Chevrolet Sonic Complaints

954 consumer complaints on file.

#10469210August 5, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
STALLS EASILY AND FREQUENTLY WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP AND IS THEN DIFFICULT TO RESTART, OR I MUST WAIT ABOUT 5 SECONDS BEFORE I CAN ATTEMPT A RESTART. UNEVEN IDLE MOST OF THE TIME. DEALER BLAMES ME FOR THE STALLING (SAYS I'M NOT USED TO THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT MANY ARE COMPLAINING ON THE ONLINE FORUM WWW.SONICOWNERSFORUM.COM) MOST IMPORTANTLY, YESTERDAY (08/04/2012), THE FULLY WARMED 1.4L TURBO ENGINE IN MY SONIC REV'D TO FROM IDLE (750 RPM) TO EXACTLY 3,000 RPM THEN BACK DOWN TO 750 RPM (WHILE 6 SPD MANUAL IN NEUTRAL, CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED, RIGHT FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AND NOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAD STOPPED AT THE END OF A DRIVEWAY AND WAS WAITING ON TRAFFIC SO THAT I COULD PULL OUT. MY RIGHT FOOT NEVER MOVED FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS IN NO WAY TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE IDLE SPEED INCREASED TO 3,000 RPM ALL ON IT'S OWN AND BACK DOWN TO IDLE, MUCH TO MY SHOCK AND AMAZEMENT. THANKFULLY, I WAS FULLY STOPPED. AT ONLY 3,070 MILES AND NOT YET 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, MY NEW 2012 SONIC IS BEGINNING TO HAVE A MIND OF IT'S OWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469222August 5, 2012
POWER TRAIN
AFTER DISENGAGING, ENGAGING, AND THEN DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION GRINDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466332July 17, 2012
SUSPENSION, STEERING
WE BOUGHT THE CHEVY SONIC BRAND NEW, OFF THE DEALERS LOT. WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH OR ABOVE WE FOUND THAT THE CAR DRIFTS EXCESSIVELY AND IS VERY HARD TO KEEP IN THE LANE. ON A FEW OCCASIONS DRIVING AT POSTED HIGHWAY SPEEDS WE WERE FORCED TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE OF RADICAL SWERVING. OUR FIRST COMPLAINTS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WERE ANSWERED WITH "IT'S THE NEW ELECTRONIC STEERING, YOU'LL GET USED TO IT" AFTER DRIVING A FEW MORE WEEKS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT, WE TOOK IT BACK IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. A NOTICE CONCERNING THE BELLY PAN CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS ON CARS BUILT BEFORE JANUARY 2012 WAS RECOGNIZED AND IT WAS REMOVED FROM OUR VEHICLE WHICH HELPED ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT. UPON TWO MORE VISITS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, NOTHING ELSE WAS FOUND. BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE DRIVEN A VARIETY OF NEW VEHICLES INCLUDING SMALL CARS WITH A COMBINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF 70 YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH A NEW VEHICLE. THE STEERING ON THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464676July 9, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A TRAILER TWICE AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, THE HOOD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE KNEE, LEFT SHOULDER AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10462192June 18, 2012
SUSPENSION, STEERING
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC SEDAN. THE FIRST TIME THAT WE DROVE IT AT HIGHWAY AND INTERSTATE SPEEDS WE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN THE DRIVING LANE. WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND AFTER A NEW SET OF TIRES, THEN LATER A NEW SET OF LARGER WHEELS AND TIRES THERE HAS BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT IN HANDLING. I AM 55 YEARS OLD AND HAVE DRIVEN MANY DIFFERENT CARS AND TRUCKS AND THIS IS THE WORST DRIVING VEHICLE EVER. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. IT IS THE WORST ON CONCRETE ROADS THAT HAVE BEEN GROUND BUT HANDLING IS ALWAYS BAD. I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT THIS CAR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459808May 28, 2012
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED "HUNTING" (SHAKING LEFT AND RIGHT) AND RESISTED ATTEMPTS TO STEER THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL CONTROLLABLE, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHILE STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND IS NOT THERMAL (WILL HAPPEN BOTH AT COLD START-UP AND WHEN VEHICLE IS UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. IT IS NOT EFFECTED BY AMBIENT TEMPERATURE). THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WITH SPS 155 WT40, STATING THE CURRENT PROGRAMMING WAS INCORRECT. THE INVOICE REPORTED A CODE: "C0710 SYMPTOM 4B SENSOR NOT LEARNED RELEARN STEERING SENSOR". THE PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER APPROX 100 MILES OF USE. ADDITIONALLY, ONSTAR NOTIFIED ME (APPROX 25 MAY 2012) THAT THE BACKUP BATTERY FOR ITS SYSTEM WAS FAULTY AND REQUIRED IMMEDIATE SERVICE. I MENTION THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW IF THE BACKUP BATTERY FOR ONSTAR IS COMMON TO ANY BACKUP SYSTEMS FOR THE SONIC'S COMPUTERS. I AM RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION AND SERVICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459472May 23, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW WITH 3 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER 2011. WHEN I HIT AROUND 7500 MILES I NOTICED THE CAR WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL WOULD DRIFT BACKWARDS - WHEN I GOT TO 7800 MILES THE WHENEVER I WAS IN TRAFFIC TRAVELING AROUND 5-13 MPH I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT ON IT'S OWN THE RPM'S WOULD SHOOT UP AND THE TACH WOULD REV BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO. I WOULD NEED TO PUT IT IN PARK AND THEN DRIVE AND IT WOULD BE FINE. THIS HAPPENED ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. WHEN GOING TO PARK AND PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK IN THE CAR WOULD HESITATE ABOUT 30 SECONDS BEFORE IT WOULD MOVE.. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND TOOK IT IN. ONSTAR SAID THEY DID NOT FIND ISSUES WHEN THEY CHECKED. THE DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.. ON THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM IT WITH SPS ( NOT SURE WHAT THE MEANS ) AND IT NOW WORKS LIKE THE DAY I PULLED IT OFF THE LOT.... THEY ALSO LEFT ME KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ISSUES TO CONTACT THEM RIGHT AWAY AND THEY WOULD GET IT RIGHT IN. ON THE ELECTRICAL - THE DRIVER WINDOW BUTTON STICKS AND WINDOW WILL GO UP AND DOWN ON IT'S OWN UNTIL YOU GET THE BUTTON UN-STUCK -- THIS IS ALSO BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER HOWEVER THEY HAD TO ORDER PARTS .. WHEN THEY COME IN IS TO BE DETERMINED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458294May 14, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS CAUSING DISCOMFORT TO THE CONTACT'S NOSE, EYES, CLOTHES AND TASTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR WOULD BE COME UNCOMFORTABLE AFTER BEING IN THE VEHICLE FOR A MINIMUM OF 45 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES WHO CONFIRMED THE SMELL BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE SENT TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10456042April 22, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN I AM DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND AM BEHIND A CAR THAT IS TURNING I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I GIVE IT GAS AT AROUND 2K RPM. THE CAR HAS SOME HESITATION LIKE IT CANT FIND A GEAR TO BE IN. IT HAS DONE IT SEANCE ABOUT 100 MILES. HAS 7000 MILES ON IT NOW. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION TRYING TO FIND ITS SHIFT POINTS AS YOU BREAK IT IN AT 1000 MILES.(BERGER CHEVY) ALSO WHEN IN GARAGE AND START CAR IT SOUNDS FINE. BUT ONCE I PUT IT IN REV. I HEAR LOST LOT PINGS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. STARTED AFTER DEER CRASH. TOOK TO BERGER CHEVY WHERE CAR WAS BOUGHT. THEY FOUND NOTHING BUT JUST BODY DAMAGE. HOOD, FRONT END, AND PASSAGE SIDE ALL REPLACE. WITH 600 MILES ON CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455300April 15, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY SAID IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH EMISSION. CALLED DEALER, THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT WAS A FAULTY EVAP SOLENOID. DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID ON 3-22-2012. WHILE THERE, THEY ALSO TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE ABOUT A RECALL. SAID THEY FIXED THAT TOO. PROBLEM # 2- TODAY 4-15, 2012, WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, ITS MAKING WHAT SEEMS LIKE A RUBBING SOUND !! CALLED ONSTAR AGAIN, BUT THEY COULDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING. I WILL BE TAKING THIS PIECE OF CRAP CAR BACK TO THE DEALERS !! THIS CAR IS ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD WITH 2800 MILES ON IT. !! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451658March 14, 2012
AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WOULD NOT IDENTIFY THAT A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER OBSTRUCTED THE FIELD OF VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450891March 9, 2012
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING ON AN INCLINE, THE HILL HOLDER WAS ENGAGED YET THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAL AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR BOTH FAILURES. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THERE WAS CORROSION ALONG THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 925 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1041. UPDATED 04/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. UPDATED 04/30/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449731February 29, 2012
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS & THE ENGINE DIED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD RAINED AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR & REALLY DID NOT AT THIS TIME ASSOCIATE THE WIPERS & THE ENGINE DYING UNTIL LATER THAT SAME DAY WHEN CONTACTED A FRIEND OF MINE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE DEALER CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT IS A LONG STORY & I'M VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF & OTHERS. IT DIED THE OTHER DAY IN TRAFFIC WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN & I TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND ALMOST WAS HIT BY A TRUCK. PLEASE CONTACT ME, IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR HIM TO EXPLAIN IN PERSON ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447299February 9, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED POORLY AND POSITIONED TO CLOSE TO THE GROUND. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD RUB THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO SPECIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 491.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Sonic