2003 GMC Sonoma

Defect. CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE INCORRECT STATEMENTS ON ONE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS.

Remedy. OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

THE VEHICLE IS KEPT IN A GARAGE AND WHEN OUTSIDE I USE A SCREEN PROTECTOR. THE DASH AND MANY OTHER INTERIOR PARTS OF THE CAR ARE SIMPLY FALLING APART

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AMREICAN TIRE DEPOT ON 5/23/18. I HAD TWO FLAT TIRES AND A BENT RIM, I EXPLAINED WHAT I NEEDED AND THEY CONFIRMED. DANIEL WHO ASSISTED ME INFORMED ME HE HAD TO SELL ME FOUR TIMES BECAUSE MY TIRES WERE WORN. I SAID THAT WAS FINE ALTHOUGH MY TIRES WERE NOT THAT BAD. I WAS CHARGED $419.80 AND TOLD TO RETURN IN A FEW DAYS TO GET THE RIM AND FOURTH TIRE, MEAN WHILE THEY WOULD PUT THE SPARE ON SO I COULD DRIVE MY TRUCK. I AGREED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER I CALLED AND SPOKE TO DANIEL, WHO STATED HE WOULD CALL ME BACK. I WAITED A FEW DAYS WITH NO CALL BACK. I AGAIN CALLED AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO DANIEL HOWEVER HE WAS NOT IN. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER AND ERIC GOT ON THE PHONE AND STATED HE WAS THE STORE MANAGER. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, ERIC STATED HE WOULD HAVE DANIEL CALL ME BACK THE NEXT DAY. A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT CONVERSATION I CALLED BACK AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER, AGAIN I GOT ERIC ON THE PHONE WHO STATED THE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS ON VACATION AND HE WAS ACTING AS THE DISTRICT MANAGER IN HIS ABSENCE. I AGAIN ENDED MY CONVERSATION WITHOUT A RESOLUTION. I THEN CALLED AL MENDOZA WHO IS THE DISTRICT MANAGER. AL STATED HE WAS NOT ON VACATION AS ERIC STATED BUT DID TAKE "A FEW" DAYS OFF. I INFORMED HIM OF THE SITUATION AND HE STATED HIS EMPLOYEES DID NOTHING WRONG, HOWEVER HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK TO ME. A FEW DAYS PASSED AND NOTHING. ON 6/20/18 O RECEIVED A CALL STATING MY TIRE AND RIM WERE READY TO BE PICKED UP. I WENT TO THE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK THE BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. TOOK THE TRUCK TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHERE THE LEAF SPRINGS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SHOP COULD NOT REPAIR THE CAR, AND KNEW NO ONE LOCALLY WHO COULD REPAIR THE CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RUST ISSUES WITH THE TRUCK OVER THE YEARS AS FOLLOWS: SPARE TIRE MOUNTING RUSTED THROUGH AND THE SPARE TIRE FLEW OFF THE TRUCK IN TRAFFIC; THE FUEL LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE DUE TO RUST; AND THE REAR BRAKES RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HE DROVE 73 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL INSPECTION THAT ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUG AND THE FUEL CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SPARK PLUG AND FUEL CAP WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,984. UPDATED 07/28/14 MA UPDATED 07/29/14

ABOUT A YEAR AGO HAD ONE STEEL BRAKE LINBE BUST BECAUSE OF RUSTED. NOW TODAY IN MY YARD HIT BRAKE PEDAL RIGHT TO FLOOR AGAIN. RUSTED BRAKE LINE AGAIN. HAVE OTHER BRAKE LINES RUSTED VERY BAD. *TT

2003 GMC SONOMA. CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE SUPPORT CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE RUSTED THROUGH AND THE TIRE FELL OFF, ROLLED DOWN THE ROAD AND HIT ANOTHER CAR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED NO DAMAGE WAS DONE AND THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP OPERATING UNEXPECTEDLY. THEY WILL THEN BEGIN OPERATING AGAIN AFTER BEING TURNED OFF FOR PERIOD OF TIME. RECENTLY IN EARLY APRIL 2011 AT ABOUT 91,000 MILES. THEY STOPPED WORKING SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK BEFORE LEAVING THE PARKING LOT.

THERE ARE 4 LATCHES ON 2003 GMC SONOMA TRUCK AND THREE IMPACT PERSONAL SAFETY. TAILGATE DOES NOT AS PERSON DOES NOT RIDE IN TRUCK BED. THE PASSENGER DOOR LATCHES ARE METAL. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH IS PLASTIC AND BROKE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.BOTH TIME SAME DEFECT. IN EMERGENCY IF PERSON IN JUMP SEAT CAN'T GET OUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH. FOURTH LATCH IS SEAT RECLINES VIA LATCH. HANDLE HAS BROKE. IF SEAT RECLINES PERSON IN JUMP SEAT HAS TROUBLE EXITING VEHICLE. IF SEAT IS IN RECLINE PERSON CANNOT OPERATE VEHICLE SAFELY. LATCHES ARE PLASTIC. *TR

DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP I HEARD MY SPARE TIRE HIT THE GROUND WITH THE SUPPORT CABLE AND OTHER METAL PIECES. LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND FOUND THAT THE CABLE JUST SNAP. *TR

TAILGATE FELL OFF TRUCK WHILE BEING DRIVEN. SAFETY CABLES HAD RUST, METAL FATIGUE, AND BROKE ALLOWING TAILGATE TO COMPLETELY DETACH FROM VEHICLE. NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE INJURED. TAILGATE WAS RECOVERED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM; TANK ASSEMBLY FILLER PIPE. THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT THE COST OF $1,959.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,348. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,352. UPDATED 11/17/09 *BF THE DEALER DISCOVERED ROAD SALT HAD EATEN AROUND THE FUEL MODULE. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS WARPED. UPDATED 11/1/8/09

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. IN JUNE OF 2004, THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS FAILING AND THE PAINT WAS DETERIORATING ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HIMSELF, BUT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE PART SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AND IS NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 5/14/09 *CN UPDATED 05/14/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SONOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER FAILED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED A NEW HAVAC CONTROL HEAD, THREE MODE ACTUATORS, AND THE STORAGE TANK AND SWITCH LINE NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED OUT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 12/17/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/18/08. *JB

SPARE TIRE HANGER CABLE BROKE DROPPING TIRE ON ROADWAY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE THE DRIVESHAFT FELL OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK AND DENTED VARIOUS PARTS UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. AFTER HAVING THE DRIVESHAFT REPLACED A CLICK STILL OCCURRED WITH THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. THE MECHANIC BELIEVED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE BACK AXLE. *AK

LT TRUCK 3RD DOOR LATCH ON GMC SONOMA (15760310) BREAKS AT TOP OF BRACKET, WITH LESS THAN 600 USES. I AM QUADRIPLEGIC AND COULD NOT ACCESS OR LOAD WHEELCHAIR DUE TO FAILURE, HAD TO FIND HELP AT OUTSIDE LOCATION AND RESIDENCE, BUT COULD RESULT IN HYPERTHERMIA OR HEAT STROKE IF OCCURRED IN REMOTE OR SECLUDED LOCATION. *TR

THE 3RD DOOR LATCH ON CHEVROLET/GMC EXTENDED CABS IS SUBJECT TO FAILURE WITH FEWER THAN 1000 OPENINGS. I AM QUADRIPLEGIC AND STORE MY WHEEL CHAIR USING THE SPACE; AND HAVE HAD 2 FAILURES IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. READING BLOCS IT HAS BEEN A CONTINUED REPORTED ISSUE. SINCE THERE IS ONLY THE ONE DOOR RELEASE, AND I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TWICE DUE TO THE FAILED PART LATCH ASSEMBLY A REDESIGN RECALL OR SECONDARY RELEASE BE ADDED AFTER BY MFG FOR ALL AFFECTED MODELS. PART NUMBER: 15760310. *AK THERE IS NO WARNING, THE PLASTIC NEEDS TO BE METAL, AND A SECONDARY RELEASE FOR EMERGENCY. PEOPLE CAN BE TRAPPED OR IN MY CASE CONFINED WITH NO WAY TO GET AWAY/OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LEFT DOOR HANDLE DETACHED AND MOVED FREELY WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS PREVENTED THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR HANDLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED TWICE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, YET THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED.

IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT WATER HAS CONTAMINANTED THE OIL IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CAUSING A MECHANICAL FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH GMC IS AWARE THAT PROBLEM WITH A VENT TUBE LOCATION IS ONE SOURCE FOR WATER INFILTRATION. I HAVE A GMC DOCUMENT WITH SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR MECHANICS TO CHECK FOR THE IMPROPER VENT TUBE LOCATION IF WATER IS INDEED FOUND IN THE REAR AXLE FLUID. *JB