2001 GMC Sonoma Sport 2.2 FFV

Summary:

Great truck, easy to maintain, great gas mileage, looks sporty

Faults:

Fuel gauge is broken.

Arm rest is broken down.

General Comments:

I love this truck. My truck has the sport suspension, and it handles like a dream. The ride is smooth and the truck maneuvers easily.

A/C is ice cold.

Truck gets great miles per gallon. I get an average of 26mpg in 60% city, 40% highway driving. I am a conservative driver, so that helps the mpg.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th September, 2009

2001 GMC Sonoma SLS 4.3 Vortec

Summary:

Runs and drives, but that's about it

Faults:

The fuel pump went out in 2007 @ 87000 miles.

The radiator leaked bad and had to be replaced in 2008 @ 97000 miles.

The front driver's side idler arm in the wheel well broke, and had to be replaced @ 97000 miles.

Seats have worn badly.

The interior is cheap and breaks easily.

The glove compartment latch broke 3 times and is now held by a bungicord.

The gas mileage is not too great 18 mpg!?

The body has rust issues.

The 3rd broke at the latch and doesn't open anymore.

Has engine noise that started @ 105,000 miles.

Paint is bad in places.

Driverside door handle is broken and is falling out, but still opens.

Electric windows are hard to roll up and down (motor stops working at inopportune times).

Had wiring issues before I purchased in 2006.

Exterior trim and cladding is cheap and breaks easily.

General Comments:

The truck is OK. Wish it was an S-10! Runs OK, but doesn't get up and go as a V6 should.

The interior is cheap and breaks easily.

The 3rd door broke at the latch; doesn't open anymore.

Doesn't handle as well on gravel or bumpy roads.

Has engine noise.

Premature rust.

Paint is in poor shape in places.

Cheap exterior trim and claddings that breaks easily.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 26th April, 2009

2001 GMC Sonoma 4.3

Summary:

Truck is pure junk and repair bills are expensive

Faults:

Oil lines have leaked since driving it off the dealer lot. I have replaced them twice.

Both front hubs went out as soon as the warranty was up. 4x4 button will not engage half the time. Yesterday, while going about a half mile to the store the fuel pump failed. MPG is terrible.

I did put stiffer shocks and overload springs on this truck which helped in overall drivibility.

Most of this truck was made in Mexico, and you can tell. I would not buy another GM product again. I think I will go back to a full size Ford.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 26th December, 2008

2001 GMC Sonoma SLS 4.3 V6

Summary:

Not one of GM's better efforts

Faults:

The water pump was leaking and replaced at 28,000 miles.

The intake was leaking anti freeze, intake gaskets replaced at 28,000 miles.

Power steering pump seal started leaking at 17,000 miles.

Rear trans seal leaking at 17,000 miles.

Pinion seal leaking at 6000 miles, replaced at 28,000 miles.

Calipers locked up, pads and rotors replaced at 12,000 miles.

Both tailgate cables broke at 15,000 miles.

General Comments:

Thank God I bought the extended warranty on this vehicle. I'm thinking the above list of repairs would have cost in the $1500 to $1900 range. Unbelievable for a vehicle with just 28,000 miles.

You have to service the front brake calipers at every oil change or they freeze up. When they freeze up you loose braking power and it wears out the inner pad and ruins the rotor.

The OEM tires make this truck an accident waiting to happen. Zero traction on anything, but perfect dry roads. Replaced them at 6000 miles.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 26th January, 2008

2001 GMC Sonoma SLS 4.6L V6

Summary:

An expensive rugged, tough off roading machine

Faults:

The "service engine soon" light has come on for no apparent reason twice.

A thin metal strap that holds the back of the muffler has broken, allowing to muffler to rattle somewhat while driving.

The 3rd door latch broke once, but the dealership promptly repaired it. Unfortunately, in classic GM fashion, the actual engineering fault that allowed the the 3rd door latch to break was not corrected, so I'm almost certain it will break again.

Fit and finish are not spectacular. Body panels are not perfectly lined up, and some parts wiggle a bit.

At high speeds, the power windows do not close completely. They get hung up on the weatherstipping.

General Comments:

I bought my GMC Sonoma "High-rider" new in 2001. It is the off road package, and I loved the way it looked from the beginning. They are very expensive, so be sure it is what you want.

For overall structural integrity and strength, I rate my truck high. It is extremely tough and rugged, no question. The drive shaft is beefy, and the entire (and I do mean entire) undercarriage on the vehicle is completely protected for the purpose of off-roading.

The truck "gets it" in the mud. I outperformed a Jeep Wrangler and a Ford Ranger (off road model) while off roading for fun. I have never been stuck, and I pulled a 26 foot U-Haul truck out of a snow drift last winter. On a scale of 1 to 10, my High-rider gets an 11 for off road capability.

The vehicle comes with everything standard. There were no options, but it came with everything one would have wanted. It was all standard.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th February, 2004