1991 GMC Jimmy Sonoma

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 175 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 GMC Jimmy Sonoma, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Service brakes	93	53%
Seat belts	20	11%
Electrical system	11	6%
Steering	6	3%
Engine and engine cooling	6	3%
Power train	6	3%
Structure	5	3%
Vehicle speed control	4	2%
Suspension	4	2%
Tires	2	1%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED FROM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED HAT THE SPARE TIRE HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM UNDER
NHTSA complaint: Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GM SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20 MPH, THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DOOR LATCH PIN WAS FOUND TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

1991 GMC SONOMA. TILT STEERING HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE HAS NOT CAUSED ANY WRECKS OR DAMAGE AFRAID TO DRIVE. HAVE NOT TAKEN FOR REPAIRS. MILEAGE COUNTER BROKE SOME YEARS AGO THIS TRUCK HAS APROX. 200,000 MILES ON WITH NO OT
NHTSA complaint: Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GM JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING IN A 35 MPH ZONE THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THI
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

ENGINE WOULD CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE THERMOSTAT, AND PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER,
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

PROBLEM WITH EXHAUST PIPE ON MUFFLER.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO A MUFFLER SHOP TO HAVE A PATCH PUT ON THE FRONT HEADER PIPE AND WAS NOT GIVEN ANY OPTION TO HAVE IT FIXED CORRECTLY *TS *JB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND TAIL PIPE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR EXHAUST REPAIR. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT EH CONSUMER TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE MUFFLER SHOP FOR A HEADER PIPE P
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

AFTER DRIVING 55MPH WOULD APPLY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN RIGHT AWAY. WOULD NEED TO PUMP BRAKES 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE BRAKES CAUGHT ON. PROBLEM WAS CONSISTENT AND GETTING WORSE. HA
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

The seven scores

Reliability raw	87	excellent
Longevity est.	81	excellent
Maintenance	70	good
Depreciation	63	average
Performance	67	good
Efficiency	35	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 55% of other
Longevity: better than 61% of other
Running costs: better than 42% of other
Value retention: better than 65% of other

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 87: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 81: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1991 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 70: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1991 GMC Jimmy Sonoma?

Owners have filed 175 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 93 of them (53%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1991 GMC Jimmy Sonoma reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1991 GMC Jimmy Sonoma last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1991 GMC Jimmy Sonoma?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.