1996 GMC Sonoma

◆ Worse than typical
1996 GMC Sonoma
RENDERED 2026-08-02T09:37:38.662Z

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, GMC Sonoma Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1996 highlighted. 1984: 1 complaints 1984 1990: 1 complaints 1991: 29 complaints 1992: 25 complaints 1992 1993: 58 complaints 1994: 224 complaints 1995: 213 complaints 1995 1996: 148 complaints 1996 1997: 111 complaints 1998: 156 complaints 1998 1999: 57 complaints 2000: 136 complaints 2001: 89 complaints 2001 2002: 57 complaints 2003: 39 complaints 2004: 0 complaints 2004 2005: 1 complaints 2005
1996: 148 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19841
19901
199129
199225
199358
1994224
1995213
1996148
1997111
1998156
199957
2000136
200189
200257
200339
20040
20051

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 23%

23% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 34 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE DRIVING THE FOUR WHEEL ABS BRAKE DID NOT WORK AND THE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19960222

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. TT

NHTSA ODI report, 19960220

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. TT

NHTSA ODI report, 19960220

VISIBILITY 11%

11% of complaints: visibility — 17 distinct reports on file.

VISIBILITY 7%

7% of complaints: visibility — 10 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED WIPERS TO FAIL MOSTLY DURING RAINY WEATHER. *TT

NHTSA ODI report, 20021030

POWER TRAIN 7%

7% of complaints: power train — 10 distinct reports on file.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6%

6% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 9 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

1996 — complaint volume: 148
R 19960216 — power train

SOME OF THESE TRUCKS WERE BUILT WITH TRANSMISSIONS CONTAINING PARTS WHICH WERE NOT MACHINED TO GM'S SPECIFICATIONS.

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 96V035000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19970130 — visibility

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 OPEN

Remedy: ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPURCHASED. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100%.

Campaign 97V008001 — check if this car was fixed

R 19970922 — seat belts

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. T

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.

Campaign 97V096001 — check if this car was fixed

R 19971020 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 PO

Remedy: 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

Campaign 97V146001 — check if this car was fixed

R 19981215 — visibility

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 INTERMI

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

Campaign 98V150001 — check if this car was fixed

R 19991210 — service brakes, hydraulic

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTI

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE COMPUTER PROGRAM WHICH OPERATES THE ABS UNIT ON SOME VEHICLES, OR REPLACE THE COMPUTER ON OTHERS TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ABS ON THESE SURFACES.

Campaign 99I006000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20000531 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 D

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.

Campaign 99V193000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20061018 — fuel system, gasoline

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURE

Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Campaign 06E043000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070427 — fuel system, other

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNI

Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Campaign 07E021000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 GMC Sonoma — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (34 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for visibility issues (17 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for visibility issues (10 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 96V035000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V008001 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V096001 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 97V146001 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V150001 (visibility) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99I006000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99V193000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E043000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E021000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2003 ▲ 2002 ▲ 1999

WORST YEARS

■ 1994 ■ 1995 ◆ 1998

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 GMC Sonoma reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 GMC Sonoma is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1996 GMC Sonoma?

The most-reported component is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 GMC Sonoma have?

9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.