1997 GMC Sonoma Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1997 GMC Sonoma, and owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1997 GMC Sonoma
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
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.
Remedy: 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 pan and brake…
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Seat belts
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 frontal impact.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.
111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 GMC Sonoma have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA; 14 describe a crash. Reports cite 10 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,648 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 21 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 u”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 20, 2014 · Engine
“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 m”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 11, 2014 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 GMC Sonoma (Sonoma 2WD, Sonoma 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 16–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–20 / 20–27 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Pickup Trucks, Standard Pickup Trucks |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.2/4.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare GMC Sonoma model years
Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Sonoma model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 GMC Sonoma | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 GMC Sonoma | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 GMC Sonoma | 1 | 29 |
| 1992 GMC Sonoma | 1 | 25 |
| 1993 GMC Sonoma | 2 | 58 |
| 1994 GMC Sonoma | 2 | 224 |
| 1995 GMC Sonoma | 3 | 213 |
| 1996 GMC Sonoma | 6 | 148 |
| 1997 GMC Sonoma | 2 | 111 |
| 1998 GMC Sonoma | 3 | 156 |
| 1999 GMC Sonoma | 0 | 57 |
| 2000 GMC Sonoma | 3 | 136 |
| 2001 GMC Sonoma | 1 | 89 |
| 2002 GMC Sonoma | 0 | 57 |
| 2003 GMC Sonoma | 1 | 39 |
| 2004 GMC Sonoma | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 GMC Sonoma | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1997 GMC Sonoma
How do I know if my 1997 GMC Sonoma has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 GMC Sonoma; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 97V096001).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other GMC models
- Sierra 15008,930 complaints
- Acadia5,569 complaints
- Yukon4,989 complaints
- Sierra3,937 complaints
- Terrain3,124 complaints
- Jimmy2,720 complaints
- Envoy2,459 complaints
- Yukon XL2,417 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.