1996 GMC Sonoma Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sonoma years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 GMC Sonoma. That ranks 3rd out of 11 Sonoma model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (49 complaints, 33%), typically at around 101,816 miles. Complaints mention 26 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 148owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 26complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 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 | 49 | 33% | 101,816 | — | — |
| Visibility | 31 | 21% | 67,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 13% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 16 | 11% | 126,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 10 | 7% | 166,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 3% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 2% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 82,800 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | 134,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 1% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 GMC Sonoma recalls (6)
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty passenger pickup trucks equipped with 4.3l engines. The front brake line can contact the left-hand side of the engine oil pan causing the brake line to wear to the point of brake fluid loss during brake application.
Risk: Brake fluid loss can reduce braking effectiveness and increase stopping distances resulting in a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the clearance between the oil pan and the brake line. If the clearance is 6mm or less, dealers will install an additional brake line clip and if there was contact between the oil pan and brake line, the front brake line will be replaced.
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.
Visibility:windshield
Problem: The top coat paint severely peels due to overbaking of the powder primer prior to the top coat application. Since the windshield primer and adhesive adhere to the top coat paint onthe windshield opening flange, the windshield does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "windshield mounting."
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the windshield may not stay in place as required by fmvss no. 212.
Fix: All vehicles have been repurchased. This campaign is 100%.
Power train:manual transmission
Problem: Some of these trucks were built with transmissions containing parts which were not machined to gm's specifications.
Risk: These transmissions could seize and lock the rear drive wheels while the truck is being driven causing a loss of vehicle control increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the transmission main shaft output torque using a special tool. If the output torque does not meet specifications, the transmission will be replaced.
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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The air bag light stays on. It turns off sometimes for about 5 minutes or fewer minutes. No repair shop can determine how to repair this issue. When the air bag light is on the air bag would not operate that's what i have read. Is there a recall on the air bag light? Or is there a fix for this…
Fuse blows to interior lights, but more importantly horn. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 gmc sonoma. The contact stated that the straps that support the tailgate failed. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of failure. No repairs were made. The dealer information was unknown. The current mileage was 152,000 and failure mileage was 150,000. Updated…
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…
Fuel line leaking . *ak
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 | 148 | 6 |
| 1995 Sonoma | 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 1996 GMC Sonoma?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, visibility, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 49 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 GMC Sonoma?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 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 1996 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.