While driving all electrical shuts down engine , everything!!!!!!!!!
The worst 1998 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.
- Visibility55
- Seats29
- Brakes17
- Body14
- Airbags11
- Engine11
- Transmission11
- Electrical9
- Suspension7
- Lights4
- Locks4
- Steering4
- Acceleration3
- Fuel system3
- Tires3
- Seat belts2
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 GMC Sonoma
Recalls 3
Exterior lighting
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 00V220000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose vehicles. An engine electrical wiring-harness clip can melt and drip onto the exhaust manifold.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 97V208001 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 97V218000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 GMC Sonoma 76
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may...
- This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy...
- This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios...
- This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy...
- This preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicle that after...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicle that after...
- Vehicle Recalls
1998 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4‑cyl | RWD | 17-20 | 24-26 | 19-22 |
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | RWD | 15-16 | 20-21 | 17-18 |
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14-15 | 19-20 | 16-17 |
What 1998 GMC Sonoma owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 264,477.
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.
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 driving time left I kept hoping I would make it home safely, which I did. I took my truck in the next day only for them to tell me all four tires of mine were shot - cords in two tires snapped, and bubbling and thread/treadwear in the other two. Granted, I had the tires for 7 years. However, they were 70,000 miles tires that lasted 31,000 miles. Premature treadwear was evident after driving the first 10,000 miles and became progressively worse. I maintained regular tire rotation schedule throughout. Not one time did my mechanic mention any problems, even when asked. Kumho 205/75 tires are crap, they are going to kill somebody and the company knows it. Do minimal research and you'll discover this yourself. Tire places who don't know this haven't done enough research or don't care. Is that who you want to take your recommendations from? Not one, not two, but all four tires of mine needed replacing at the same time. When I complained to the ones who highly recommended these tires, they blamed me - 7 years is too long, didn't rotate tires enough, didn't inspect them myself every time I hopped in my truck, my truck sat too long without be driven, alignments not done every year, nobody has ever complained about kumho tires (big fat lie!), they were not aware of any recalls (bigger, fattest lie), blah blah blah! Sounds like a conspiracy to me. Get kumho tires off the shelves before someone gets killed!
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 point did the driver airbag deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 gmc sonoma. The contact stated that the windshield wipers would stop working sporadically. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 60,000. ..updated 09/15/11 *bf the windshield wipers periodically stopped working in the rain. Updated 09/28/11
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 gmc sonoma. The contact stated that there was rusting underneath the vehicle, causing the frame to separate into two pieces. The dealer and manufacturer were notified, but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 100,000...updated 09/15/11 *bf updated 10/05/11
I lost the tread on one of my toyo tires as I was driving down the freeway. It completely separated from the tire! It was the passenger front tire. Thankfully, I was able to steer to the emergency lane and call for help. I've already had it replaced but the dealer I went to (discount tires) where I purchased the defective one told me they are good tires and convinced me to buy another toyo. Now I'm worried.
The windshield wipers have only worked intermittently whenever they are run. In the heaviest rain you cannot count on them and sometimes they won't come on at all. This is very dangerous problem when they quit working in the middle of the road in the middle of a rain. They have not made it a whole trip in the rain and stayed working- always only intermittent. Sometimes you just have to pull over until they decide to come on again.
I have not had any wrecks or anything like that, yet. My turn signals don't work properly one of my low been headlights keeps blowing and my taillights don't work. I have changed the bulbs just for them to blow when I test them. And no I do not touch the glass on the headlights. I seen there was a recall on the lighting system and on the wiring system, could this be my problem?
Compare the 1998 GMC Sonoma
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Questions about the 1998 GMC Sonoma
Is the 1998 GMC Sonoma reliable?
Owners have filed 156 complaints about the 1998 GMC Sonoma, 2.7 times a typical Sonoma model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 GMC Sonoma?
Windows, wipers and visibility, with 55 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles. Next is seats (29).
How many recalls does the 1998 GMC Sonoma have?
3 recalls, covering exterior lighting, electrical system and service brakes, hydraulic.
What year does the GMC Sonoma have the most visibility problems?
The GMC Sonoma model years with the most visibility complaints are 1998 (55 complaints), 1994 (53 complaints) and 1995 (52 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1998 GMC Sonoma get?
Official estimates for the 1998 GMC Sonoma range from 16 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.2L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 17-20 city and 24-26 highway.
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