Chevrolet Sonic Complaints (2012)

354 consumer complaints on file.

#10825976February 13, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET (STRAIGHT AND FLAT, NO TURNS OR HILLS) AT 25 MPH AND WENT TO USE MY BRAKES. TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NO POWER ASSIST. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48K MILES ON IT AND HAD NEVER DISPLAYED BRAKING PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ISSUES AT THE STOP SIGN JUST A BLOCK BEFORE. AS IT HAPPENED A FEW BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE, I DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT. BESIDES THE LACK OF POWER ASSIST, THE MOTOR STARTED TO IDLE ROUGH-- IT WOULD SURGE TO 2500 RPM AND THEN SLOW DOWN TO 700 RPM, ALL WITH NO THROTTLE INPUT. WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD, TO LOOK FOR AN OBVIOUS LOOSE HOSE, I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING THAT LOOKED OUT OF THE NORM. HOWEVER, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT MORE NOISE THAN NORMAL-- IT WAS A COMBINATION OF HISSING AND WHIRRING. NOT THE NORMAL SOUND THE ENGINE WOULD MAKE WHILE RUNNING WITH THE HOOD OPEN. THERE WERE SOME NOISES COMING FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER AREA (DRIVER'S SIDE BY THE FIREWALL) THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD PRIOR TO THAT DAY. THE CAR HAS A 1.8 FOUR CYLINDER AND A 5 SPEED MANUAL. THE ISSUES DID NOT IMPACT THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN ANY WAY, SO I DOUBT IT IS THE MASTER CYLINDER. AS I NOTED IT SEEMS TO BE A BRAKE BOOSTER ISSUE... HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO A GARAGE YET AS THE ISSUE JUST HAPPENED. (I AM NO MECHANIC, BUT HAVE A DECENT UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CARS WORK.) EITHER WAY, IT WAS QUITE A SURPRISE. WHILE I AM A MALE IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE, EVEN I NEEDED TO STAND ON THE BRAKES TO GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN FROM ONLY 25 MPH-- HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER, I WOULD HAVE LIKELY NEEDED TO USE THE E-BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR. AGAIN, AT THIS TIME THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE HAPPENED JUST YESTERDAY. FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT (15 F), BUT THERE WAS NO SNOW OR ICE ON THE ROAD, AND IT WAS SUNNY OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10825980February 13, 2016
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL THE RPMS SHOOT UP BUT CAR EXCELERATES SLOWLY. IT JERKS HARD WHEN SWITCHING TO ANOTHER GEAR AND TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES TO FINALLY GET TO A SAFE SPEED. SOMETIMES THE CAR STRUGGLES TO GO UPHILL AND HARDLY ABLE TO REVERSE. DEALERSHIP CLEARED MY ENGINE CODES DURING MY LAST OIL CHANGE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON A WEEK LATER, AUTOZONE PULLED 3 CODES (P0700, P0300 AND P0717). CHANGED MY SPARK PLUGS, USED LUCAS OIL/5.25 OZ. FUEL TREATMENT TWICE BUT STILL NO CHANGE. SOMETIMES I CAN SMELL BURNING RUBBER. THIS PROBLEM MAKES IT HARD TO SAFELY MERGE ONTO HIGHWAYS AND GET THROUGH TRAFFIC LIGHTS FAST ENOUGH. NOW AUTOZONE HAS ACCIDENTALLY CLEARED MY CODES SO I CAN'T SEE IF ANY OF THE ABOVE LISTED CODES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10825619February 11, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,581.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10822982January 29, 2016
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC COMMUTING MY GRANDCHILD TO PRE-K,PULLING OUT FROM STOP SIGN ONTO STRAIGHTAWAY STREET CROSSING IN FRONT OF DISTANT ONCOMING TRAFFIC,AND MY CAR STALLED,VERY SCARY AS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD WRECK WITH MY GRANDCHILD BEING HURT AS MYSELF! FORTUNATELY I LET COAST TO SIDE OF STREET AS I WAS ONLY GOING 10 MILES OR LESS AN HOUR WHEN IT SHUT OFF! IT WOULDN'T START RIGHT OFF! IT FINALLY STARTED AFTER A FEW SECONDS,MAYBE 5 OR MORE WENT BY! THIS IS VERY DISTURBING AS IT RISKS MY LIFE ,PLUS ANOTHER ALSO,AS HE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD! I NEED TO KNOW IF CAR IS EVEN SAFE TO KEEP DRIVING!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10822000January 25, 2016
ENGINE
MY MOM PURCHASED HER VEHICLE AND FOR THIS LAST YEAR IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT ISSUES. SHE TOOK IT AND HAD IT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND THE GEAR SHIFT STICKING AND THE TRANSMISSION. SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CHARGED HER 400$. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. AUTOPLEX IN ARANSAS PASS TEXAS. AS WELL AS CHARGING HER FOR A BATTERY THAT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR IS NOW UNDRIVEABLE AS IT WONT SHIFT AT ALL. WE AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE NOT VERY THOROUGHLY FIXING IT. MY MOTHER IS 74 AND IS ON A FIXED INCOME. THE FINANCIAL REPAIRS ARE RIDICULOUS AS WELL AS THE SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10821231January 20, 2016
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STABILIZER SHAFT LINK JOINT WAS LOSE AT THE BAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE STABILIZER SHAFT LINK THREE TIMES. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,272.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819740January 12, 2016
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCH THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT BELT TO THE VEHICLE SEAT FRACTURED ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND BECAME DETACHED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FRACTURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,573.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10818885January 8, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR BOARD, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN AND DRIVING AT 65 MPH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,500. UPDATED 03/09/16*LJ *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10816413December 28, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD "UNDIAGNOSABLE" PROBLEMS AINCE IT HIT 1200 MILES. I HAVE MADE 57 VISITS TO CHEVY DEALERSHIPS FOR ATTEMPTED DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS LURCHED FORWARD OF ITS OWN ACCORD, MY BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO ENGAGE ON A SINGLE OCCASION, THE CAR HAS INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF DURING IDLE, THE CAR HAS ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH SHIFTING FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS. A 3 YEAR BATTLE HAS YEILDED NO ANSWERS OR IMPROVEMENT; I WAS UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE LEMON LAW BECAUSE THE ISSUES COULDN'T BE DIAGNOSED. FINALLY THE CAR IS SHOWING CODES FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE TRANSMISSION BASED ON HOW POORLY THE CAR IS RUNNING. I CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR THE DEALERSHIPS I HAVE WORKED WITH; THEY HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE OBSCENE NUMBER OF VISITS I'VE MADE WITH THIS CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10816630December 28, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A TWO LANE ROAD AT NIGHT, APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID ANIMAL IN ROAD. CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND ROAD WAS DRY. THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO SLOW TO AVOID ANIMAL SO THIS WAS NOT A PANIC STOP. UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. DASH LIGHTS STAYED ON MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE VEHICLE. APPLIED BRAKES WITH MORE URGENCY AND ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED. VEHICLE SKIDDED STRAIGHT UNTIL THE RIGHT TIRES MADE CONTACT WITH THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE CAR THEN SPUN COUNTER CLOCKWISE BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY, ACROSS BOTH LANES, AND CAME TO REST ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ONCOMING LANE (APPROXIMATELY ONE AND ONE-HALF REVOLUTIONS). SKID MARKS ON HIGHWAY CONFIRMED THE WHEEL LOCK AND THE SPIN. CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RE-STARTED AND ALL SYSTEMS WORKED FINE. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10816320December 27, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW. PAINT STARTED TO LOOSE SHINE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO ( I PERSONALLY WASH THE VEHICLE WITH PROPERLY CARS WASH SOUP). TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T COVER UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. COST OVER $400.00. CHECK ENGINE ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND TWO HOSES DAMAGED AND THERMOSTAT LEAKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10810693December 16, 2015
POWER TRAIN
THE CLEAN AIR HOSE FROM THE THROTTLE BODY TO THE CLEAN AIR HOSE SPLIT AT THE CONVOLUTES CAUSING AN UNREGULATED AIR / FUEL RATIO AND LACK OF POWER DUE TO THE ENGINE RUNNING LEAN. POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE IF ACCELERATING. MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE 77,791 KILOMETERS (48,230 MILES)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10809152December 9, 2015
POWER TRAIN
THE CONSOLE GEAR SHIFT HAS A BUTTON THAT MUST BE DEPRESSED TO SHIFT. BUTTON STICKS IN DEPRESSED POSITION. CANNOT REMOVE KEYS IN PARK POSITION. THE BUTTON BROKE I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CONSOLE GEAR SHIFT AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808660December 6, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
CAR WILL START BY ITSELF AFTER KEY IS PARTIALLY INSERTED INTO IGNITION AND CAR WILL TRY TO START OVER AND OVER IF LEFT IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF. TOOK TO DEALER THEY BLAMED ON AFTERMARKET RADIO. HOWEVER, I AM PRETTY SURE HAS DONE ALMOST FROM THE POINT PURCHASE. DISCONNECTED RADIO STUFF AND STILL DOES SAME THING. CAR IS STATIONARY IN PARK. NO SAFETY ISSUE OTHER THAN WHAT IS STATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790696November 16, 2015
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND POWERED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SHIFTED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V315000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10788645November 5, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CONSOLE GEAR SHIFT HAS A BUTTON THAT MUST BE DEPRESSED TO SHIFT. BUTTON STICKS IN DEPRESSED POSITION. CANNOT REMOVE KEYS IN PARK POSITION. VEHICLE IS 2012, 28,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10786804October 28, 2015
ENGINE
CAR WITH 21,000 MILES OVERHEATED WHILE USING THE AC. ENGINE COOLANT ALARM CAME ON AND I TURNED THE AC OFF AND LIGHT SHUT OFF ALSO. TOOK IT TO AN AUTO SERVICE CHAIN AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. COST: $463.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785802October 24, 2015
STEERING
KEY GETTING STUCK IN IGNITION. IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN IT DOES YOU HAVE TO START THE CAR TWO OR THRE TIMES BEFORE IT COMES OUT. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED FROM A HONDA DEALER. IT HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES TOTAL. AND I HAVE HAD THE CAR A MONTH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10783756October 20, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FOR 2 MONTHS MY CHECK EMISSIONS LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND GOING OFF. ACCORDING TO MY OWNERS MANUAL THE GAS CAP OR AIR FILTER NEED FIXING. I WENT TO AUTOZONE TO GET A FREE DIAGNOSTICS READING. AT THE END OF AUGUST MY CAR STARTED TO HESITATE , WON'T ACCELERATE AT TAKE OFF. THEN STARTED HEAVY JERKING AT TAKE OFF AND WHEN SITTING STILL. I BOUGHT SOME LIQUID AND CHANGED AIR FILTER, SAME RESULTS. I CALLED CHEVY DEALER TO HAVE CAR CHECKED UNDER MY POWERTRAIN AND MY EMISSIONS WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP SO I COULD GET MY CAR CHECKED NEXT FRIDAY ON THE 23RD. TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT MY CAR. BUT ON THE 16TH OF OCTOBER I'M LEAVING WORK I BACKED OUT OF STALL AND PULLED FORWARD CAR WAS DRAGGING ROUGHLY. I WAS WAITING TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC WHEN CAR STARTED JUTTING FORWARD. I PRESS ON THE GAS WENT FORWARD ABOUT 5 TO 8 FEET AND THEN NOTHING. I WAS STUCK INMID TRAFFIC. THE REVERSE WORKED SO I WAS ABLE TO ROLL OUT HARMS WAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10783100October 17, 2015
POWER TRAIN
STARTING MARCH 28, 2015, WHILE PARKED IN SEVERAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARKING AREA'S, THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION FOR FROM 20 MINUTES TO SEVERAL HOURS. ON APRIL 1, 2015, THE DEALER, SETH WADLEY, IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS "55729 FOUND SHIFTER TO BE BINDING INTERNALLY". THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE BUTTON THAT RELEASES THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT WAS GETTING STUCK. THIS KEPT THE KEY FROM BEING RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION. WHILE WAITING FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE EVALUATED, THE CAR HAD TO BE LEFT, UNLOCKED WITH THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, IN SEVERAL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARKING AREAS WHERE CHILDREN COULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR. THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PARK WHILE THE BUTTON WAS STUCK. I HAVE THE SHIFTER THAT WAS REPLACED FOR $448.49 ON APRIL 3, 2015, AND WILL PROVIDE IT AT YOUR REQUEST. ATTACHED ARE PHOTOS OF THE INVOICE AND THE OLD SHIFTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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