Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 171 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 GMC Sonoma, and it carries 9 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 | 48 | 28% |
| Visibility | 30 | 18% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 18 | 11% |
| Power train | 14 | 8% |
| Air bags | 8 | 5% |
| Seats | 6 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 3% |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 2% |
| Structure | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. IT TURNS OFF SOMETIMES FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR FEWER MINUTES. NO REPAIR SHOP CAN DETERMINE HOW TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT OPERATE THAT'S WHAT I HA
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
FUSE BLOWS TO INTERIOR LIGHTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HORN. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Interior lighting
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STRAPS THAT SUPPORT THE TAILGATE FAILED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UN
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC SONOMA. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC AND HE REP
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED CONCERNING A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER MOTOR. THE BULLETIN HAS A PRODUCT RECALL. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN TOLD BY GMC THAT THE CAR WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL\ DUE TO T
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH UNDER NORMAL BRAKING ON WET ROADS, THE ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE THREE SEN
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
1996 GMAC SONOMA AIR BAG SENSOR RIVET FAILURE. FOUND DRIVERS SIDE SENSOR HANGING FROM ELECTRICAL LEAD, WHEN I INSPECTED THE MOUNTING AREA I FOUND THAT THE TWO RIVETS THAT SECURE THE SENSOR WERE SHEARED OFF. I INSPECTED T
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY ENGINE HAS BEEN SURGING, SLOW START, RATTLING, ROUGH IDLE, HARD SHIFTING, AND I HAVE HAD THE TRASMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES. MY DEALER TOLD ME AFTER AN INSPECTION THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, BUT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 1996 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 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.
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 | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 86 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 84 | excellent |
| Performance | 52 | 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 171 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 48 of them (28%). There are 9 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (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 1996 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 75/100. 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.