Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 GMC Sonoma problems
Owners filed 40 complaints about the 2003 GMC Sonoma with NHTSA between Aug 2003 and Mar 2020. The most-cited component is structure (7).
Complaints
40
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure7
- Equipment5
- Latches/locks/linkages5
- Power train5
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Seats3
- Tires3
- Air bags3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Visibility3
- Suspension2
- Engine2
- Electrical system2
- Vehicle speed control2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
5
9
3
3
2
2
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Structure
7 reports1 crash
“WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR UPCOMING LIGHT AND OUT THE CORNER OF MY EYE I SAW A DEER LEAP OVER TALL GRASS ON LEFT ONCOMING SIDE OF ROAD, WAS ALREADY AT 40 MILES HIT BRAKE TO HOPEFULLY NOT HIT HER SO BY THE TIME SHE AND I HAD IMPACT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING BOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. TORE UP RIGHT SIDE OF FENDER, DOOR, HOOD, FRONT GRILL, AND SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MOTOR, THE SENSOR LIGHTS NOW KEEP COMING ON SHOWING AIRBAG. ABC, SEAT BELT THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED WITH MACHINE AND IT SHOWS A RECALL ON THE LIGHTS IF A CRASH OCCURS IT WILL MAKE THEM MALFUNCTION. *TR”
Equipment
5 reports1 crash1 fire1 related recall
“2003 GMC SONOMA. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE SUPPORT CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE RUSTED THROUGH AND THE TIRE FELL OFF, ROLLED DOWN THE ROAD AND HIT ANOTHER CAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED NO DAMAGE WAS DONE AND THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *JB”
Latches/locks/linkages
5 reports
“THERE ARE 4 LATCHES ON 2003 GMC SONOMA TRUCK AND THREE IMPACT PERSONAL SAFETY. TAILGATE DOES NOT AS PERSON DOES NOT RIDE IN TRUCK BED. THE PASSENGER DOOR LATCHES ARE METAL. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH IS PLASTIC AND BROKE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.BOTH TIME SAME DEFECT. IN EMERGENCY IF PERSON IN JUMP SEAT CAN'T GET OUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH. FOURTH LATCH IS SEAT RECLINES VIA LATCH. HANDLE HAS BROKE. IF SEAT RECLINES PERSON IN JUMP SEAT HAS TROUBLE EXITING VEHICLE. IF SEAT IS IN RECLINE PERSON CANNOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY. LATCHES ARE PLASTIC. *TR”
Power train
5 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. IN JUNE OF 2004, THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS FAILING AND THE PAINT WAS DETERIORATING ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HIMSELF, BUT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE PART SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AND IS NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 5/14/09 *CN UPDATED 05/14/09.*JB”
Service brakes, hydraulic
4 reports1 crash
“ABOUT A YEAR AGO HAD ONE STEEL BRAKE LINBE BUST BECAUSE OF RUSTED. NOW TODAY IN MY YARD HIT BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT TO FLOOR AGAIN. RUSTED BRAKE LINE AGAIN. HAVE OTHER BRAKE LINES RUSTED VERY BAD. *TT”
Seats
3 reports1 crash
“THE VEHICLE IS KEPT IN A GARAGE AND WHEN OUTSIDE I USE A SCREEN PROTECTOR. THE DASH AND MANY OTHER INTERIOR PARTS OF THE CAR ARE SIMPLY FALLING APART”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.