Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | |||
| 06/21/2005 | 1 | ||
| Gmc 2000 sonoma sls 1) the third door plastic handle actuator snaps off. (once in 5 years) .....i have always been very careful not to force the handle because a mechanic told me four years ago that the handles were already breaking on many customers. i bought the part at a gm dealership for $30 and installed it myself...not too tough if you are a project person with many tools. took about one hour. the initial rod adjustment must have been bad because my install is now better functioning than the original. 2) the metal rod of the recliner handle snaps in half. (once in 5 years) ......this happened when a technician was working in the back cab space replacing my back window. i thought they did it on purpose to generate some paperwork. the guy swore to me that those handles have broken on them many times, and my passenger side will do the same shortly. they replaced it for free, but it took two hours and they had to take the whole seat apart. 3) the tailgate cables corrode and suddenly break in half. (twice in 5 years) ......the first time it just snapped for no reason. the dealership replaced it free. just one year later the new cable broke when i was pushing off a load...i almost tumbled off under the dropping load. they want $48 for the cable alone, which is riveted to a bracket. i am now out of warranty and refuse to pay that much or the labor. i am going to rig up my own replacement. meanwhile, the existing cable is strained and the upper cable body attachment rod is bent. the tailgate was dented was the cables snapped. i conducted much research on the web on these issues, and found they are a common problem. most people won't take the time to report them, though....so you need to estimate this and also demand gm's warranty and parts records. what is sad is that all three of these issues involve gmc literally trying to save petty nickles and dimes on material quality in critical function parts. | |||
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - DOORS - LATCH | |||
| 02/26/2007 | 30000 | 2 | 12/19/2004 |
| Gmc sonoma 2000 third door latch broke so that door won't open back of drivers seat handle to adjust seat broke off so that the seat is in a tilt position and will not adjust. almost to a position of 50% back. *nm | |||
| 07/06/2003 | 22 | 2 | 06/06/2003 |
| I attempted to open my third door and the handle broke. *jb | |||
| 06/21/2005 | 1 | ||
| Gmc 2000 sonoma sls 1) the third door plastic handle actuator snaps off. (once in 5 years) .....i have always been very careful not to force the handle because a mechanic told me four years ago that the handles were already breaking on many customers. i bought the part at a gm dealership for $30 and installed it myself...not too tough if you are a project person with many tools. took about one hour. the initial rod adjustment must have been bad because my install is now better functioning than the original. 2) the metal rod of the recliner handle snaps in half. (once in 5 years) ......this happened when a technician was working in the back cab space replacing my back window. i thought they did it on purpose to generate some paperwork. the guy swore to me that those handles have broken on them many times, and my passenger side will do the same shortly. they replaced it for free, but it took two hours and they had to take the whole seat apart. 3) the tailgate cables corrode and suddenly break in half. (twice in 5 years) ......the first time it just snapped for no reason. the dealership replaced it free. just one year later the new cable broke when i was pushing off a load...i almost tumbled off under the dropping load. they want $48 for the cable alone, which is riveted to a bracket. i am now out of warranty and refuse to pay that much or the labor. i am going to rig up my own replacement. meanwhile, the existing cable is strained and the upper cable body attachment rod is bent. the tailgate was dented was the cables snapped. i conducted much research on the web on these issues, and found they are a common problem. most people won't take the time to report them, though....so you need to estimate this and also demand gm's warranty and parts records. what is sad is that all three of these issues involve gmc literally trying to save petty nickles and dimes on material quality in critical function parts. | |||
| 04/18/2005 | 1 | ||
| I purchased my 2000 gmc sonoma this year and have had it for 1mo. and the third door handle has broken. i have read the other complaints on this problem and wondering if something is going to be done about it. or is all the gmc sonoma buys just at a lost for every time the handle breaks. does the company care at all. shouldn't there be a recall on this problem. a metal handle counld probably fix the problem or make the door release easier to unlock. *ak | |||
| 08/12/2004 | 12000 | 4 | 05/04/2001 |
| We own a 2000 gmc sonoma and the 3rd door handle breaks about 1 a year. it has been repaired by gm under warranty 3 times but the vehicle is now out of warranty and the handle has broke again. since this vehicle has a seat for children in the rear and we use it for that, i am concerned the handle will break in an emergency situation and we will have difficulty removing the child from the rear. i have spoken with other sonoma owners and service personnel at gm dealerships and all agree this is part that always breaks. i have contacted gms customer service # and they have stated they have no intention of doing anything to improve the design of the door or recall the vehicle for a permanent fix. the problem could be very easily fixed by making the handle out of metal or increasing the web thickness of the plastic at the fracture point. i have retained the failed part for inspection.*ak | |||
| 06/05/2004 | 45100 | 1 | 02/08/2004 |
| 2000 gmc sonoma, third door and handle. since i purchased the vehicle (used) and warranty expired i've noticed that the third door has always been difficult to open, not being familiar with it i assumed it was normal until the handle broke and you could not open the door since there is only one handle for it. i went to a local gmc dealership and purchased another handle assembly, asked about any recalls, or bulletins and was told there was nothing in their system, or gmc's, i searched the internet and found that i was not the first to have this problem, i also found a bulletin in a sonoma website/group online, contacted gmc and finally got them to research the bulletin # and was told yes there is a bulletin, it must have been lost in the system, then i was told i would have to take it back to the dealership where they would have to analyze what caused the handle to break at my expense, as frustrated as i was i went home and fixed it the best i could by following the bulletin, bottom line the bulletin states that the lock rods are improperly adjusted causing to much pressure on the handle, which in turn breaks the handle at any given time when trying to open it. what i have a problem with is if there is a bulletin out than this is obviously a reoccuring problem with the same outcome, yet they feel they still have to analyze what causes each handle to break?*ak | |||
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - LOCK | |||
| 02/02/2005 | 40000 | 1 | 05/01/2000 |
| Tailgate cable (right side) snapped at point where cable bends. appears to be rusted under plastic cover. | |||
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - TAILGATE - LATCH | |||
| 08/20/2005 | 67000 | 1 | 06/26/2000 |
| 2000 gmc sonoma was being used to move into an apartment. the tailgate latch did not engage and the tailgate came open. the tailgate cable failed on one side. the tailgate dropped to the road and was dragged by the vehicle. the vehicle was stopped on noticing the sparks from metal on the concrete road surface and hearing the noise. the tailgate was damaged on the drivers side with metal and paint worn away. the tailgate was touch up painted to prevent rust. a gmc dealer was contacted but due the cost(over $100) the cable was not replaced and the truck has seen limited use for cargo. the cable is still installed on the truck and it is completed corroded at the point of failure and i do not trust the condition of the remaining cable. *jb | |||
| 07/14/2005 | 41700 | 1 | 03/01/2000 |
| The tailgate on my sonoma truck was in the open position, a piece of wood (so small it didn't even leave a dent) fell on the gate. the two cables which support the tailgate both snapped at the same time allowing the gate to fall straight down. after finding the info regarding the sierra trucks having this problem, you need to know it is the small trucks as well. the exact same replacement parts from gmc cost me approx $96.00, and i have to install them myself! very hazardous. *nm | |||
| 04/12/2005 | 56400 | 2 | |
| 2000 gmc sonoma pickup. tailgate was down while unloading groceries. both cables holding tailgate up broke at same time allowing tailgate to drop on bumper.*ak | |||
| 05/16/2004 | 75000 | 1 | 08/03/2002 |
| I was sitting with my son on the tailgate of my gmc sonoma and both tailgate cables broke causing us to fall to the ground. i bruised my back but did not seek medical attention. after several calls to gmc, i was told that there was a recall but they have never contacted me since the date of the incident. *ak | |||
| 10/10/2004 | 2 | 11/10/1999 | |
| Tailgate support cables 2000 gmc sonoma why not on reall with other gm trucks.mine broke within 5 days off each other.no weight at all.*ak | |||