Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 256 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 GMC Sonoma, and it carries 7 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 | 83 | 32% |
| Visibility | 54 | 21% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 24 | 9% |
| Fuel system | 13 | 5% |
| Air bags | 11 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 3% |
| Power train | 8 | 3% |
| Seats | 7 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 2% |
| Tires | 5 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I94 WHEN MY TRUCK SUDDENLY BOUNCED UP JUMPING AND COMING BACK DOWN ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP. AS I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR I SAW MY SPARE TIRE BOUNCING OFF INTO A NEARBY FIEL
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT THEN ABRUPTLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO STOP T
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
1995 GMC SONOMA DIES WHILE DRIVING, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAIL. HAVE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART WHILE MOVING. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 1995 GMC WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY,AND ONE DAY,ON MY FIRST DAY BACK TO WORK AS A TEACHER,IT RAINED HORRIBLY AND THE WIPERS WOULDN'T WORK. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY TO FIRESTONE TO GET TH
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
WHILE DRIVING, THE WIPERS CAN STOP CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
FUEL TANK LEAKING WHERE PLASTIC SHEILD COVERS TANK. DEFECTIVE DESIGN TRAPPED WATER AND ROAD DEBRIS AGAINST INADEQUATELY PROTECTED FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF FUEL CONTAINMENT SYSTEM. CONCERN THAT LEAKING FUEL TA
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THE FUEL PUMP NEEDE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, WHICH CAUSED INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. *LA THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS SIDE SWIPED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A HILL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO T
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1995 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).
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTA
Risk: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 86 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 84 | excellent |
| Performance | 52 | average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other pickup trucks in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 256 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 83 of them (32%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 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 76/100. 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.