2000 GMC Sonoma locks complaints

Filed Sep 15, 2004 · Locks · 12,000 miles · CA

We own a 2000 gmc sonoma and the 3rd door handle breaks about 1 a year. It has been repaired by gm under warranty 3 times but the vehicle is now out of warranty and the handle has broke again. Since this vehicle has a seat for children in the rear and we use it for that, I am concerned the handle will break in an emergency situation and we will have difficulty removing the child from the rear. I have spoken with other sonoma owners and service personnel at gm dealerships and all agree this is part that always breaks. I have contacted gms customer service # and they have stated they have no intention of doing anything to improve the design of the door or recall the vehicle for a permanent fix. The problem could be very easily fixed by making the handle out of metal or increasing the web thickness of the plastic at the fracture point. I have retained the failed part for inspection.

Filed Jun 9, 2004 · Locks · 45,100 miles · MI

2000 gmc sonoma, third door and handle. Since I purchased the vehicle (used) and warranty expired I've noticed that the third door has always been difficult to open, not being familiar with it I assumed it was normal until the handle broke and you could not open the door since there is only one handle for it. I went to a local gmc dealership and purchased another handle assembly, asked about any recalls, or bulletins and was told there was nothing in their system, or gmc's, I searched the internet and found that I was not the first to have this problem, I also found a bulletin in a sonoma website/group online, contacted gmc and finally got them to research the bulletin # and was told "yes" there is a bulletin, it must have been lost in the system, then I was told I would have to take it back to the dealership where they would have to analyze what caused the handle to break at my expense, as frustrated as I was I went home and fixed it the best I could by following the bulletin, bottom line the bulletin states that the lock rods are improperly adjusted causing to much pressure on the handle, which in turn breaks the handle at any given time when trying to open it. What I have a problem with is if there is a bulletin out than this is obviously a reoccuring problem with the same outcome, yet they feel they still have to analyze what causes each handle to break?