26 of the 1,739 complaints filed about the GMC Sonoma are about the steering — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.
26
Complaints
1%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
STEERING
DRIVER WAS GOING APPROX. 40MPH DOWN THE RURAL HIGHWAY IN HEAVY RAIN AND THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER CAME TO A STOP. BY THE TIME THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA SAW THE TRUCK IT WAS TOO LATE TO STOP AND NOT HIT THE STOPPED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE SONOMA HIT THE STOPPED TRUCK AND TOTALED THE SONOMA. AT NO POINT DID THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10465485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
1991 GMC SONOMA. TILT STEERING HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE HAS NOT CAUSED ANY WRECKS OR DAMAGE AFRAID TO DRIVE. HAVE NOT TAKEN FOR REPAIRS. MILEAGE COUNTER BROKE SOME YEARS AGO THIS TRUCK HAS APROX. 200,000 MILES ON WITH NO OTHER COMPLAINTS, DID HAVE MANUAL TRANS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY MANY YEARS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10231232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
ON 1/25/06 I TOOK MY 2002 GMC SONOMA PICKUP TRUCK TO ALLEN GMC IN LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA TO HAVE THEM CHECK OUT A CLICKING NOISE I WAS HEARING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY IN IT. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT (GMC P/N 26056116) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 244.90 PLUS 188.00 FOR LABOR. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED FOR A WHILE BUT IN DECEMBER 2007 I NOTICED THAT THE SAME SYMPTOMS (CLICKING NOISE AS WELL AS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL) WERE BACK. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO ALLEN GMC WITH A COPY OF THE INVOICE (INV # GCCS358357)FOR THE ORIGINAL REPAIR. THE SERVICE WRITER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD RETURNED BUT SAID THAT THE REPAIR AND PARTS WERE OUT OF THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD. I TOLD HIM I WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR INABILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST AND WAS GIVEN THE PHONE NUMBER TO THEIR NATIONAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LINE (800 GMC-TRUC). I CALLED THIS NUMBER ON 2/15/08 AND TOLD THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP (TERRI AT EXT 21714) ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD FIXED AND THAT IT HAD RETURNED LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER. SHE GAVE ME A FILE NUMBER OF 71-607365535 AND TOLD ME I WOULD HEAR BACK FROM HER IN A FEW DAYS. ON 2/18/08, TERRI CALLED BACK TO INFORM ME THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT ELAPSED SINCE THE REPAIR THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT GMC WOULD DO FOR ME. I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT IT IS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT A CUSTOMER TO PAY NUMEROUS TIMES FOR A GMC PART THAT CLEARLY WAS POORLY DESIGNED. I TOLD HER THAT I FOUND SEVERAL INCIDENCES ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME PART AND THAT GMC NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE PART THEY NEED TO FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE. SINCE THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STEERING SYSTEM, I THINK IT IS IS IMPERATIVE THAT GMC FIX IT AND NOT CAUSE THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #10220734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS IN MY 2000 GMC SONOMA HAVE SEAT POSITIONING CONTROLS AND LOCKING MECHANISIMS THAT DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK PROPERLY AND/OR GET JAMMED UP AND HAVE BROKEN. A FRIEND WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT FAILED TO LOCK INTO PLACE TO KEEP IT FROM SLIDING FORWARD. I ADJUSTED THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE TO HELP 'REALIGN' THE SEAT FRAME SO THAT THE MECHANISM THAT KEEPS THE SEAT FROM SIDING FRONT AND BACK WOULD KEEP THE SEAT LOCKED INTO POSITION ONCE THE SEATING DISTANCE IS SET. ALSO, THE RECLINING HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF, NOT ALLOWING FOR SEAT BACK SUPPORT ANGLE ADJUSTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK SUPPORT ADJUSTMENT LEVER OFTEN 'STICKS' OR 'LOCKS' INTO POSITION....NOT ALLOWING FOR SEAT BACK REST ADJUSTMENT. REAR DIFFERENTIAL SOMETIMES LOCKS UP AND OR SLIPS AND SHAKES AND MAKES NOISE...ESPECIALLY WHEN SIDEWAYS FORCE IS APPLIED...SUCH AS WHEN TURNING IN A CURVE OR CIRCULAR FASHION WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. BOTH TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES BROKE ON THE TRUCK. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BEARING HAD EXCESS WEAR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 65 000 KM. DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER ARM GOT DISLODGED FROM THE SHAFT THAT TURNS IT AND WAS KNOCKED OUT OF POSITION ON 2 OCCASIONS. POWER STEERING FAILS FOR SHORT INTERMITTENT PERIODS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED FROM A 'COLD' AND 'WARM' STATE AND THE STEERING BECOMES STIFFER AND LESS RESPONSIVE. MOST NOTICABLE AT SLOWER VEHICLE SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #10185417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
AT 35 MPH PASSANGER LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE BEING DISABLED AND TOWED FROM FROM ROAD. 94 SONOMA 2.2 LITER WITH 180,000 MILES. I HAD NO CLUE AS TO THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO RUN FINE JUST BEFORE THE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10126596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
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.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
AFTER HEARING OF THE DODGE DURANGO BALL JOINT ISSUE (HTTP://WWW.CBSNEWS.COM/STORIES/2003/10/27/EVENINGNEWS/MAIN580233.SHTML) I DECIDED TO WRITE.*AK I HAVE A 2000 GMC SONOMA. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS WITH THE FRONT-END STEERING COMPONENTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IDLER ARM THREE TIMES ALREADY. TWO OF THESE TIMES WERE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. ALSO, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE PORTIONS OF THE TIE-RODS TWICE, AS WELL AS BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS. I FIND THIS IS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE TALKED TO MY DEALER ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THEY TOLD ME, "IT'S JUST THE WAY TO FRONT-ENDS WERE DESIGNED." FORTUNATELY I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE FOR PARTS AND LABOR. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IN TERMS OF SAFETY. I TRAVEL QUITE A BIT WITH THIS VEHICLE, AS ONE CAN SEE BY THE MILEAGE. I WONDER IF OTHER SONOMA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. I ALSO WONDER IF GMC IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10043729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH TILT STEERING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CANNOT BE USED IN THE FULL TILT POSITION BECAUSE IT OBSTRUCTS FULL EXTENSION OF THE RIGHT FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, MAKING BRAKING DIFFICULT. CONSUEMR FEELS THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE ONLY REPLY FROM THE DEALER AND GMC IS DON'T USE THE STEERING WHEEL IN ITS FULL TILT.
NHTSA complaint #567795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
STAMPED ALUMINUM SHAFT BROKE OFF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE RECLINER RELEASES WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER.
NHTSA complaint #766679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BLOWING THE IGNITION FUSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THIS CONTINUED UNTIL THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHORTED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL IN TRAFFIC, SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND FROM UNDER THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #9005523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT
VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY AND FRONT END WOULD SHAKE VISIBLY. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BALL JOINTS/ IDLER ARM AND TIE ROD ENDS AT34000 MILES. AT THIS TIME, SAME 3 COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PLUS FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. THE VEHICLE HAD SAME PROBLEM AS IN AUG 2000. ALSO, TIRES WERE WEARING OUT ON THE OUTSIDE. 3 DIFFERENT GMC DEALERS TOLD CONSUMER THAT GMC WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #893967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY AND FRONT END WOULD SHAKE VISIBLY. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BALL JOINTS/ IDLER ARM AND TIE ROD ENDS AT34000 MILES. AT THIS TIME, SAME 3 COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PLUS FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. THE VEHICLE HAD SAME PROBLEM AS IN AUG 2000. ALSO, TIRES WERE WEARING OUT ON THE OUTSIDE. 3 DIFFERENT GMC DEALERS TOLD CONSUMER THAT GMC WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #893967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
A RECLINER WAS REPLACED ON THE SEAT. ALSO, POWER STEERING PUMP AND GEAR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #871787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING WHEEL AND TILT ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE, MAKING VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. TOLD BY VARIOUS GM MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY GM TILT COLUMNS ON ALL MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #730041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
SINCE I GOT THIS VEHICLE ON 9/26/00 I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES THE SECURITY LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND FLASH, CAUSING ME TO THINK IT MAY SHUT DOWN ON THE THRUWAY LEAVING ME TERRIFIED. ATLEAST 40 TIMES I WOULD GET INTO THIS VEHICLE AND IT VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START, IF LEFT SIT ALONE FOR 10-15 MIN. IT WOULD START NO PROBLEM. WELL I DONT HAVE 10 MIN TO WAIT EVERY TIME I NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE. THE DOORS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE KEEP FALLING OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSING AN UNTRUE SEAL AND ALLOWING FOR WATER TO LEAK IN TO THE TRUCK. THIS LEAK HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REAK OF MILDEW ON THE INSIDE , WELL THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO DEAL WITH. I HAVE CHRONIC ASTHMA AND BAD ALLERGIES WHICH TRIGGER ATTACKS, THE LAST TIME I PICKED IT BACK UP FROM SUPPOSEDLY BEING FREE FROM SMELL , IT STILL REAKED OF MILDEW AND I DID NOT EVEN GET HOME FROM DEALER BEFORE I STARTED TO WEEZE FROM ASTHMA ATTACK SYMPTONS. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR GMC 3 TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY AFTER TIME AND I WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT, I WAS ALSO TOLD THIS AT THE DEALER. THIS WAS THE 5TH TIME I TOOK IN FOR THE SMELL AND MISCELANOUS THINGS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE SMELL WAS NEVER FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT NOTED ON THE BILL THE FIRST 4 TIMES, AGAIN NOT MY PROBLEM. I COULD GO ON FOREVER , BUT I WILL SAVE IT FOR THE PHONE. I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK FOR 5 DAYS, AND IT IS GOING BACK TO THE DEALER ON 7/26 TO FIX THE SMELL AND REPAINT THE DOOR ROCKER THAT WAS SCRATCHED BY THE DEALER WHEN ALIGNMENT OF THE DOOR TOOK PLACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND URGENCY , I AM AT MY END WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND NEED AN ALLYE?
NHTSA complaint #726032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED THE DEALER MADE THE COMMENT "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THE STEERING COLUMNS. IF YOU CAN SEND ME A E-MAIL ADDRESS I CAN SEND PHOTOS OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE CRACKS IN THE METAL. THERE WAS ONLY ABOUT 3/4 OF AN INCH OF METAL HOLDING THE STEERING COLUMN TOGETHER. I HATE TO THINK WHAT THE RESULTS WOULD BE IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURED IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION. JOE GILARDI.
NHTSA complaint #718901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
LACK OF SECURITY LOCK FOR THE VEHICLE RESULTED IN SPARE TIRE AND WHEEL THEFT. YH
NHTSA complaint #609047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN TILT POSITION GAUGES ARE NOT VISIBLE. YH
NHTSA complaint #609929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES
TRUCK MAKES POPPING NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING OR STOPPING HARD. VEHICLE HAS HAD 6 SERVICE ORDERS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 15 VISITS TO THE SHOP. I HAVE TRIED THREE DIFFERENT GMC SERVICE CENTERS. TO DATE THEY HAVE STILL NOT SUCCEEDED AT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM 1ST OCCURRED 3-20-99 WITH 6045 MILES. EVERY TIME THEY HAVE EITHER TIGHTEN, LUBED OR REPLACED SOMETHING. THE PROBLEM ALWAYS REOCCURS SHORTLY AFTER SERVICE. CURRENTLY THEY ARE ORDERING SOME MORE PARTS TO REPLACE. BETWEEN THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK IN THE SHOP SO MUCH THAT I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A SECOND VEHICLE (NOT A GM PRODUCT!)SO I HAVE SOMETHING TO DRIVE WHEN THIS ONE IS IN THE SHOP. I TRULY FEEL I HAVE A LEMON IN MY DRIVEWAY. I CAN SUBMIT FULL DEALER DOCUMENTATION UPON REQUEST.
NHTSA complaint #709184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.