Door Latch Problems of GMC Sonoma

The 3rd door latch on Chevrolet/GMC extended cabs is subject to failure with fewer than 1000 openings. I am quadriplegic and store my wheel chair using the space; and have had 2 failures in less than 1 year. Reading blocs it has been a continued reported issue. Since there is only the one door release, and I have been stranded twice due to the failed part latch assembly a redesign recall or secondary release be added after by mfg for all affected models. Part number: 15760310. There is no warning, the plastic needs to be metal, and a secondary release for emergency. People can be trapped or in my case confined with no way to get away/out of the vehicle.

See all problems of the 2003 GMC Sonoma 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2000 GMC Sonoma 🔎.

: the contact stated the rear left door handle detached and moved freely when the contact attempted to open the door. This prevented the door from being opened from the outside. The vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, who was unable to determine the cause of the problem. The door handle had previously been replaced twice for the same issue, yet the problems persisted.

Lt truck 3rd door latch on GMC Sonoma (15760310) breaks at top of bracket, with less than 600 uses. I am quadriplegic and could not access or load wheelchair due to failure, had to find help at outside location and residence, but could result in hyperthermia or heat stroke if occurred in remote or secluded location.

Third door latch broke. Contacted dealer and GMC customer service. Told no recalls on latch. I would have to pay dealer to determine what caused latch to break if part defective GMC would pay for fix but not for dealers labor for diagnosing problem. Dealer said it would take 30 minutes minimum to 1 hour and half at 75 dollars a hour. Talked to another dealer service manager,told "repair them all the time". Took vehicle to local body shop who also said"repair them all the time". Read on internet auto bulletin boards that other people having same problems.

See all problems of the 2002 GMC Sonoma 🔎.

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.

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.

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.

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?.

While driving 65 mph and without warning the driver's side door latch failed, causing the driver's side door to open. The consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pulled over. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and the mechanic could not duplicate the problem. The mechanic suggested that the problem was the factory's fault. The consumer was also told that this vehicle was known for a knocking noise around the tires in which the consumer's vehicle had experienced.

See all problems of the 1998 GMC Sonoma 🔎.

Defective door latch handles. (nar) dealer notified.

See all problems of the 2001 GMC Sonoma 🔎.

I attempted to open my third door and the handle broke.

The top door latch for the third door (extended cab) cracked and fell off when I opened the driver's side door! the latch cracked completely in half at the two rivvet holes that mount the catch to the upper door frame. The latch secures both the driver's side door and rear door at the top of the door frame. Now that the "u" shaped latch has broken, only the single bottom latch holds the driver's side door closed. The driver's sholder and lap belt is attached to the driver's side door. My fear is the driver's side door may spring open during an accident and the seat belt would not secure the driver.

See all problems of the 1997 GMC Sonoma 🔎.

Passenger side door lock failed.

See all problems of the 1996 GMC Sonoma 🔎.