The Lemon Index
20012nd generation
About average · most complaints: brakes
60 owner complaints, first 3 years 16–23 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2000 Chevrolet S-10 1012000 Dodge Dakota 2272000 Toyota Tundra 188
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
No complaints for this year listed a mileage, so we can't say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 07E021000 (fuel system, other), 00V258001 (equipment) and 00V055000 (brakes) done? It has 4 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- GMC sent dealers 304 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Service engine soon lamp illuminated, incorrect transmission shifts, poor performance of…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and GMC's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 60 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
In owners' words
While driving at 35 mph another driver struck consumer head-on and none of airbags deployed.
2000 GMC Sonoma owner · NHTSA complaint 876050
More owner reports
While driving and without warning the brakes failed and caused an accident.
NHTSA complaint 10020066
When applying brakes abs system activates too quickly, causing a collision to occur. Please give any further details.
NHTSA complaint 870854
Fixes owners look up most.
From 199 YouTube videos · 3.7M views · 1994–2004 GMC Sonoma
- Transmission & shifter313K views
2001 GMC Sonoma Manual Transmission Fluid Replacement -EricTheCarGuyEricTheCarGuy · 156K views · 3 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank262K views
How to Replace Fuel Pump 1998 - 2003 Chevy S10 GMC Sonoma (Easiest Method)Dustin T · 229K views · 4 videos
Views show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2000 is the same generation.
Problems GMC told dealers about
GMC sent dealers 304 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Service engine soon lamp illuminated, incorrect transmission shifts, poor performance of…
- Some customers may comment that the service engine soon lamp is illuminated, no 3rd and 4th gear
- Some vehicles will not move when 4-wheel drive is requested, noise, shudder, poor performance,…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 4
- Fuel system, other · recall issued 2007
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS.
- Equipment · recall issued 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES.
- Brakes · recall issued 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKES.
Show all 4 recalls
- Brakes · recall issued 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: S -TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 2 WHEEL DRIVE.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedEngine stall due to fuel starvation2002–2003
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,600–$3,750 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.2L 4-cyl, 4.3L 6-cyl.
Every GMC Sonoma year. 2000 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 7 older years (1994–2004, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 10 GMC Sonoma years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2000 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/gmc-sonoma/?y=2000" title="GMC Sonoma reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="307" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/gmc-sonoma/2000/">Lemon Index</a> (2000 GMC Sonoma reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2000 GMC Sonoma reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 106; 100 is average, lower is better). The GMC Sonoma year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2003.
What are the most common 2000 GMC Sonoma problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (47%), airbags (17%) and transmission & drivetrain (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2000 GMC Sonoma have?
4 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, other). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2000 GMC Sonoma get?
16 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2000 GMC Sonoma have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2000 GMC Sonoma cost in fuel a year?
About $2,600 to $3,750 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2000 GMC Sonoma have?
2.2L 4-cyl, 4.3L 6-cyl.
What GMC Sonoma year is better than the 2000?
Nearby, the 2003 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about two-thirds as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works