1995 GMC SONOMA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I94 WHEN MY TRUCK SUDDENLY BOUNCED UP JUMPING AND COMING BACK DOWN ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP. AS I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR I SAW MY SPARE TIRE BOUNCING OFF INTO A NEARBY FIELD. THE SPARE WAS HELD UNDER THE TRUCK BED BY A STEEL CABLE WHICH LATER I FOUND BROKE. THE TIRE HAD JAMMED UNDER THE TRUCK BED RUPTURING THE STEEL GASOLINE FILLER TUBE. I EXPLORED THE RUPTURE CLOSED AND HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE SPARE TIRE RETAINING ASSEMBLY UNDER THE TRUCK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT THEN ABRUPTLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE REAR WHEELS CONTINUED SPINNING AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO IDLE AT EXTREMELY HIGH RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER; NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,210. UPDATED 5/12/10 *CN WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT, AT TIMES THE ENGINE WOULD ABRUPTLY GO TO FULL THROTTLE. UPDATED 06/04/10.*JB

1995 GMC SONOMA DIES WHILE DRIVING, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAIL. HAVE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART WHILE MOVING. *TR

I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 1995 GMC WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY,AND ONE DAY,ON MY FIRST DAY BACK TO WORK AS A TEACHER,IT RAINED HORRIBLY AND THE WIPERS WOULDN'T WORK. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO FIRESTONE TO GET THEM FIXED. NOW I READ THERE WAS A RECALL AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFO. AND HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME PLACE FOR 18YRS.. SEWELL MOTORS IN DALLAS,TX SOLD ME THE VEHICLE IN 1995. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE WIPERS CAN STOP CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *TR

FUEL TANK LEAKING WHERE PLASTIC SHEILD COVERS TANK. DEFECTIVE DESIGN TRAPPED WATER AND ROAD DEBRIS AGAINST INADEQUATELY PROTECTED FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF FUEL CONTAINMENT SYSTEM. CONCERN THAT LEAKING FUEL TANK COULD PROPOSE FIRE HAZZARD. *AK

THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE LOOKED LIKE IT SNAPPED. *AK

THE MULTI-FUNCTION/COMBINATION SWITH THAT CONTROLS THE HIGH/LOW BEAMS, WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THIS CAUSED MY TAILLIGHTS TO STOP FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THEY DON'T WORK AT ALL WITH HEADLIGHTS ON, TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK, REVERSE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. I DRIVE A 1995 GMC SONOMA SHORT BED, STANDARD CAB, SL PACKAGE. 5 SPEED MT, NON-TILT, NO CRUISE, NO POWER ANYTHING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND AND WITHOUT WARNING SIDE MIRROR WILL FALL OFF, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

MECHANIC STATED THIS FAILURE VERY COMMON W/2.2L ENGINES, GMC REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE MATERIAL DEFECT. *AK DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS----------750776.

WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT STUCK OPEN, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WHICH SEEMED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TS *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 68 MPH, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Crash

CONSUMERS STATES THE VEHICLE HAD A MAJOR FAILURE TO OCCUR WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD. GMC HAS DECLINED TO RESPOND TO CONSUMERS INQUIRIES. CONSUMER HAS ALL THE PARTS AND WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE METAL FAILURE. *JG

THE PLASTIC STONE SHIELD IN FRONT OF THE FUEL TANK, CONTAINED DEBRIS AND MOISTURE, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO RUST AND THEN LEAK. TS *JB

CYLENDER HEAD CRACKED, CAUSING LEAKING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, HOSE FLIPPED OFF THAT WAS CONECTED WITH ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT BY THE TIME HE GOT THE VEHICLE STOPPED, ALL THE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FREEZE UP. *SLC

MY HUSBAND FELL ASLEEP AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 AM AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. THE DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND HE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, SUSTAINED A BRUISED HEART AND NECK INJURY. WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL ER, TRANSFERRED TO ICU; HE IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL NOW, BEING WATCHED CLOSELY FOR ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER ACCIDENTS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL PICKUP WHERE THE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE? OR IS IT FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON JUST THIS VEHICLE?*AK

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THE REMOTE OIL FILTER ADAPTER ON THIS VEHICLE IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND THE MOUNTING BOLTS ARE STEEL. ANY KID THAT PASSES SCIENCE CLASS CAN TELL YOU THAT THESE TWO METALS TOGETHER WILL CAUSE A BI-METALLIC REACTION THAT WILL SEVERELY AND QUICKLY CORRODE THE ALUMINUM, WHICH IT HAS. THIS CORROSION HAS CAUSED THE MOUNTING HOLES ON THE ADAPTER TO FLAKE OFF AND NOW ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE MOUNTING BOLT/NUT IS HOLDING THE ASSEMBLY. EVENTUALLY, THE MOUNT WILL COMPLETELY FAIL AND THE ADAPTER MAY FALL INTO SOME MOVING ENGINE PART OR ONTO THE ROAD. THIS COULD SEVER THE OIL FILTER HOSES AND POSSIBLY SPRAY OIL ON THE HOT ENGINE WHICH IS A FIRE RISK. THIS OIL FILTER ADAPTER SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF MATERIALS THAT ARE COMPATIBLE AND WILL NOT CORRODE FROM BI-METALLIC REACTION.*AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RECLINER LEVER DOES NOT OPERATE RECLINER. DUE TO IMPROPER (NONE) CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE THE DOOR (STORAGE POCKET) AND THE RECLINER LEVER, THE METAL THAT HOLDS THE LEVER IS BROKEN.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION FAILURE. *JG

WHEN BRINGING THE TRUCK IN FOR OTHER SERVICE THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VISIBLE PART OF THE TANK WAS INTACT HOWEVER, A PLASTIC SHIELD COVERS THE FRONT PORTION OF THE TANK. REMOVAL OF THE SHIELD REVEALED PACKED DEBRIS, THE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT THE CAUSE OF THE CORROSION WAS THE FACT THE PLASTIC SHIELD ON THE FRONT OF THE TANK TRAPPED DEBRIS AGAINST THE TANK AND CAUSED CORROSION FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. THIS DESIGN INDUCES CORROSION AND NO REASONABLE INSPECTION WOULD FOREWARN OF THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER, MR. JOE CHAPMAN OPINED THERE WAS NO RECOURSE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS 7 YEARS OLD. FOLLOWING THIS RATIONALE OWNERS SHOULD EXPECT TO REPLACE FUEL TANKS WITH GREATER FREQUENCY THAN EXHAUST SYSTEMS. MR. CHAPMAN DID PROVIDE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER. THAT NUMBER WAS CALLED AND A LINDA ROBERTSON LISTENED AND STATED "DESIGNS ARE NEVER DEFECTIVE." AFTER MORE DISCUSSION SHE PHONE THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO ACKNOWLEDGED MY VISIT ADDING HE NEVER ADMITTED THE DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE.( TRUE ONLY THE TECHNICIAN MADE SUCH A COMMENT. THIS SHOULD BE A MOOT POINT TO ANYONE LOOKING AT THE DESIGN OR THE PARTS AT ISSUE. I ASKED MS. ROBERTSON TO WHOM COULD I WRITE FOR FURTHER REVIEW. SHE SAID NO ONE. HER ONLY OFFER WAS THAT SHE CREATED A FILE OF MY COMPLAINT. THE NUMBER THEREOF BEING C06605340. THIS DESIGN AND CONSEQUENT LEAKAGE PRESENTS SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS AIR POLLUTION AND THE SEEPAGE OF MTBE INTO GROUND WATER. GMC TOUTS THE DURABILTY OF THEIR PRODUCTS. THE SERVICE MANAGER'S ATTITUDE CONTRADICTS THAT. IN FACT I AM SHOPPING FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE IN A FEW MONTHS. THIS EXPERIENCE IS NOT ENCOURAGING. I HAVE TAKEN DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE SHIELD AND WILL LIKELY TAKE PHOTOS OF THE TANK AFTER IT IS REMOVED. NLM

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION FAILURE. *JG

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE SPARE TIRE CABLE SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO PULL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *YH

CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL WHILE DRIVING, AND VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. MECHANIC TOOK OFF PLASTIC COVER THAT PROTECTED FUEL TANK. IT WAS FILLED WITH MUD AND WATER WHICH HAD EATEN A HOLE IN FUEL TANK. *AK CONSUMER CAN NOT PAY COST FOR REPLACING FUEL TANK, THEREFORE, CONSUMER APPLIED EPOXY AS NEEDED, CONSUMER RECEIEVED LETTER THAT BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS WITH BRAKES ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT. *TT

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THEY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE CONTACT DEALER. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE, COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK

REPEATED EGR VALVE FAILURE.TWICE IN 1997. REPLACED AGAIN ON 7/12/2001. IN THE DEALERS SHOP AGAIN 7/17/2001 FOR PROBABLE SAME EGR REPLACEMENT. HAS SPECIAL POLICY #G98066 THAT EXTENDS THE WARRANTY TO 7 YRS OR 75,000 MILES. EGR FAILURE CAUSES ROUGH DRIVING CONDITIONS AND BRAKE FAILURE. WOULD LIKE A PERMANENT FIX TO PROBLEM. *AK

CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILED. CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND ABS LIGHT/ BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS A LOUD GROANING NOISE, AND PEDAL FELT HARD, NO BRAKING ACTION. CONSUMER USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. *AK CONSUMER STATES LEFT FRONT ROTOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR.*JB

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS OFFERED REPAIRS BUT AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK DEALER WOULD FIX PROBLEM IF VEHICLE WAS A 1995 MODEL. *SLC

BRACKET USED TO HANG THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE TRUCK BED SEPARATED FROM THE CABLE USED TO RAISE AND LOWER THE TIRE. THE TIRE HIT THE ROAD, BOUNCED AND JAMMED BETWEEN THE REAR BUMPER AND THE ROAD. THIS CAUSED A SEVERE BUMP ON THE REAR OF TRUCK AND BENT THE REAR BUMPER. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED AND NOT WHILE I WAS TOWING OUR CAMPER. THE ROAD SURFACE WAS SMOOTH SO THAT A BUMP DID NOT CAUSE THE TIRE TO FALL. I TOOK THE TRUCK SCARFF BUICK/GMC TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPORTED AND ORDER A NEW ASSEMBLY.

VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 98V150001. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR WIRING HARNESS CAN CRACK, CAUSING WINDSHEILD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS RECALL 98V150000, BUT PER GMC THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK

ONE MONTH AFTER RECALL REPAIR 99I006, ABS FAILED 3 OTHER TIMES, CONSUMER PAID FOR TOWING EXPENSES AND A BILL FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF SPEED SENSORS. *SLC

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT 45MPH AND HIGHER PEDAL IS NORMAL, BUT THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL LISTED ON VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH INSIDE OF A SHOPPING PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS THUMPING NOISE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE BRAKES DIDN'T HOLD. *AK BRAKE LOSS WAS DUE TO SPEED SENSOR FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED. WIPER NOISE WAS DUE TO WIPER MOTOR FAILURE WHICH THE DEALER REPLACED. *YH

THE 1ST TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 55311 MILES ON 8/12/99. REPLACED WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND FAILED ON 01/04/2001 WITH 75121 MILES ON IT. HEAD GASKET REPLACED ON 01/05/98 WITH 33229 MILES. REPAIR CYLINDER HEAD AND LIFTERS ON 08/04/98 WITH 40905 MILES. REPLACED CRANKSHAFT AND BEARINGS ON 09/28/98 WITH 42917 MILES. REPLACED ENGINE ON 06/05/99 WITH 53755 MILES ON IT. LOT OF MECHANICAL BRAEKDOWN.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GMC ON AROUND AUGUST 2000 SAYING I MUST BRING IN MY TRUCK FOR A RECALL ON THE ABS SYSTEM. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THOMAS GMC/PONTIAC IN COON RAPIDS MINNESOTA FOR 09:00 AM ON 12/08/00. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIV E (MIKE VANEREM) TOOK MY KEYS AND VEHICLE, AND I RECEIVED A CALL FROM HIM @ 10:29 AM STATING THAT I CAN PICK UP MY VEHICLE AS HE WAS TOLD BY HIS PERSON IN HIS OFFICE (MARION) TO REFUSE TO DO THE ABS RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AS IT WAS LISTED AS A SALVAGE VEHICLE BECAUSE A NEW BODY WAS PUT ON AND THEY WOULDN'T GET PAID FROM GMC IF THEY HONORED THIS NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHSTA) RECALL. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION AND I WOULD LIKE THIS MATTER RESOLVED TO MY SATISFACTION AND TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE NHSTA. *AK

AUTO HAS BEEN LOSING COOLANT . TOOK TO GMC DEALSHIP REPAIR SERVICE 99 THEY REPLACED RADIATOR HOSES. SIX MONTHS LATER COOLANT WAS FOUND DIRTY HAD A FLUSH . 3MOS LATER THE SAMETHING TOOK BACK TO DEALSHIP THEY REPLACED HEATER HOSES AND THERMOSTA, TWO WEEKS LATER STILLING LEAKING THIS TIME WAS TOLD CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED AT CENTER BOLT HOLE AND LEAKING COOLANT INTERNALLY, THIS TIME THEY REPLACE CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD AND GASKET SET. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER I MEAN NEVER RAN HOT NOR DID IT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF HAVING RAN HOT.. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP 1995 SUNFIRES AND 1996 SONOMA WITH THE SAME ENGINE HAD SAME PROBLEMS BUT MY 1995 SONOMA WAS NEVER ADDED TO BULLETION.*AK