Model year record

1999 GMC Sonoma recalls & problems

The 1999 GMC Sonoma has 1 safety recall and 57 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seats (9 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints57filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, otherMar 12, 2007

Storage › Tank assembly › Pressure relief devices

Recall 07E021000742 vehicles

Problem: 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 UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1999 GMC Sonoma Extended Cab

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Sonoma 2WD

23mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Sonoma 2WD

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

Sonoma 2WD

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

Sonoma 2WD

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Sonoma 4WD

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Sonoma 4WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner; Front assembly › Power adjust	9	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments; Body › Bumpers	9	0	0	1	54,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Pads	8	1	1	1	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Clutch assembly	8	0	0	0	47,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal	6	5	0	3	140,000 mi
Vehicle speed controlCruise control; Accelerator pedal	5	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemIgnition › Module; Wiring › Front underhood	4	0	1	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Cooling system	4	0	1	0	30,400 mi
SteeringHydraulic power assist › Pump; Linkages › Arm › Idler and attachment	4	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights; Turn signal › Switch	3	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Anchorage	3	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront › Control arm; Front › Wheel bearing	3	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bagsCrash1 injury
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. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED BACK WINDSHIELD EXPLODED AND…
Nov 22, 2016 · 140,000 miles
Service brakes
DURING A PANIC STOP THE BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES FELT SOFT BUT STILL WORKED. DURING THE DRIVE THE BRAKES BECAME VERY WEAK. WHEN I CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID IT WAS EMPTY. I REFILLED IT AND STARTED CHECKING FOR LEAKS. I FOUND THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES WE FRACTURED BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE DURING THE PANIC STOP CAUSING THE RUSTED LINES TO BURST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ( BUT NOT REPORTED) PROBLEM FOR THIS TRUCK IN THE NORTHERN AREA..
Oct 8, 2016 · 100,000 miles
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING OVER UNLEVELED LAND. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ORIGIN OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Nov 5, 2014 · 180,000 miles
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
Jun 18, 2015 · 156,000 miles
Service brakes
BRAKE LINE HYDRAULIC FAILURE OF HARD STEEL LINE. THE LINE THAT BROKE GOES TO THE BACK WHEELS ALONG THE FRAME. *TR
Nov 18, 2012 · 165,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline
MY 1999 GMC SONOMA HAS HAD A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. IT WAS TAKEN INTO JIM CAUSLEY'S PONTIAC/GMC IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI ONCE FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED. SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A BAD VEHICLE GROUND. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS TO THIS DAY. THE ONLY WAY I CAN AVOID RUNNING OUT OF GAS IS TO RESET THE TRIP ODOMETER EVERY TIME I FILL-UP. *TR
Nov 10, 1999 · 8,000 miles
Structure › Body1 injury
WHILE STEPPING OFF OF TAILGATE, BOTH CABLES SNAPPED AND THE TAILGATE FELL OFF OF PICKUP. NO BROKEN BONES, BUT BUMPS AND SCRAPES. CABLES ARE SEALED, EXCEPT FOR THE ENDS, WHERE WATER MUST HAVE GOTTEN INTO THEM AND CORRODED THE CABLE FROM THE INSIDE. *TR
Nov 3, 2009 · 125,501 miles
Engine and engine cooling
I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHEVY/GMC VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING A LAGGING START AND IN SOME CASES NO START WITHOUT A BOOST. MY SONOMA HAS THE LAG AND I HAVE A FEW FRIENDS THAT HAVE BLAZERS AND FULL SIZE TRUCKS AS WELL. THE VARIATION OF ENGINE SIZES THAT ARE AFFECTED HAS ME PERPLEXED. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO RUN CODES WITH NO FAULT RESULTS. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I ATTEMPT A STARTUP. *TR
Mar 26, 2003 · 26,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.