1998 GMC SONOMA Complaints

IN APRIL 2006, A BRAKE LINE ON MY 1998 GMC SONOMA PICKUP BROKE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT APPROX 50 MPH. I HAD TO STOP RATHER QUICKLY DUE TO TRAFFIC BACKING UP ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE BRAKE LINE BURST, MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKES. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, THE BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE AND DOWNSHIFT (STD SHIFT) TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE BROKEN LINE (FROM HYDRAULIC ABS TO JUNCTION) AND ALSO THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE TRUCK HAD 107,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I DECIDED TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO OTHERS, RESULTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON A RAIN DAY, THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AT HIGH SPEED. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND SOMETIMES DID NOT WORK AT ALL. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALERSHIP.

ON OUR 1998 GMC SONOMA WE HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND BOARD. THE WIPERS STILL HAVE A GHOST IN THEM AND DELAY DOES NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME AND HIGH SPEED WHEN ON LOW SPEED, ERRATIC BEHAVIOR ON WIPERS. WON'T TURN ON OR OFF ON OCCASION. WAS THERE A RECALL ON ALSO ON THE PASSENGER SEAT? THE LEVER BROKE RIGHT OFF THE FIRST TIME WE USED IT. CHEAPLY BUILT HANDLES. PLEASE SEND ME A LIST OF RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE PLEASE FOR OUR OWN SAFETY AS THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN DAILY ON OPEN HIGHWAYS. *JB

INTERIOR COMPONENTS BREAK EASILY: DRIVER'S RECLINER HANDLE SHEARED OFF, DRIVER'S VISOR HINGE SNAPPED, WINDSHIELD DEFROST GRILLE FRACTURED. *NM

WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM IS FAULTY. USUALLY THE WIPERS CONTINUE RUNNING AFTER BEING TURNED OFF, SOMETIMES THEY STOP WHILE RUNNING, FREQUENTLY THEY RUN CONTINUOUSLY WHEN IN THE "INTERVAL" SETTINGS, A FEW TIMES THEY HAVE FAILED TO OPERATE AT ALL. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE TAILGATE RUSTED AND THE TAILGATE FRACTURED. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000, REGARDING THE STRUCTURE: BODY: TAILGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 05/10/06*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAILGATE SUSPENSION CABLE BROKE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V066000, REGARDING THE STRUCTURE BODY TAILGATE HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 03/28/06. *JB

THIS STARTED AS AN OCCASIONAL FAILURE IN 2002 WHEN THE INTERMITTENT WIPERS WOULD SUDDENLY START WIPING AT FULL SPEED "ON THEIR OWN" AND WOULD ONLY GO BACK TO INTERMITTENT SPEED AFTER I WOULD TURN OFF THE WIPERS AND RE-TURN THEM ON. IN AUGUST 2005 THIS CHANGED TO WHERE THE INTERMITTENT WIPERS WOULD GO TO FULL SPEED AND THEN JUST STOP. THEY WOULD NOT RESUME WIPING WHEN I WOULD TURN THE SWITCH ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES (THUS I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITH NO WIPERS). HOWEVER - THEY WOULD JUST AS SUDDENLY BEGIN WIPING. IN OCTOBER 2005 I HAD THE LOCAL GM DEALER REPLACE THE WIPER MODULE CIRCUIT BOARD WHICH IT TURNED OUT WAS CRACKED. THIS IS THE SAME PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT GMC DID A RECALL FOR VEHICLES BETWEEN 1994 AND 1997. I HAVE REGISTERED THIS ISSUE WITH THE GM CLAIMS DEPARTMENT - BUT THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY ACTION FOR A RECALL NOR REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE PART. *NM

1998 GMC SONOMA PICK UP WITH 4 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE FUEL LINE MOUNTING BRACKET LOCATED ON THE BELL HOUSING RUBBED A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE ALLOWING GASOLINE TO DRIP ON THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE. IT TOOK THREE DEALERS AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO FIND THE LEAK. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND REFUSED TO REPAIR OR ASSIST IN REPAIR WITH ESTIMATED COST OF $400-$600. THIS LEAK PRESENTED AN EXTREME FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD. I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF A GAS LINE RUBBING THROUGH ON ANY VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS ANYTHING BUT A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *JB

1998 GMC SONOMA PICK UP. THE WIPERS DON'T WORK OVER HALF THE TIME. AND WHEN YOU SHUT THEM OFF THEY KEEP GOING . IF THEY HAPPEN TO WORK AT THAT TIME. THE HANDLE TO THE DRIVERS DOOR KEEPS BREAKING OFF. *NM