The vehicle experienced the same problem with the transmission as stated in recall#94v09300, however the vehicle identification number was not included.
The worst 1993 GMC Sonoma problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes32
- Engine7
- Transmission7
- Electrical5
- Acceleration4
- Seats3
- Steering2
- Suspension2
- Visibility2
- Locks1
- Seat belts1
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1993 GMC Sonoma
Recalls 2
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: certain 4-wheel drive pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with ABS (antilock braking system) manufactured from september 1989 through august 1996. Under certain driving conditions the switch which signals the ABS system whether the vehicle is in 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive can malfunction causing increased stopping distances during ABS stops while in the two-wheel drive mode.
- Risk
- If this occurred at a time when minimum stopping distance was required, a vehicle crash could occur without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace or repair the 4-wheel/2-wheel drive switch.
Recall number 99V193000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Significant wear can develop on the low and reverse clutch preventing the park pawl from engaging. This can prevent a "no park" condition to occur while the engine is running, causing unintentional movement of the vehicle without operator action. (the "no park" condition will not occur while the engine is off.)
- Risk
- Unintentional vehicle movement could result in a vehicle accident and injury to persons in the path of the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will check the transmission fluid for contamination which will indicate if the low or reverse clutch is worn. If the transmission fluid shows contamination, the transmission will be replaced.
Recall number 94V093000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 1993 GMC Sonoma
Defect investigations
Abs braking system fails
There is no summary currently available
PE94046
Technical service bulletins for the 1993 GMC Sonoma 5
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
1993 GMC Sonoma fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | RWD | 18-20 | 24-25 | 20-22 |
| 2.8L 6‑cyl | RWD | 17 | 23 | 19 |
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | RWD | 15-16 | 21-22 | 18 |
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 15 | 19-20 | 16 |
What 1993 GMC Sonoma owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Seat belts wear excessivly on driver side of vehicles with front bucket seats.this I believe is due to seat belt rubbing and fraying on the cover for the belt on the floorboards ...my vehicle has over 100k mi.but this problem has been there for at least 5 years and possibly 50 or 60 k miles... The area that frays is approximately 5 or 6 inches behind the retraction stop on the seat belt ...appears only driver side is affected. Nlm
When vehicle was owned by other family member, vehicle experienced a "no park" condition. A crashed took place, $2700 in damage to other vehicle. At the time we were un aware of a recall that was out there for this condition. Wasn't we found this out, we contacted gmc. They said there was nothing that could be done about it. When this accident took place the vehicle had less than 100,000 miles. They would not even acknowledge that there was a recall. I wanted to contact the federal safety agency to notify them of the condition of the transmission and speak to representitive. Thank you.
Dealer failed, gm called but steve, said it was all in my head. Took vehicle to derry brothers in burlinton, iowa , but still having problems, had to pin the brake caliper pins and put set screw to hold them in, replaced water pump 3 times brakes 24 times, calipers 3 times, front rottors 3 times,and rear drums 3 times, electical componets every 6mo to year, now radiator is going go through 4 tires every 4 to 6 mo,and other problems with dealer!!!!!!
While driving about 60 MPH right rear tire had a tread separation. Had a blowup the first time. Then, pulled over and saw tread off the tire. Uniroyal p235/75 r15.*ak the customer states he lost control of the vehicle and got in the ditch when the tire blew up.
The main computer failed.
The egr valve gets full of carbon and, about every 1000 miles, cause the truck to quit and the brakes to stop operating, putting our safety at risk. I bought the truck used from my father-in-law and he did not encounter this problem. I have taken the truck to the same mechanic that he did and he has cleaned out the carbon twice now. But I took it to the original dealer and they found the same problem and said they have found that around the high 90,000 and 100,000 mileage mark, this egr valve is a problem in this truck engine. It continues to be a more frequent problem, especially obvious on longer trips. The truck simply quits when you decelerate to come to a stop and the brakes give out. You have to constantly restart the engine or try coasting into the stop, put the truck in neutral and keep the engine reving, so it hopefully won't stop.
When I took the truck to the dealer to be fixed the dealer made the comment "this is a common problem" with the steering columns. If you can send me a e-mail address I can send photos of the steering column and the cracks in the metal. There was only about 3/4 of an inch of metal holding the steering column together. I hate to think what the results would be if this failure had occured in a emergency situation. Joe gilardi.
When applying brakes the pedal went to the floor, and the vehicle did not stop. Dealer could not duplicate problem.
While driving hot water heater blew up inside of the cab, causing the cab to fill up with steam, and making it impossible to see out of windows. Mechanic said heater was corroded.
Compare the 1993 GMC Sonoma
Other model years
199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032005
Questions about the 1993 GMC Sonoma
Is the 1993 GMC Sonoma reliable?
Owners have filed 58 complaints about the 1993 GMC Sonoma, close to a typical Sonoma model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1993 GMC Sonoma?
Brakes, with 32 complaints. Next is engine (7).
How many recalls does the 1993 GMC Sonoma have?
2 recalls, covering service brakes, hydraulic and power train.
Was there a recall on the 1993 GMC Sonoma brakes?
Yes, 1 recall: 99V193000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the GMC Sonoma have bad brakes?
The GMC Sonoma model years with the most brakes complaints are 1994 (136 complaints), 1995 (84 complaints) and 1996 (52 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1993 GMC Sonoma get?
Official estimates for the 1993 GMC Sonoma range from 16 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 18-20 city and 24-25 highway.
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