1999 GMC Sonoma problems
NHTSA has received 78 complaints about the 1999 GMC Sonoma, and 13% of them involve brakes. After that come seats (12%) and body & structure (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 78 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 6 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 5 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 55,000 miles 25 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 25 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 55,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 6 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 5 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 13 model years of the GMC Sonoma with enough data (46 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving at 10 MPH consumer was hit head-on by another vehicle on driver's side. Upon impact, driver's side and passenger's side air bags didn't deploy. Driver sustaine d lower back injury. Is currently in physical therapy.
The accident that happened in october wasn't reported because it was a single vehicle accident and the pavement was wet. I figured it was my fault and not the brakes. At the second accident, the pavement was dry and the collision was was a result of the brakes failing. I can only conclude that brakes during the first time were a compelling factor to the accident. I went to the dealership to complain about problems I had been experienceing with the brakes before both accidents.
Vehicle struck the rear of another vehicle at 35MPH, neither driver's side nor passenger's side air bag deployed. Manufacturer has been contacted.
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 GMC sonoma. While driving 5 MPH on a flooded dirt road, the contact crashed into a ditch. After the crash, the vehicle came to a complete stop. The air bag deployment was delayed. The contact sustained a cracked pelvis, broken facial bones, optic nerve damage, and other severe injuries to the face. Medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was destroyed and towed.
Dt*: the contact stated the steel tailgate support cables fractured upon opening the tailgate without warning. Although the problem persisted, the vehicle was not seen by a dealer. There is a NHTSA recall, # 04v129000, regarding the tailgate hinge and attachments. The VIN was not included in the recall. Updated 05/31/06.