Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 GMC Sonoma, and it carries 3 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 20 | 48% |
| Power train | 5 | 12% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 7% |
| Equipment | 3 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 5% |
| Air bags | 1 | 2% |
| Tires | 1 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
AFTER CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT AT 35 MPH ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT SUDDENLY ROLLED BACKWARDS AND KNOCKED THE CONSUMER DOWN. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HURT. *NLM
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE REAR BRAKES PROVIDE VERY LITTLE STOPPING POWER. REAR BRAKE SHOES SHOW VERY LITTLE WEAR EVEN AFTER 60,000 MILES. RECENT ARTICLE IN PAPER HIGHLIGHTS THE PROBLEM. IT DIRECTS THE CAUSE TOWARD THE ABS SYSTEM. THIS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THIS IS MY 2ND ATTEMPT TO ALERT YOU TO THIS IMPENDING DEVASTING PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE HAS AN ANTILOCK BRAKING PROBLEM WHICH MANIFESTS ITSELF IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. IMPORTANT NOTE! THIS PROBLEM IS NOT TO BE CONFUSE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
IT WAS APPROX. 70 DEG. F. WE WERE GOING ABOUT 60 MPH. ON THE PA. TURNPIKE EAST OF PITTSBURGH. THE TIRES LOOKED FINE THE LAST TIME WE STOPPED. THEY HAD 80 PSI. IN THEM, WHICH IS MAX PRESSURE FOR THOSE TIRES. THE LEFT REAR
NHTSA complaint: Tires
RIGHT FRONT BRAKES WEAR EXCESSIVELY IN SHOR PERIOD OF TIME. BRAKING BECOMES DIFFICULT AND VEHICLE HAS TENDENCY TO VEER TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING. MUST EXERT EXTREME PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING VEHICLE TO A COMPLET
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
ON THE THREE OCCASIONS ,WHEN THE AIR TEMPERATURE IS HIGH AND IT IS QUITE HUMID WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WILL FAIL TO THE POINT WHERE THE CLUTCH WILL NOT DISENGAGE THE GEARS. CONSUMER HAS TO TURN OFF IGNIT
NHTSA complaint: Power train
DEALER FAILED TO REPAIR WHEN WE COMPLAINED ABOUT FUEL/STARTING/ROUGH ENGINE ON 6/93;2/94;5/94. DLR REPLACED FUEL PUMP/PVC 10/94; COST $600+ FOR FUEL INJECTOR/PLENUM 9/98; AGAIN JUST COST $600+ 7/2000 FOR FUEL INJECTOR/PL
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1992 GMC Sonoma. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN R&B, INC. CENTRAL MULTIPORT FUEL INJECTION (CMFI) FUEL RETURN LINES, MODELS HELP 55163, NAPA BALKAMP 700-3270, AND THE CONNECTION 2560001, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL RETURN LINE HAS A MECHANICAL BLEED VALVE WHICH WAS NOT INSTALLED AT THE PR
Risk: A FUEL LEAK CAN OCCUR AT THE VALVE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: R&B, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AT THE CUSTOMERS REQUEST, EITHER REPLACE THE FUEL LINE OR OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT R&B, INC. AT 215-712-5330.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
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-WHE
Risk: IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.
| Reliability raw | 89 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 85 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 84 | excellent |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 20 of them (48%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 89/100 (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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 78/100. 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.