Chevrolet Sonic Complaints (2013)

217 consumer complaints on file.

#10760086August 28, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS TOLD THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TURN/HAZARD LIGHT WAS VERY DIM. I PURCHASED THE BULB AND SOUGHT HELP TO CHANGE IT. IT WAS AT ONCE CLEAR THAT THE BULB HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE HOUSING AND HAD MOVED BACK ONTO THE PLASTIC PART OF THE HOUSING, MELTING IT ONTO THE BULB. I WENT THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE PIECE WHICH HOUSES THE 2 HEADLIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNAL BULB WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, THAT THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACK-ORDER SO THERE WAS NO EXPECTED DELIVERY DATE AND THAT THERE WAS NO TEMPORARY REPAIR THAT COULD BE DONE. THIS BULB IS PART OF THE NIGHTTIME OPERATING SYSTEM AND COMES ON AUTOMATICALLY. LEFT UNREPAIRED IN SOME WAY, IT OBVIOUSLY WILL CONTINUE TO BURN THE PLASTIC, FALL THROUGH ONTO EITHER IT'S OWN WIRES OR THE HEADLIGHT WIRES, SETTING A FIRE. ONLY THEN WILL THE WARNING SYSTEM, FOR WHICH THERE IS A RECALL, BE ACTIVATED! IMMEDIATELY NOTIFYING ALL SONIC OWNERS TO LOOK THROUGH THE YELLOW GLASS AT AND AROUND THE BULB WHEN IT IS NOT LIT AND TO COMPARE EACH SIDE TO THE OTHER, MIGHT SAVE SOME LIVES. SO WILL INSISTING THAT CHEVY'S ENGINEERS DEVISE A TEMPORARY REPAIR UNTIL THE PART CAN BE OBTAINED, AND ADDING THIS ISSUE TO THE EXISTING LIGHTING RECALL AS A PRIORITY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10750391August 21, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT BOTH TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10750005August 20, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS MESSAGE IS DESCRIBING 2 DIFFERENT ISSUES: THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN THE LATE SUMMER OF 2012 AND HAS EXPERIENCED CONSISTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES STARTING IN THE WINTER OF 2012. THE ENTIRE MIDDLE CONSOLE WILL COMPLETE POWER OFF, AND THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS DO NOT ACTIVATE. THE ONLY STRATEGY FOR "TURNING IT BACK ON" IS WHEN THE REAR WINDOW DEFROST BUTTON IS PUSHED REPEATEDLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED EVERY WINTER SINCE. I HAVE HAD THE DIRECTIONAL WAND REPLACED, AND HAVE ADDRESSED 2 RECALLS SENT FROM THE MANUFACTUER. THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST. SECOND AND MOST RECENT ISSUE (BEGAN IN APRIL 2015)- THE CAR STEREO SYSTEM HAS TURNED ITSELF ON AT LEAST 3 TIMES WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED, TURNED OFF- INCLUDING THE RADIO BEING POWERED OFF BEFORE THE CAR IS. ON THREE OCCASSIONS, I HAVE CAME OUT THE NEXT MORNING AND COULD HEAR MY CAR STEREO PLAYING. ON THE THIRD TIME, IT KILLED THE BATTERY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735876July 22, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON STICKS WHEN IN GEAR OR PARK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735663July 22, 2015
POWER TRAIN
I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHERE A TRANSAXLE LEAK WAS NOTICED. I THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING TO DEALER AS PER TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. THEY REPLACED THE SEAL, 3 WEEKS LATER WHEN THEY GOT IT IN, I LEFT ONLY TO FIND MY ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON, I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A PARTS STORE FOR A READ AND IT CAME BACK OXYGEN SENSOR. I LATER WAS LOOKING UNDER HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE AIR INTAKE HOSE IS CRACKED AS I PULLED IT OFF I FOUND IT TO BE CRACKED WITH HOLE IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE, I WILL NOW REPLACE THAT AND HOPE THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10732317July 6, 2015
STEERING
CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE STEERING IS WAY TO TOUCHY ANY SLIGHT MOVEMENT AND THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE CAR DOESN'T STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE IT EITHER GOES RIGHT OR LEFT. ALIGNMENT CHECK DONE EVERYTHING IS GREAT AND GOT NEW TIRES. I'M PART OF THE SONIC OWNERS FORUM AND THIS ISSUE ISN'T EVERY SONIC IT DOES SEEM TO BE VERY WIDESPREAD THOUGH AS YOU CAN JUST CHECK THE LEMON LAW WEBSITE. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING DON'T KNOW WHY THEY SWITCHED FROM HYDRAULIC. THESE SYSTEMS ARE UNSAFE AND FAILURE PRONE. I CAN'T KEEP THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT AT NORMAL SPEEDS IT'S A LOT EASIER TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT BUT SOMETIMES IT DOES WANDER A TINY BIT. PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK I'M INTOXICATED BECAUSE I'M WANDERING AND TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731471July 1, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH THE AIR DUCT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE RAN HOT DUE TO THE PRESSURE RATIO. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THERE WAS A TEAR IN THE AIR DUCT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE TEAR IN THE AIR DUCT WAS BETWEEN THE MAP SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10724597June 10, 2015
STEERING
IN 2014 WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY...THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE ISSUE WAS CAR APPLIED BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY WHEN TURNING CERTAIN CORNERS...THE ISSUE WAS NEVER FIXED AND COMPLAINTS WERE FILED WITH GM FOR RECORD PURPOSES IN CASE OF AN INCIDENT AND AS AN ATTEMPT TO GET CAR FIXED....WHILE THIS IS NOT THE EXACT PROBLEM OCCURRING AT THE PRESENT TIME...IT IS A STEERING TYPE PROBLEM...NOW THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND MOMENTARILY COMES BACK ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714279May 3, 2015
ENGINE
ON MY WAY TO WORK NOTICED THE CAR LACKING SOME POWER WHEN ACCELERATING TO GET ON HIGHWAY. OVER THE NEXT 2 WEEKS CAR STARTED SOUNDING DIFFERENT. (LIKE DRIVING WITH AIR BREATHER OFF) WHILE CHANGING OIL TODAY NOTICED AIR INTAKE TUBE IS CRACKED. WHICH COULD ALLOW DIRT AND MOISTURE TO BYPASS FILTER AND GO INTO ENGINE CAUSING DAMAGE. NOW THE CAR HAS 52130 MILES ON IT 2013 SONIC LS. AIR INTAKE TUBE SHOULD LAST LONGER THEN 2 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705656April 14, 2015
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR, WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER BUMPS AND WHEN THE VEHICLE MAKES TURNS. THE KNOCKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD, WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED PUSHING DOWN ON EITHER THE FRONT FENDER BACK PASSENGER SIDE. VEHICLE ALSO SWAYS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705018April 10, 2015
TIRES:SIDEWALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H428 (NA) TIRES, SIZE P195/65R15 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR FACTORY TIRE SIDEWALLS WERE SEVERELY CRACKED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE THREAD HAD BEGUN TO SEPARATE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED GM AND HANKOOK OF THE FAILURE. ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10702533March 30, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND STATED THAT THE PASSENGER COULD BE UNDER WEIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689914February 23, 2015
AIR BAGS
THE CAR HAS A DETECTION SYSTEM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SHOULD DETECT IF ANYONE IS IN THAT SEAT. WHEN PASSENGER IS DETECTED, THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS SHOULD BE ACTIVATED. FOR SMALL CHILDREN (UNDER A CERTAIN, NOT SPECIFIED WEIGHT LIMIT), THE AIRBAGS ON PASSENGER SIDE ARE NOT ACTIVATED. PROBLEM IS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS ARE NOT EVEN ACTIVATED WHEN MY WIFE IS IN THAT SEAT. SHE IS BORN 06/13/1971 AND WEIGHS ABOUT 130 LB. OBVIOUSLY, THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS SHOULD BE ACTIVATED WHEN AN ADULT IS IN THAT SEAT THAT WEIGHS ~ 130 LB. SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, WE TOOK THE CAR TO CHEVROLET DEALER (AUTONATION CHEVROLET NORTHPOINT, 2175 MANSELL ROAD, ALPHARETTA, GA, 30004, PHONE 855-478-9750, CONTACT [XXX]). ENGINEER AND SERVICE MANAGER DID ALL CHECKS AND CONCLUDED THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. WE CALLED CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER (SR. MANAGER CALLED [XXX], CASE FILE NR. [XXX]). THEY LOOKED INTO THE CASE AND SPOKE TO CHEVROLET DEALER NORTHPOINT. CONCLUSION IS THE SAME; CAR IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. WE SPOKE TO HIGHER MANAGER OF SR. MANAGER [XXX] AT CHEVROLET'S OWNER CENTER. SHE ALSO CONCLUDED THE SAME. IN OUR OPINION, THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE CHEVROLET SONIC 2013 AS AIRBAGS ARE NOT ACTIVATED, EVEN FOR SOME ADULTS. OUR CAR WILL NOT BE FIXED BY CHEVROLET USA OR CHEVROLET DEALER SO WE ARE HOPING YOU CAN ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT BELOW CONTACT DETAILS. THANKS IN ADVANCE, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10683816February 17, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRUISED COLLAR BONE AND SOFT TISSUE BRUISING, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10681353February 4, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOSING COOLANT FOR LAST SIX MONTHS. THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF COOLANT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE IS WATER INSIDE CABIN AIR FILTER BOX. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE AND INSPECTED VEHICLE WITH A GM ENGINEER, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF EITHER ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681356February 4, 2015
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
VEHICLE IS LOOSING COOLANT AND A SMALL PUDDLE OF COOLANT DEVELOPED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. COOLANT TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING OVERHEATING WHILE TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT A FAULTY SEAL WAS CAUSING THE WATER PUMP TO LEAK COOLANT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681357February 4, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WHEN STOPPED THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND THEY REPLACED THE 1-2-3-4 CLUTCH. THE PROBLEM FIRST APPEARED IN 2013, VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 31460 MILES AND IS STARTING TO EXHIBIT THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM TWO YEARS LATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680308February 1, 2015
POWER TRAIN
THE SHIFTER BUTTON WOULD GET STUCK WHEN SHIFTING AND CAN CHANGE INTO PARK OR DRIVE OR REVERSE WITH OUT HOLDING THE BUTTON IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678535January 23, 2015
POWER TRAIN
OUR 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC IS AN AUTOMATIC AND WHEN WE WERE DRIVING IN IT THE BUTTON TO SHIFT IT FELL OFF. IT HAD TO BE PUT BACK, WHICH WAS DIFFICULT, WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. IT STICKS AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL STICK AND SHIFT AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676866January 21, 2015
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I SHIFTED FROM 4TH TO 5TH AND SOMETHING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T ENGAGE. I THEN REALIZED I COULD NOT MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER ON THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF GEAR. I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE NEXT EXIT BUT THE RAMP WAS ONLY SUITABLE FOR AROUND 30MPH. I TRIED TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM STALLING AS BEST AS I COULD. AS I GOT AROUND THE RAMP I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND NEARLY HIT A GUARD RAIL BECAUSE THE SHOULDER ENDED AND I BARELY STOPPED IN TIME. I CALLED CHEVY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW VEHICLE AND THEY DISPATCHED ONE. WHILE I WAS WAITING I GOOGLE'D MY PROBLEM ("CHEVY SONIC STUCK IN GEAR"). ALAS, ANOTHER PERSON HAD THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WITH THE SAME EXACT VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THIS MESSAGE BOARD POSTER A SMALL PLASTIC CLAMP SLID OUT OF PLACE CAUSING THE SHIFT CABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM IT'S HOUSING, ESSENTIALLY RENDERING IT USELESS. I TOOK APART MY CONSOLE AND FOUND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I REINSTALLED THE PLASTIC CLAMP THAT HOLDS THE CABLE IN PLACE EVERYTHING WORKED NORMALLY, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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