Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 GMC Sonoma, and it carries 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 37 | 26% |
| Service brakes | 24 | 17% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 9 | 6% |
| Air bags | 7 | 5% |
| Seats | 6 | 4% |
| Power train | 6 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 4% |
| Suspension | 4 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I HAD A NEAR DEATH ACCIDENTS (TWICE) DUE TO CATASTROPHIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE FROM SEVERELY RUSTED BRAKE LINES THE FRONT LEFT AND THE INTERMEDIATE LINE FROM FRONT TO REAR SECTION ON TOP OF FRAME RAIL. FIRST INCIDENT WAS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
FOR THE THIRD TIME MY BRAKE LINE BROKE AND LOST ALL BRAKES IN MOTION LUCK FOR ME AND MY WIFE WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD GOING TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SHOP FOR REPAIR AGAIN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH GMC QUALITY AND SA
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 GMC SONOMA EQUIPPED WITH COOPER COBRA RADIAL G/T TIRES, SIZE: P255/60R15 (NA). WHILE INDEPENDENTLY PERFORMING ROUTINE SERVICE ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL THE TIRES DEVELOPED C
NHTSA complaint: Tires
THE TRUCKS BEEN HANDLING FINE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE OIL PAN BLOWS OUT ON THE TRUCK AND I THINK IT THREW A ROD. WHICH IS NOT MY FAULT A PIECE CAME APART OR CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE CAUSING ALL THAT PRESSURE TO BUILD UP
NHTSA complaint: Seats
THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF MY GMC SONOMA WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THE CABLE IN THE SPARE TIRE HOIST RUSTED INTO.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS LOOSE AND FAILED TO CLOSE COMPLETELY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PLACED A PIN ON THE BUSHING AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETEL
NHTSA complaint: Structure
BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON THREE DIFFERENT DATES 2/12/2012. 9/18/2013. 3/6/14 STILL DRIVING THE TRUCK SHOULD I BE WORRIED. UPDATED 3/18/2015 *JS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
OUR SON WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT ON 09/15/2013 WHERE HE WAS TRAVELING NORTH BOUND ON SOLDIERS HOME ROAD IN MORAINE OHIO. HIS TRUCK WENT OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHEN IT DID HE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GAS AND NOT THE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2000 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INCORRECT PAYLOAD INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL. THE PAYLOAD SHOWN ON THE LABEL IS GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM VALIDATED PAYLOAD. IF THE VEHICLE WERE LOADED TO THE INC
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OR AN INABILITY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHIN EXPECTED STOPPING DISTANCES.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A NEW LABEL FOR INSTALLATION ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE VEHICLE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: S -TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 2 WHEEL DRIVE. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE HAD THE RIGHT-HAND ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE FEED PIPE AND/OR BRAKE CROSSOVER PIPE TUBE NUTS TIGHTENED WITHOUT SEATING THE PIPE-FLARED-ENDS ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND NORMAL ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE INPUTS WITHOUT PA
Risk: IF THIS OCCURRED, THE SEATING SEAL COULD BE BROKEN DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY, OR FROM EARLY ROAD INPUTS OR BRAKE FLUID CYCLING, AND A LEAK COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE PIPE UNION FOR SIGNS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW BRAKE PIPE UNION.
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: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MOTOR CONTAINING AN OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION SPRING CLIP. THIS CLIP COULD ALLOW THE MOTOR BEARING TO BECOME MISALIGNED. IF MISALIGNMENT OCCURS, EVENTUALLY THE
Risk: THE BASE BRAKES WOULD REMAIN FULLY FUNCTIONAL, BUT THE DYNAMIC REAR PROPORTIONING (DRP) SYSTEM, WHICH OPTIMIZES FRONT TO REAR BRAKE BALANCE, WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULE VALVE ASSEMBLY.
| Reliability raw | 74 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | 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 141 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 37 of them (26%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (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 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 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 73/100. 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.