Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 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 | 32 | 24% |
| Visibility | 28 | 21% |
| Power train | 7 | 5% |
| Air bags | 6 | 4% |
| Steering | 6 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 3% |
| Structure | 4 | 3% |
| Tires | 4 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
APPROX ONE MILE FROM HOME AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER A FEW SECONDS MANAGED TO RESTART ENGINE. ENGINE SHUT DOWN TWICE MORE BEFORE ARRIVING BACK HOME. AT HOME WAS UNABLE TO RESTART
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A STEEP HILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I HAD A 97 GMC SONOMA THAT I WAS GOING DOWN A DIRT ROAD ABOUT 30-35 MPH AND SWERVED TO MISS A TRUCK COMING ON MY SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LOST TRACTION AND FLIPPED OVER A HILL AND ROLLED 3 TIMES AND THE AIRBAGS DIDNT DEPLOY
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT AND
NHTSA complaint: Structure
UNABLE TO STOP DUE TO BRAKE PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR! BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE, AND WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS ALL THE WAY DOWN, FOOT COMES IN CONTACT WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL, MAKING
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
VEHICLE THROTTLE STICKS AT 1500RPM AND WILL STICK ABOVE 1500RPM IF DOWNSHIFTED OR INCREASING SPEED. THE ONLY WAY TO LOWER THE RPM TO IDLE IS SHIFT TO NEUTRAL A N D COME TO A COMPLETE STOP -- FIRMLY HOLDING BRAKE TO MAX
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
I HAVE ENCOUNTERED TROUBLE WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEY GO ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I AM ASSUMING THE PROBLEM IS THE PULSE WIPER RELAY, AND WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PRODUCT. I WAS DRIVING IN HEAV
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
THE KEY USED TO STICK IN THE IGNITION AND RELEASE ITSELF AFTER A SHORT TIME. THEN THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND WHEN THE KEY CAME OUT THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE STARTED, THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE KEY CAME O
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1997 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 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: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.3L ENGINES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINE CAN CONTACT THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE OIL PAN CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO WEAR TO THE POINT OF BRAKE FLUID LOSS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION.
Risk: BRAKE FLUID LOSS CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE OIL PAN AND THE BRAKE LINE. IF THE CLEARANCE IS 6MM OR LESS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL BRAKE LINE CLIP AND IF THERE WAS CONTACT BETWEEN THE OIL
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | 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 134 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 32 of them (24%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) 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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1997 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 74/100. 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.