2001 GMC Sonoma

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

CAN NOT LOCATE FUEL LINES FOR GMC. WHEN I TRY TO FIND THE FUEL LINES IT IS MARKED THAT THEY ARE UN-AVAILABLE.LINES HAVE RUSTED OUT AND LEAK.HAD NEW FUEL PUMP INSTALLED WHEN THIS WAS NOTICED.

MY IGNITION SWITCH SOMETIMES STICKS. ABLE TO TAKE KEY OUT WHEN RUNNING

THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE BROKE UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAD ESTIMATES THAT WERE WELL OVER $300 TO FIX, AND HAVE NOT YET HAD WORK DONE. I ONLY PARK ON LEVEL ROADS AND HOPE TRANSMISSION WILL HOLD IN PARK. I FEEL THIS MUST BE A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

DRIVING IN TOWN ABS LIGHT & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON, NO ACCIDENT. LOOKING FOR RECALLS, TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS! LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME I DRIVE TRUCK, SOMETIMES IMMEDIATELY. *JS

MY TRUCK RADIATOR STARTED TO SMELL AS IF IT HAD A LEAK. I TOOK IT TO A RADIATOR SHOP. THIS SHOP HAPPENS TO BE VERY CLOSE TO THE GM PLANT IN DAYTON, OHIO. THE MAN TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE TRUCK. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT ALL THE RADIATORS FOR THIS TRUCK FROM THE 2001 YEARS WERE SENT TO HIM PRIOR TO INSTALLING. HE SAID THEY HAD BEEN LEFT OUTSIDE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND ALL OF THEM HAD TO BE CLEANED OUT BECAUSE OF HEAVY RUST. HE STATED MINE MUST OF BEEN MISSED. THE RUST IN THE RADIATOR WAS SO THICK IT WAS LIKE MUD! HE REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES AND EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR FLUID RESERVOIR BECAUSE IT LITERALLY HAD INCHES OF RUST IN IT. THIS IS SOMETHING THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT AND I SHOULD NOT OF HAD TO REPLACE IT. THE NEXT THING TO HAPPEN IS TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE TRUCK IS MAKING A WHINING NOISE - SOUNDS LIKE SOME TIRES DO. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL PLACES TO REPAIR AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE SOUND. WE HAVE REPLACED SO MANY PARTS, MANY OF THEM MORE THAN ONCE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE PUT OVER $3000 OF WORK IN THE TRUCK JUST OVER THE LAST MONTH AND AM NOT YET FINISHED. THE BRACKETS HOLDING THE REAR SUSPENSION IN PLACE ARE CRUMBLING IN MY HAND. THE MUFFLER IS LEAKING. IT IS STALLING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AND IS IDLING VERY FAST EVEN THO IT HAS HAD REGULAR TUNE UPS AND MAINTENANCE. THE TAILGATE IS BROKEN - YOU CAN JUST PULL IT OFF THE TRUCK. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE WHINING CONTINUES WHENEVER IT IS BEING DRIVEN. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO

IN THE LAST 6 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS; BOTH UPPER AND LOWER AND SHOCKS ALL AROUND FOR THE SECOND TIME. I DO NOT GO OUT 4-WHEELING AND BASICALLY DRIVE MY VEHICLE ONLY IN TOWN DRIVING. I DO NOT THINK THESE PARTS SHOULD BE WEARING OUT SO QUICKLY ON THIS VEHICLE. *KB

THE TAILGATE CABLES BOTH BROKE WHILE A FRIEND WAS SITTING ON THE TAILGATE CAUSING HER TO FALL. SHE ONLY WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 140 LBS. I HAD NOTICED THAT 1 OF THE CABLES LOOKED WEAK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT THE OTHER SEEMED TO BE STABLE. APPARENTLY NEITHER OF THEM WERE ANY GOOD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY HUSBANDS 2001 GMC SONOMA FROM OHIO BACK TO FLORIDA WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND MUFFLER. THIS EVENT LED TO US HAVING TO REPLACE THE REAR DRIVESHAFT, FUEL TANK, AND HE REPAIRED THE MUFFLER. WE RESEARCHED GMC DRIVESHAFT FAILURES ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DRIVESHAFT BREAKING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SONOMA. THE STEEL CABLES THAT HELD THE TAIL GATE SNAPPED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED ON THE TAIL GATE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SCRATCHES ON HIS ARMS AND ELBOWS. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V066000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: TAILGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) FOR THE 2000 GMC SIERRA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

ABS FAILURE AT SLOW SPEEDS-ABS TRIES TO ENGAGE,BRAKE IS SLOW AT FIRST WITH NOISE AND THEN ABS LIGHT APPEARS AND ENGAGES DANGEROUS BRAKING RESETS AFTER TURNING OFF GOES THROUGH IT ALL AGAIN NEST TIME YOU DRIVE. *TR

THERE HAD BEEN A WHINING(LIKE THE OLD RADIAL TIRES USED TO MAKE) NOISE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND I JUST FIGURED IT WAS THE TIRES. IT GOT LOUD ON 8/24 AND I STOPPED AND PUT IT IN PARK, AS I GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK, IT STARTED ROLLING AND ROLLED DOWN INTO THE WOODS, WE HAVE FILED A POLICE REPORT AND REPORTED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET THE TRUCK OUT. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS LYING WHERE THE TRUCK WAS PUT IN PARK.,,ALTHOUGH THE PARK DID NOT HOLD. THE DRIVE SHAFT TWISTED AND SPLIT,,,EXPLODED BY THE LOOKS OF IT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DRIVE SHAFT. *TR

P235/SSR16 GDY BW EAG G/A 96T 45K TIRE DEFECT: TREAD SEPARATION FROM INNER CORE. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TRUCK. DEFECT OCCURRED AT LESS THAN 38,000 MILES ON VEHICLE/TIRE. NOTED THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND SEVERE SHAKING OF FRONT END. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED CONTACTING GOODYEAR WHICH HAS BEEN DONE BUT NO ACTION TO DATE.

ON 9/27/2006 AROUND 8:45 PM (DARK) JUST NORTH OF PAYSON, AZ ON AZ HWY 260, I STOPPED FOR AN ACCIDENT BLOCKING A NARROW PART OF THE ROAD AND TURNED ON THE HAZARD FLASHERS ON MY 2001 GMC SONOMA. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (2-3 MIN.) THE HAZARD LIGHTS JUST QUIT FLASHING. I ALSO LOST MY TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I VISITED A DEALER IN SHOW LOW, AZ WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM & GAVE EST. OF $400-$500 BUT COULD NOT REPAIR (PART NOT IN STOCK). I SPENT $50 TO PURCHASE MAG-MOUNTED LIGHTS THAT I WIRED INTO THE HIGH CENTER-MOUNTED LIGHT AT REAR OF THE CAB (THIS LIGHT WORKED, BUT IT IS HIDDEN BY A SHELL OVER BED OF TRUCK) & USED THIS TO DRIVE HOME TO UTAH. I CHECKED INTO RECALLS AND FOUND NONE ONE THE SONOMA BUT DID SEE ONE ISSUED ON JIMMY, BLAZER, TRAILBLAZER, ENVOY, AND BRAVADA (ALL SIMILAR TO SONOMA). THIS SAFETY RECALL DESCRIBED EXACTLY THE FAILURE I EXPERIENCED (NHTSA # 01V364000, GM # 01073A). ON TUE, OCT 3, 2006 I HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A DEALER IN AMERICAN FORK, UT, COST: $447.34. I CALLED GM TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER IT (REF # 1-435884993). GM DECLINED TO COVER IT BECAUSE THE SONOMA MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. FOLLOWING UP, I LEARNED THE FOLLOWING: - MY VIN IS IN THE RANGE OF VINS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL AS VEHICLES THAT MAY BE AFFECTED. - MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AT ONE OF TWO PLANTS INVOLVED IN THIS (LINDEN). - THE RESULTS OF THE "INSPECTION PROCEDURE" SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL MATCH EXACTLY THE SITUATION WITH MY VEHICLE, INCLUDING REPLACING THE "MULTIFUNCT

PURCHASED TRUCK IN 2006. MILEAGE AT 48,000. TROUBLE STARTING, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. OIL COOLING LINES REPLACED. SUBSEQUENTLY, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 2 WD TO 4 WD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATOR IS NOT DEPRESSED, AND WHEELS ARE TURNED, TO TURN A CORNER OR TO TURN INTO/OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. USUALLY THERE IS A DEPRESSION IN PATH AS WELL, I.E. CURB/DIP AT DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE, POTHOLE, ETC. ENGINE IS NOT ALWAYS COLD; SOMETIMES SHIFTS AT END OF TRIP, SOMETIMES AT BEGINNING, NO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

2001 GMC SONOMA SLS. STARTED IN MAY 2006 WITH 52,449 MILES ON VEHICLE: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER IDENTIFIED BAD O2 SENSOR AND REPLACED ($253). TWO WEEKS LATER AT 53,131, SES LIGHT AGAIN. DEALER INSTALLED NEW CHECK VALVE ($116). 3-4 WEEKS LATER AT 53,892, SES LIGHT AGAIN. DEALER SAID WATER IN AIR PUMP, REPLACED AIR PUMP AND HOSE ($357). NOW ON 26 AUG (54,084) SES LIGHT JUST CAME ON AGAIN. IN 60 DAYS, THE LIGHT HAS BEEN CLEARED & RESET 3 TIMES WITH OVER $700 IN REPAIRS AND NOW ANOTHER TROUBLE. *JB

OWNER SAT ON OPEN PICKUP TRUCK TAILGATE AND BOTH SUPPORT CABLES FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY CAUSING GATE TO FALL DOWNWARD UNTIL STOPPED BY CONTACT WITH THE REAR BUMPER. REPLACEMENT CABLES WERE SUPPLIED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT INSTALLATION LABOR WAS NOT FUNDED. FAILED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *JB

FAILURE OF TAILGATE CABLE. THE SECOND CABLE IS STARTING TO BULGE IN MIDDLE, JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THAT ONE GOES. MY WIFE AND I WERE SITTING ON THE TAILGATE WHEN THE RIGHT ONE SNAPPED. *JB

FAILURE OF TAILGATE CABLE. THE SECOND CABLE IS STARTING TO BULGE IN MIDDLE. *NM

TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLE CORRODED AND BROKE CAUSING TAILGATE TO DROP ONTO BUMPER. NORMAL NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF MY 2001 GMC SONOMA PICKUP. (I NOTICE THE GM HAS A RECALL IF JUST THIS THING FOR 1999 AND 2000 SILVERADO AND SIERRA BUT THE SAME HAS HAPPENED ON MY SONOMA...NOT RECALL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. *NM