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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure7
  2. Equipment5
  3. Latches/locks/linkages5
  4. Power train5
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  6. Seats3
  7. Tires3
  8. Air bags3
  9. Fuel system, gasoline3
  10. Visibility3
  11. Suspension2
  12. Engine2
  13. Electrical system2
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20034
20045
20059
20063
20073
20082
20092
20103
20112
20121
20131
20141
20151
20161
20170
20181
20190
20201

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.

03 —Owner reports

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2012Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Structure, Equipment, EngineCrash reportedODI 10472055

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2011Tires, EquipmentODI 10429873

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2010Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10369302

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 28, 2009Power trainODI 10267138

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2013Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10537777

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2020SeatsCrash reportedODI 11316940
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.