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1998 GMC Sonoma
3 recall campaigns and 156 complaints are on NHTSA's register for the 1998 GMC Sonoma; the recalls concern exterior lighting, electrical system and service brakes, hydraulic.
The component named most often is visibility: 277.2 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 56.5 per 1,000 across all 1998 model-year vehicles and against 138.3 per 1,000 for the GMC Sonoma line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 78.9 complaints per model year across the 17 GMC Sonoma model years on this register; 9 complaints reported a crash and 2 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2003 (27); the most recent in the file is dated 11 Apr 2017.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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 the road surface.
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.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (manufacturer campaign 00043).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
- 97V218000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSReported 24 Nov 1997 · 19,716 units
Defect, as filed: 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 instrument panel brake light would illuminate, and there would be a loss of rear brake performance.
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.
Filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1998 GMC Sonoma (black) against all 1998 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1998 | Sonoma line | All 1998 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 277.2 | 138.3 | 56.5 |
| Seats | 153.5 | 45 | 16.4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 79.2 | 284.1 | 107.5 |
| Structure | 74.3 | 72 | 45.5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 54.5 | 74.9 | 124.5 |
| Power Train | 54.5 | 62.8 | 90.9 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 56 | 277.2 | 138.3 | 56.5 |
| Seats | 31 | 153.5 | 45 | 16.4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 79.2 | 284.1 | 107.5 |
| Structure | 15 | 74.3 | 72 | 45.5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 54.5 | 74.9 | 124.5 |
| Power Train | 11 | 54.5 | 62.8 | 90.9 |
| Air Bags | 11 | 54.5 | 39.2 | 49.3 |
| Electrical System | 9 | 44.6 | 42.7 | 82.5 |
| Suspension | 7 | 34.7 | 27.1 | 82.7 |
| Equipment | 5 | 24.8 | 16.7 | 22.9 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 4 | 19.8 | 20.2 | 12.4 |
| Steering | 4 | 19.8 | 15 | 55.7 |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 19.8 | 13.8 | 21.7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 19.8 | 19.6 | 27.3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 14.9 | 31.7 | 43.3 |
| Tires | 3 | 14.9 | 17.9 | 52.1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 14.9 | 31.1 | 36.4 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 9.9 | 14.4 | 22.5 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 9.9 | 5.8 | 4 |
| Wheels | 1 | 5 | 4.6 | 10.9 |
156 unique complaints, 202 component mentions; 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other GMC Sonoma model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1990 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1991 | 1 | 29 | 1,125,749 |
| 1992 | 1 | 25 | 1,125,749 |
| 1993 | 2 | 58 | 1,198,413 |
| 1994 | 2 | 223 | 1,711,807 |
| 1995 | 3 | 213 | 3,269,392 |
| 1996 | 6 | 148 | 3,440,520 |
| 1997 | 2 | 111 | 732,225 |
| 1998 | 3 | 156 | 67,968 |
| 1999 | 0 | 57 | — |
| 2000 | 3 | 135 | 237,815 |
| 2001 | 1 | 89 | 156,305 |
| 2002 | 0 | 56 | — |
| 2003 | 1 | 38 | 183,922 |
| 2004 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 183,922 |
| 2005 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All GMC Sonoma model years · GMC: 129 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1998 GMC Sonoma have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 00V220000, was reported to NHTSA on 11 Aug 2000 and concerns exterior lighting. Across all model years the GMC Sonoma line has 15 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1998 GMC Sonoma?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 1998 GMC Sonoma complain about most?
Visibility: 56 of 202 component mentions (277.2 per 1,000). Next is seats with 31. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.