10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
22,286 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 GMC Sonoma engine problems

engine problem

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1997 GMC Sonoma Owner Comments

problem #7

Nov 172010

Sonoma 6-cyl

  • 156,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle throttle sticks at 1500rpm and will stick above 1500rpm if downshifted or increasing speed. The only way to lower the RPM to idle is shift to neutral a N D come to a complete stop -- firmly holding brake to maximum depression and then only after a few second delay. Upon entering any gear [automatic xmsn] the RPM will again go to 1500, but if brake pedal remains depressed for about 10sec the RPM will go back to idle. Any slick roads or mountain/steep downhill driving is extremely hazardous! check engine stays on and computer reading calls for replacement of a sensor which has been replaced 3 times. The directions say to let the new sensor "break in" by idling for 20 minutes minimum prior to driving. It does not work! this is a faulty design wherein a sensor or component malfunction results in throttle boost beyond operator control and is often at RPM's above 2500 !!! the malfunction is permanent and the incident occurs every day the vehicle is driven !!!

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #6

Jun 202002

(reported on)

Sonoma

  • miles
Dangerous! throttle stuck open when a componenet riveted to butterfly "blade" broke off and lodged causing almost wide open throttle - engine had to be shutoff to avoid accident.

- Coal City, IL, USA

problem #5

Jan 022002

Sonoma 4WD

  • miles
Vehicle starts w/ a jerk when accelerator is depressed from a stop. This is a common problem, with many needing an expensive replacement at low vehicle milages. Customer should not be required to pay for this update because of a design flaw.

- Amery, WI, USA

problem #4

Jun 272001

Sonoma 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving the vehicle when it began to accellerate uncontrollably. It continued to accellerate with my foot completely removed from the accellerator. At the time this was happening I was in some traffic and by braking heavily to slow the vehicle I was able to slow it enough to prevent being involved in any kind of incident. I then pulled off of the road and depressed the clutch. With the clutch depressed the trucks accellerator continued to accellerate uncontrollably towards the redline so I shut the engine off.I then restarted the engine and it seemed to have become unstuck. I was only about a quarter of a mile from a mechanic's shop that I was familiar with and tried to get there. As I accellerated through the gears the throttle again became stuck and began to accellerated uncontrollably. I shut down the engine and coasted to the shop. The mechanic there first checked the cables the be sure they were not binding. He then removed the breather assembly to check the throttle body to see if it was becoming stuck. When he opened it he saw that a piece that was attached by rivets to the underside of the front portion of the butterfly vale had partially broken loose. It was then obvious that this was what was causing the problem. I contacted the GMC customer service(relations) department. I was given a case number (C04730917)and told that a dealer would have to do the work if I were to have any chance of being reimbursed for the work. I told the person I the phone that I felt that this was definitely a safety concern. She told me to have the vehicle towed to the nearest dealer to have it repaired and they would determine if this was a safety concern. I truely beleave that it is a safety concern as this could happen at any place at any time and someone else may not be as luck as I was to be in a good place to get off of the road before something happened and caused me to be involved in an accident. I was driving in the mountians Saturday with my nephew.

- Henderson, KY, USA

problem #3

Dec 091999

Sonoma

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While traveling at 40 mph hit an enbankment head-on, and driver's side airbag didn't deploy. Consumer was injured in accident. Consumer states accelerator sticks at times. Keys can not be removed, problem since purchase of vehicle.

- Biburnum, MO, USA

problem #2

Feb 011999

(reported on)

Sonoma

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Cruise control malfunction.

- Canyon Cou, CA, USA

problem #1

Sep 181998

(reported on)

Sonoma

  • miles
While driving the gas pedal will travel to the floor without any manual operation and the vehicle will suddenly accelerate to exceed 2000 RPM. Cause unknown.

- Tyler, AL, USA

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