The 1998 GMC Sonoma has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 67,968 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the visibility. Last updated July 6, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE…
Consequence
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED WIRING HARNESS THAT CHANGES THE DRL'S FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM DRL'S, AND INSTALL NEW LONG-LIFE LOW BEAM BULBS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS CLIP CAN MELT AND DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
Consequence
THE CLIP MATERIAL ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAN IGNITE AND SUBSEQUENTLY IGNITE OTHER COMBUSTIBLE COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS ARE CONTACTING OWNERS BY TELEPHONE TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES TOWED TO THE DEALER AND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED TO THEM UNTIL THE DEALER CAN REROUTE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING-HARNESS.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC97V2180001997-11-2419,716 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE…
Consequence
PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.
Complaints by component
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
23
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
20
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
19
SEATS
11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
11
3crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
7crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
5
AIR BAGS
4
1crashes
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
4
Total complaints202
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While driving all electrical shuts down engine , everything!!!!!!!!!”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 gmc sonoma. While driving 50 mph, the air bags deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was…”
“I was driving home on the hwy, driving between 35-60 mph because of icy, snowy, slushy, 35 mph windy conditions. My steering wheel started vibrating crazily and my truck kept wanting to pull itself to the left. I felt bumping every time the front left wheel made a revolution. With 1 1/2 hours of…”
“Driver was going approx. 40mph down the rural highway in heavy rain and the truck in front of her came to a stop. By the time the driver of the sonoma saw the truck it was too late to stop and not hit the stopped vehicle. The driver of the sonoma hit the stopped truck and totaled the sonoma. At no…”
“Driver was going approx. 40mph down the rural highway in heavy rain and the truck in front of her came to a stop. By the time the driver of the sonoma saw the truck it was too late to stop and not hit the stopped vehicle. The driver of the sonoma hit the stopped truck and totaled the sonoma. At no…”
“Driver was going approx. 40mph down the rural highway in heavy rain and the truck in front of her came to a stop. By the time the driver of the sonoma saw the truck it was too late to stop and not hit the stopped vehicle. The driver of the sonoma hit the stopped truck and totaled the sonoma. At no…”
“Driver was going approx. 40mph down the rural highway in heavy rain and the truck in front of her came to a stop. By the time the driver of the sonoma saw the truck it was too late to stop and not hit the stopped vehicle. The driver of the sonoma hit the stopped truck and totaled the sonoma. At no…”
“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”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 GMC Sonoma as of
July 6, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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