The 1991 GMC Sonoma has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,125,749 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC99V1930001999-07-191,125,749 affected
Defect
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-WHEEL DRIVE CAN…
Consequence
IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
10
2crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
2
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1
Total complaints35
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1991 gmc sonoma. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, an unusual noise emitted from of the vehicle. The contact then noticed hat the spare tire had become detached from under the vehicle as a result of a fractured support cable. The vehicle was not…”
“1991 gmc sonoma. Tilt steering has become very loose has not caused any wrecks or damage afraid to drive. Have not taken for repairs. Mileage counter broke some years ago this truck has aprox. 200,000 miles on with no other complaints, did have manual trans replaced under warranty many years ago.…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1991 gm sonoma. While driving at speeds of 20 mph, the drivers door would open without warning. The door latch pin was found to be severely rusted. The dealer advised the warranty had expired and were not willing to repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the…”
“Engine would constantly overheat while driving at any speed. Vehicle had been taken to a dealer several times. Dealer replaced the engine thermostat, and problem recurred. Consumer took the vehicle to another dealer, and they informed him that the thermostat was defective. *ak”
“Consumer received recall 99v193, however the dealer is stating that the consumer is not eligible for the recall because the serial number did not come up on his computer. *slc”
“Steering wheel and tilt assembly came loose, making vehicle undriveable. Told by various gm mechanics that this is a common problem with many gm tilt columns on all models.”
“Driver's seatbelt malfunctioned due to seatbelt rubbing against the seatbelt housing and forming a grove in the housing which caused the seatbelt not to retract. This won't protect the occupant in event of a crash. Please provide further information. *ak”
“Vehicle caught on fire while driving. Consumer heard a whistling kind of noise before battery light came on, then, when she pulled off road she saw smoke coming from around the hood. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE94046 Opened 1994-06-17 · closed 1994-10-31
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1991 GMC Sonoma as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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