Problems · by component
1998 GMC Sonoma seats problems
30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 GMC Sonoma cite seats, 17% of all 172 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
30
17% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the seats
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. PASSENGERS SEAT SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD , AND AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON , LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT AND BRAKE DON'T COME ON. *TR”
“DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT RECLINING LEVERS BROKEN. THIRD DOOR HANDLE BROKEN. THIRD DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. SEAT LEVERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT DIDN'T LAST. CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS PERMANENTLY? *TR”
“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”
“1998 GMC SONOMA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *MR THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED IN RAINY WEATHER, THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED, THE RECLINER HANDLE HAD BROKEN OFF, AND THE HANDLE TO THE SIDE DOOR HAD BROKEN AS WELL. *SC *JB”
“1998 GMC SONOMA HIGHRIDER 4X4. THE HANDLE ON THE BUCKET SEATS THAT LETS THE SEATS DECLINE ARE BROKE OFF THEY ARE MADE OUT OF CHEAP METAL. MY MOM OWNS A 1998 CHEVY BLAZER SAME THING,ALSO ON THE THIRD DOOR THE HANDLE THAT OPENS IT BREAKS EASILY. *NM”
“THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF INSIDE THE JOINT; HAD TO DRIVE IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED! VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE; $300.00 AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE METAL SEEMED TO BE SOFT AND FAIRLY EASY TO BREAK; I DO NOT CHANGE THE SEAT POSITION OFTEN. 8JB”
Showing 6 of 30 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.