1997 GMC Sonoma brakes problems

The 1997 GMC Sonoma has 44 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 28% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

Brakes complaints

28%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Sonoma brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

97V146001BrakesSeptember 11, 1997 · 146,167 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

BRAKE FLUID LOSS CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

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 LINE, THE FRONT BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.

What owners report

“INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL BECOMES HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 5, 2000 · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1997 GMC Sonoma have?

NHTSA has 44 complaints about the 1997 GMC Sonoma brakes — 28% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1997 GMC Sonoma brakes?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 97V146001.

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

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.