,739 complaints filed about the GMC Sonoma
are about the doors, latches and locks —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
THERE ARE 4 LATCHES ON 2003 GMC SONOMA TRUCK AND THREE IMPACT PERSONAL SAFETY. TAILGATE DOES NOT AS PERSON DOES NOT RIDE IN TRUCK BED. THE PASSENGER DOOR LATCHES ARE METAL. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH IS PLASTIC AND BROKE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.BOTH TIME SAME DEFECT. IN EMERGENCY IF PERSON IN JUMP SEAT CAN'T GET OUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH. FOURTH LATCH IS SEAT RECLINES VIA LATCH. HANDLE HAS BROKE. IF SEAT RECLINES PERSON IN JUMP SEAT HAS TROUBLE EXITING VEHICLE. IF SEAT IS IN RECLINE PERSON CANNOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY. LATCHES ARE PLASTIC.
NHTSA complaint #10369302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAILGATE FELL OFF TRUCK WHILE BEING DRIVEN. SAFETY CABLES HAD RUST, METAL FATIGUE, AND BROKE ALLOWING TAILGATE TO COMPLETELY DETACH FROM VEHICLE. NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE INJURED. TAILGATE WAS RECOVERED.
NHTSA complaint #10344477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GM SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20 MPH, THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DOOR LATCH PIN WAS FOUND TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND WERE NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #10336953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2002, BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, TODAY IT BROKE AGAIN. IF SOMEONE WERE IN THE BACK OF THE CAB AND HAD TO GET OUT, THEY COULD NOT. THIS HANDLE IS PLASTIC AND BREAKS CONTINUOUSLY. THE CHEVY HOUSE INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE THIS PART IN STOCK ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN. THEY REPLACED IT 4 TIMES WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY NOW, SO I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED AND MADE INTO A HEAVIER MATERIAL AND MADE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10244347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LT TRUCK 3RD DOOR LATCH ON GMC SONOMA (15760310) BREAKS AT TOP OF BRACKET, WITH LESS THAN 600 USES. I AM QUADRIPLEGIC AND COULD NOT ACCESS OR LOAD WHEELCHAIR DUE TO FAILURE, HAD TO FIND HELP AT OUTSIDE LOCATION AND RESIDENCE, BUT COULD RESULT IN HYPERTHERMIA OR HEAT STROKE IF OCCURRED IN REMOTE OR SECLUDED LOCATION.
NHTSA complaint #10188494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE 3RD DOOR LATCH ON CHEVROLET/GMC EXTENDED CABS IS SUBJECT TO FAILURE WITH FEWER THAN 1000 OPENINGS. I AM QUADRIPLEGIC AND STORE MY WHEEL CHAIR USING THE SPACE; AND HAVE HAD 2 FAILURES IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. READING BLOCS IT HAS BEEN A CONTINUED REPORTED ISSUE. SINCE THERE IS ONLY THE ONE DOOR RELEASE, AND I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TWICE DUE TO THE FAILED PART LATCH ASSEMBLY A REDESIGN RECALL OR SECONDARY RELEASE BE ADDED AFTER BY MFG FOR ALL AFFECTED MODELS. PART NUMBER: 15760310. *AK THERE IS NO WARNING, THE PLASTIC NEEDS TO BE METAL, AND A SECONDARY RELEASE FOR EMERGENCY. PEOPLE CAN BE TRAPPED OR IN MY CASE CONFINED WITH NO WAY TO GET AWAY/OUT OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10188037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GMC SONOMA 2000 THIRD DOOR LATCH BROKE SO THAT DOOR WON'T OPEN BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT HANDLE TO ADJUST SEAT BROKE OFF SO THAT THE SEAT IS IN A TILT POSITION AND WILL NOT ADJUST. ALMOST TO A POSITION OF 50% BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10183525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LEFT DOOR HANDLE DETACHED AND MOVED FREELY WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR HANDLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED TWICE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, YET THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED.
NHTSA complaint #10172915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIRD DOOR LATCH BROKE. CONTACTED DEALER AND GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE. TOLD NO RECALLS ON LATCH. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY DEALER TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED LATCH TO BREAK IF PART DEFECTIVE GMC WOULD PAY FOR FIX BUT NOT FOR DEALERS LABOR FOR DIAGNOSING PROBLEM. DEALER SAID IT WOULD TAKE 30 MINUTES MINIMUM TO 1 HOUR AND HALF AT 75 DOLLARS A HOUR. TALKED TO ANOTHER DEALER SERVICE MANAGER,TOLD "REPAIR THEM ALL THE TIME".TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL BODY SHOP WHO ALSO SAID"REPAIR THEM ALL THE TIME".READ ON INTERNET AUTO BULLETIN BOARDS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10144978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 GMC SONOMA WAS BEING USED TO MOVE INTO AN APARTMENT. THE TAILGATE LATCH DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE TAILGATE CAME OPEN. THE TAILGATE CABLE FAILED ON ONE SIDE. THE TAILGATE DROPPED TO THE ROAD AND WAS DRAGGED BY THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON NOTICING THE SPARKS FROM METAL ON THE CONCRETE ROAD SURFACE AND HEARING THE NOISE. THE TAILGATE WAS DAMAGED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WITH METAL AND PAINT WORN AWAY. THE TAILGATE WAS TOUCH UP PAINTED TO PREVENT RUST. A GMC DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT DUE THE COST(OVER $100) THE CABLE WAS NOT REPLACED AND THE TRUCK HAS SEEN LIMITED USE FOR CARGO. THE CABLE IS STILL INSTALLED ON THE TRUCK AND IT IS COMPLETED CORRODED AT THE POINT OF FAILURE AND I DO NOT TRUST THE CONDITION OF THE REMAINING CABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10143980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: 1997 GMC SONOMA. THE CONSUMER STATES THE TAILGATE CABLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE BROKE WHILE HE WAS STANDING ON IT. THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO BROKE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. HE CONTACTED GMC, AND THEY TOLD HIM IF THERE WAS A RECALL HE WOULD BE REIMBURSED. HE DID NOT WANT TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. HE TOOK CABLES FROM ANOTHER TYPE OF VEHICLE AND FIXED IT HIMSELF.
NHTSA complaint #10134244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE TAILGATE ON MY SONOMA TRUCK WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION, A PIECE OF WOOD (SO SMALL IT DIDN'T EVEN LEAVE A DENT) FELL ON THE GATE. THE TWO CABLES WHICH SUPPORT THE TAILGATE BOTH SNAPPED AT THE SAME TIME ALLOWING THE GATE TO FALL STRAIGHT DOWN. AFTER FINDING THE INFO REGARDING THE SIERRA TRUCKS HAVING THIS PROBLEM, YOU NEED TO KNOW IT IS THE SMALL TRUCKS AS WELL. THE EXACT SAME REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM GMC COST ME APPROX $96.00, AND I HAVE TO INSTALL THEM MYSELF! VERY HAZARDOUS.
NHTSA complaint #10131417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GMC 2000 SONOMA SLS 1) THE THIRD DOOR PLASTIC HANDLE ACTUATOR SNAPS OFF. (ONCE IN 5 YEARS) .....I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY CAREFUL NOT TO FORCE THE HANDLE BECAUSE A MECHANIC TOLD ME FOUR YEARS AGO THAT THE HANDLES WERE ALREADY BREAKING ON MANY CUSTOMERS. I BOUGHT THE PART AT A GM DEALERSHIP FOR $30 AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF...NOT TOO TOUGH IF YOU ARE A "PROJECT PERSON" WITH MANY TOOLS. TOOK ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE INITIAL ROD ADJUSTMENT MUST HAVE BEEN BAD BECAUSE MY INSTALL IS NOW BETTER FUNCTIONING THAN THE ORIGINAL. 2) THE METAL ROD OF THE RECLINER HANDLE SNAPS IN HALF. (ONCE IN 5 YEARS) ......THIS HAPPENED WHEN A TECHNICIAN WAS WORKING IN THE BACK CAB SPACE REPLACING MY BACK WINDOW. I THOUGHT THEY DID IT ON PURPOSE TO GENERATE SOME PAPERWORK. THE GUY SWORE TO ME THAT THOSE HANDLES HAVE BROKEN ON THEM MANY TIMES, AND MY PASSENGER SIDE WILL DO THE SAME SHORTLY. THEY REPLACED IT FOR FREE, BUT IT TOOK TWO HOURS AND THEY HAD TO TAKE THE WHOLE SEAT APART. 3) THE TAILGATE CABLES CORRODE AND SUDDENLY BREAK IN HALF. (TWICE IN 5 YEARS) ......THE FIRST TIME IT JUST SNAPPED FOR NO REASON. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT FREE. JUST ONE YEAR LATER THE NEW CABLE BROKE WHEN I WAS PUSHING OFF A LOAD...I ALMOST TUMBLED OFF UNDER THE DROPPING LOAD. THEY WANT $48 FOR THE CABLE ALONE, WHICH IS RIVETED TO A BRACKET. I AM NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND REFUSE TO PAY THAT MUCH OR THE LABOR. I AM GOING TO RIG UP MY OWN REPLACEMENT. MEANWHILE, THE EXISTING CABLE IS STRAINED AND THE UPPER CABLE BODY ATTACHMENT ROD IS BENT. THE TAILGATE WAS DENTED WAS THE CABLES SNAPPED. I CONDUCTED MUCH RESEARCH ON THE WEB ON THESE ISSUES, AND FOUND THEY ARE A COMMON PROBLEM. MOST PEOPLE WON'T TAKE THE TIME TO REPORT THEM, THOUGH....SO YOU NEED TO ESTIMATE THIS AND ALSO DEMAND GM'S WARRANTY AND PARTS RECORDS. WHAT IS SAD IS THAT ALL THREE OF THESE ISSUES INVOLVE GMC LITERALLY TRYING TO SAVE PETTY NICKLES AND DIMES ON MATERIAL QUALITY IN CRITICAL FUNCTION PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10126154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GMC 2000 SONOMA SLS 1) THE THIRD DOOR PLASTIC HANDLE ACTUATOR SNAPS OFF. (ONCE IN 5 YEARS) .....I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY CAREFUL NOT TO FORCE THE HANDLE BECAUSE A MECHANIC TOLD ME FOUR YEARS AGO THAT THE HANDLES WERE ALREADY BREAKING ON MANY CUSTOMERS. I BOUGHT THE PART AT A GM DEALERSHIP FOR $30 AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF...NOT TOO TOUGH IF YOU ARE A "PROJECT PERSON" WITH MANY TOOLS. TOOK ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE INITIAL ROD ADJUSTMENT MUST HAVE BEEN BAD BECAUSE MY INSTALL IS NOW BETTER FUNCTIONING THAN THE ORIGINAL. 2) THE METAL ROD OF THE RECLINER HANDLE SNAPS IN HALF. (ONCE IN 5 YEARS) ......THIS HAPPENED WHEN A TECHNICIAN WAS WORKING IN THE BACK CAB SPACE REPLACING MY BACK WINDOW. I THOUGHT THEY DID IT ON PURPOSE TO GENERATE SOME PAPERWORK. THE GUY SWORE TO ME THAT THOSE HANDLES HAVE BROKEN ON THEM MANY TIMES, AND MY PASSENGER SIDE WILL DO THE SAME SHORTLY. THEY REPLACED IT FOR FREE, BUT IT TOOK TWO HOURS AND THEY HAD TO TAKE THE WHOLE SEAT APART. 3) THE TAILGATE CABLES CORRODE AND SUDDENLY BREAK IN HALF. (TWICE IN 5 YEARS) ......THE FIRST TIME IT JUST SNAPPED FOR NO REASON. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT FREE. JUST ONE YEAR LATER THE NEW CABLE BROKE WHEN I WAS PUSHING OFF A LOAD...I ALMOST TUMBLED OFF UNDER THE DROPPING LOAD. THEY WANT $48 FOR THE CABLE ALONE, WHICH IS RIVETED TO A BRACKET. I AM NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND REFUSE TO PAY THAT MUCH OR THE LABOR. I AM GOING TO RIG UP MY OWN REPLACEMENT. MEANWHILE, THE EXISTING CABLE IS STRAINED AND THE UPPER CABLE BODY ATTACHMENT ROD IS BENT. THE TAILGATE WAS DENTED WAS THE CABLES SNAPPED. I CONDUCTED MUCH RESEARCH ON THE WEB ON THESE ISSUES, AND FOUND THEY ARE A COMMON PROBLEM. MOST PEOPLE WON'T TAKE THE TIME TO REPORT THEM, THOUGH....SO YOU NEED TO ESTIMATE THIS AND ALSO DEMAND GM'S WARRANTY AND PARTS RECORDS. WHAT IS SAD IS THAT ALL THREE OF THESE ISSUES INVOLVE GMC LITERALLY TRYING TO SAVE PETTY NICKLES AND DIMES ON MATERIAL QUALITY IN CRITICAL FUNCTION PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10126154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED MY 2000 GMC SONOMA THIS YEAR AND HAVE HAD IT FOR 1MO. AND THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN. I HAVE READ THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM AND WONDERING IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. OR IS ALL THE GMC SONOMA BUYS JUST AT A LOST FOR EVERY TIME THE HANDLE BREAKS. DOES THE COMPANY CARE AT ALL. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. A METAL HANDLE COUNLD PROBABLY FIX THE PROBLEM OR MAKE THE DOOR RELEASE EASIER TO UNLOCK.
NHTSA complaint #10118150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 GMC SONOMA PICKUP. TAILGATE WAS DOWN WHILE UNLOADING GROCERIES. BOTH CABLES HOLDING TAILGATE UP BROKE AT SAME TIME ALLOWING TAILGATE TO DROP ON BUMPER.
NHTSA complaint #10116850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.