7.0

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,429 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.

1998 GMC Sonoma transmission problems

transmission problem

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1998 GMC Sonoma Owner Comments

problem #7

Feb 102007

Sonoma 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,000 miles

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

I am the original owner of a 1998 GMC Sonoma purchased new in February of 1999. Vehicle properly maintained driven as a commuter vehicle approximately 7,400 miles per year. It is equipped with the 4L60E transmission, which is clearly defective. 59,000 miles begins to surge and slip. Acceleration is greatly reduced with harsh shifting. Greatly compromising my safety. Entire transmission needs to be replaced at a cost of $3100 GMC will not reimburse repairs to my vehicle. My claims were "denied" by the district representative.

- Litchfield Park, AZ, USA

problem #6

Oct 202004

Sonoma 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving, the consumer heard a winding noise coming from the front of the vehicle. While shifting the transmission hesitated, then down shifted on its own. The consumer drove it to a transmission shop. The mechanic informed the driver that the transmission needed to be replaced. Please fill in additional information.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #5

Feb 192001

Sonoma

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #4

Sep 162002

(reported on)

Sonoma

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Automatic transmission failed, shutting down completely with no power. Dealership stated that a pump for transmission wasn't functioning, transmission burned up internally.

- Crown Point, IN, USA

problem #3

Jun 012001

Sonoma

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission was noisy at any speed, dealer determined a bearing needed to be replaced in transmission. Mileage at repair was 30000. At this time bearing neeed to be replaced again.

- Johnson City, TN, USA

problem #2

Oct 182001

Sonoma

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The complaint is about my transmission in my 1998 GMC Sonoma. Engine service light came on so I took the truck in for service. I was told that the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced as per the service bulletin. A $2,200-dollar fix. The truck is not quite 3 years old though I have 59000 miles on it. I can tell you that IM the only one that has driven this truck and it has hauled no more than groceries I called the customer care center and GM has said they would pay 40 percent of the repair ref case number: C05710638. At first I thought this was better than nothing. But I believe there is a major problem with the transmission and General Motors should stand behind the product due to the nature of the failure, warranty or not. This is not right. This is a major part of the vehicle and should not have gone bad this quickly. I will continue to do all the research I can to show that this failure is not normal. If a service bulletin was issued then I think it was a known problem, GM has admitted that they have seen this problem before but because the vehicle is out of warranty this is all will do.

- Middletown, OH, USA

problem #1

Jul 032000

Sonoma

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission is slipping out of gear and drops into neutral for 1-2 seconds, and then goes back into gear, causing a revving in engine. Consumer contacted dealer in July 2000, but could not determine cause. Currently, consumer is having problems with transmission sticking in gear. Same dealer claims transmission needs to be replaced. Consumer states stuck gear resulted in an engine brake condition in a reduced speed zone where vehicle speed is suddenly reduced with no brake lights on, consumer found tsb 99-07-30-005 regarding this problem and stated the recommendation was to replace the valve body assembly, however this was not been done until the valve body assembly failed which caused 3rd gear to lock on the highway, consume rwants GM to take responsibility for this problem.

- Minnepolis, MN, USA

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