Model Year Problem Record
The complete public record for the 1996 GMC Sonoma: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.
Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.
The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.
56 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 97V146001, 99V193000.
31 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 97V008001, 98V150001.
21 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
17 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 96V035000.
10 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
9 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
6 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
6 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
2 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 97V096001.
1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.
Power Train. Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on February 22, 1996. The campaign covers an estimated 24,906 vehicles across all affected models.
Visibility. Recall covering the visibility system, reported to NHTSA on January 27, 1997. The campaign covers an estimated 55 vehicles across all affected models.
Seat Belts. Recall covering the seat belts system, reported to NHTSA on June 12, 1997. The campaign covers an estimated 586,058 vehicles across all affected models.
Brakes. Recall covering the brakes system, reported to NHTSA on September 11, 1997. The campaign covers an estimated 146,167 vehicles across all affected models.
Visibility. Recall covering the visibility system, reported to NHTSA on July 1, 1998. The campaign covers an estimated 1,557,585 vehicles across all affected models.
Brakes. Recall covering the brakes system, reported to NHTSA on July 19, 1999. The campaign covers an estimated 1,125,749 vehicles across all affected models.
When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.
Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.