VehicleVerdict

1996 GMC Sonoma engine problems

The 1996 GMC Sonoma has 21 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

21

Engine complaints

11%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Sonoma engine complaints by model year30 complaints1991: 4 complaints1992: 2 complaints1993: 8 complaints1994: 20 complaints1995: 30 complaints1996: 21 complaints1997: 11 complaints1998: 11 complaints1999: 4 complaints2000: 8 complaints2001: 8 complaints2002: 5 complaints2003: 2 complaints
Sonoma engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE., AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLED CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM CYLINDER ONTO HEAD GASKET.*AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · July 7, 2002 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1996 GMC Sonoma have?

NHTSA has 21 complaints about the 1996 GMC Sonoma engine — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.