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
01 —Owner reports

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2013Exterior lighting, Air bags, SeatsODI 10514690
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2007Structure, Seats, EquipmentODI 10197141
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2006Visibility, SeatsODI 10163903
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 27, 2005Exterior lighting, Visibility, Structure, SeatsODI 10119252
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2004Structure, SeatsODI 10064487
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2003SeatsODI 10039132

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.

Other 1998 Sonoma problem areas