1995 GMC Sonoma Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sonoma years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 213 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 GMC Sonoma. That is the most of any Sonoma model year in the database (11 years). The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (80 complaints, 38%). Complaints mention 27 crashes, 12 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 213owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 27complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1995 GMC Sonoma problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 80 | 38% | — | “abs brakes” (18%) | — |
| Visibility problems | 52 | 24% | 79,000 | “windshield wipers” (63%) | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 26 | 12% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 13 | 6% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 5% | 98,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 4% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 7 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 3% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 2% | 148,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 109,950 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1995 GMC Sonoma recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Problem: Vehicle description: certain 4-wheel drive pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with abs (antilock braking system) manufactured from september 1989 through august 1996. Under certain driving conditions the switch which signals the abs system whether the vehicle is in 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive can malfunction causing increased stopping distances during abs stops while in the two-wheel drive mode.
Risk: If this occurred at a time when minimum stopping distance was required, a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will replace or repair the 4-wheel/2-wheel drive switch.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work intermittently.
Risk: This condition can result in inoperative wipers, reducing a driver's visibility, and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
Seat belts
Problem: Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a frontal impact.
Risk: If a separation occurred and there were secondary crash events or vehicle rollover, there would be no belt restraint of the occupant and increased injuries could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Windshield wiper failure (EA97022) — opened Oct 23, 1997, closed Jul 2, 1998, led to recall 98V150001.
- Windshield wiper (PE97028) — opened Jun 17, 1997, closed Oct 23, 1997.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I was accelerating onto interstate highway i94 when my truck suddenly bounced up jumping and coming back down on the entrance ramp. As i looked in my rear view mirror i saw my spare tire bouncing off into a nearby field. The spare was held under the truck bed by a steel cable which later i found…
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…
1995 gmc sonoma dies while driving, all electrical systems fail. Have to put in neutral to restart while moving. *tr
I had problems with my 1995 gmc windshield wipers working intermittently,and one day,on my first day back to work as a teacher,it rained horribly and the wipers wouldn't work. I paid a lot of money to firestone to get them fixed. Now i read there was a recall and never received any info. And have…
While driving, the wipers can stop causing a sudden loss of visibility. *tr
Other GMC Sonoma years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Sonoma | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 Sonoma | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 Sonoma | 39 | 1 |
| 2002 Sonoma | 57 | 0 |
| 2001 Sonoma | 89 | 1 |
| 2000 Sonoma | 136 | 3 |
| 1999 Sonoma | 57 | 0 |
| 1998 Sonoma | 156 | 3 |
| 1997 Sonoma | 111 | 2 |
| 1996 Sonoma | 148 | 6 |
| 1995 | 213 | 3 |
See all GMC Sonoma problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1995 GMC Sonoma?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, visibility, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 80 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1995 GMC Sonoma?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1995 GMC Sonoma a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sonoma model years, the 1995 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.