NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I HAVE A 2012 CHEVY SONIC LT AUTOMATIC WITH THE 1.8 LITER. THE CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AROUND 45,000 MILES AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME.THE CAR ON COLD START UPS HAS A GRINDING SOUND. THIS GRINDING MOST OF THE TIME ONLY HAPPENS ON COLD START UPS BUT DOES AT TIMES HAPPENS ON WARM START UPS. THIS SOUNDS LIKE METAL AGAINST METAL AND IT RATTLES. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN UNTIL THE CAR IS FULLY STARTED AND RUNNING. I AM GETTING CONCERNED BECAUSE IT IS GETTING WORSE AND LOUDER. *TR
WAS DRIVING AND SMELT SOMETHING BURNING AND THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS BURNING SOMETHING AND I DROVE THRU THE SMOKE AND SO I KEPT DRIVING AND A MILE DOWN THE ROAD I KEPT SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING SO I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AROUND IN MY CAR THEN GOT OUT AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTHING SO I WENT AHEAD AND DROVE HOME THEN LOOKED AROUND AGAIN AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING SO I JUST WENT INSIDE THEN THE NEXT DAY AFTER IT RAINED I SEEN THAT BOTH MY FOG LIGHTS HAD MOISTURE IN THEM AND WHEN I GOT DOWN AND LOOKED BOTH MY FOG LIGHTS ARE ALL BURNT AND MELTED INSIDE, I GUESS IT GOT SO HOT IT MELTED THE LIGHT HOUSING AND ALL THAT.. IT GOT SO HOT ITS BLACK INSIDE MY FOG LIGHTS AND U CAN SEE WHERE IT GOT HOT AND THE PLASTED MELTED AND RAN DOWN TO THE BOTTOM ON THE INSIDE OF MY FOGS. *TR
FIRST OF ALL THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINE KEEPS POPPING OF MY CAR NOT ALLOWING ME TO USE MY WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID SO THE TANK IS ALWAYS EMPTY. SECOND WHILE DRIVING MY CAR RADIO FLICKERS ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES COMPLETELY GOES BLACK NOT ONLY THAT MY CAR SPEEDOMETER IS ELECTRICAL AND AFTER 30 MIN OF DRIVING SAYS IM GOING 20/34/WHATEVER MPH IT WANTS TO READ WHEN IM REALLY GOING THE HWY SPEED LIMIT AND I HAVE OFTEN HAD TO MESS WITH THE WIRES THAT RUN TO MY BATTERY TO TURN MY CAR BACK ON SINCE ITS THE WIRES(ELECTRICAL WORK AND NOT THE BATTERY) MY BATTERY HAS BEEN TESTED MANY TIMES. FINALLY THIRD THE LITTLE SHIFT BUTTON ON MY CAR KEEPS STICKING AND WONT ALLOW FOR MY CAR TO PROPERLY SHIFT CAUSING MY CAR TO OVER REV AND NOT WANT TO DRIVE. IM NOW AT 115,000 MILES AND EVERY TIME I GO TO A DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR WHEN I KNOW THERE IS SINCE I HAVE BEEN THE ONE DRIVING IT AND THEN THEY JUST GIVE IT BACK TO ME WHICH STILL COSTS ME MONEY WITH NO SOLUTION MY CARS STATE HAS JUST BEEN GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND DUE TO LIMITED INCOME I CANT AFFORD TO GET A NEW ONE AT THIS TIME OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE ALREADY TRADED THIS CHEVY POS IN. I ALSO CALLED CHEVROLET'S CORPORATE OFFICE WHERE THE LADY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND NEVER CALLED ME BACK LIKE SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH HER SHE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING SHE COULD DO FOR MY CAR SINCE MY CAR WASN'T A RECALL BUT I FIND IT ODD THAT MY CAR WAS MADE ON FEBRUARY 28, 2012 WHICH FALLS BETWEEN TWO MAJOR RECALLS WITH PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT MY CAR HAS ESPECIALLY SINCE ONE IS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL. SO I BELIEVE THAT THE CHEVY CORPORATION AS A WHOLE DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY CAR THAT THEY HAVE MADE AND WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TELL YOU NOTHING IS WRONG SO THAT THEY JUST TAKE YOUR MONEY AND NOT FIX YOUR CAR. UNSAFE&IMMORAL. *TR
ACCESSORY CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS BEING USED TO CHARGE A CAR PHONE WHILE ON A TRIP OUT OF STATE, WHEN WE STOPPED TO GET GAS AND HAD THE CAR OFF AND RETURNED IT ON AFTER FILLED WITH GAS ALL THE GAUGES ON THE CAR WENT CRAZY DROPPING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ZERO ON ALL GAUGES EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS WORKING PROPERLY DURING THIS TIME, EVEN THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED ZERO, I DONT KNOW IF IT WAS BECAUSE WE CHARGING THE PHONE OR WHAT CAUSED IT. BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE SO FAR. *TR
EVERY COLD START THE IS A GRINDING AND RATTLE NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE TIMING SIDE. I TOOK IT TO CHEVY AND THEY SAID THAT CANT DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY HEAR IT WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REASONABLE AND THE NEXT MORNING THEY CALLED AND STATED MY CAR HAS NO NOISE EVEN THO THIS HAPPENS EVERY COLD START. I ALSO HAVE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN IT IS WARM OR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 20MINUTES THE DEALER SAYS ITS NORMAL BUT AT 21454 THE NOISE IS 3 TIMES LOUDER THAN EVER BEFORE. I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE P0011 INTAKE CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING -OVER-ADVANCED (BANK-1) WHICH I TOOK IN AND THEY FIXED IT 4DAYS LATER AND IT IS BACK SAME CODE I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN I EXPLAINED I DON'T HAVE A RIDE TO WORK THEY SAID I HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE I HAVE TO PAY THE DEPOSIT FOR A RENTAL I SHOULDN'T EVEN NEED. THE ENGINE ALSO SEEMS TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER RANDOMLY ALSO THE RPMS WILL GO UP TO 2500 SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPING I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVE. MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS I BELIEVE I WOULD KNOW WHEN I AM PUSHING THE GAS! CHEVY SEEMS LIKE THEY DON'T WANT TO TOUCH MY CAR UNTIL MY WARRANTY IS OUT I AM SO DISAPPOINTED BY THEIR ACTIONS AND THIS CAR SAD I GOT 4 OF MY FRIENDS TO BUY THEM TOO IN 2013 I JUST WANT CHEVY TO BUY BACK MY CAR OR FIX ALL OF IT! THIS IS MY FIRST AMERICAN 100% BRAND NEW CAR AND I FEEL LIKE IT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I HAVE EVER MADE. THE WHOLE WE CANT JUST CANT LOOK AT IT UNLESS WE SEE OR HEAR IT IS KIND OF BS! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ABOUT HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V315000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOTICED A STRONG PERSISTENT ODOR OF FUEL COMING THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN, FUEL PUMP, AND CALIPER PINS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VALVE, TRANSMISSION FLUID AND A GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
FIRST ISSUE WAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES (BAD LIGHTS, UNFUNCTIONING CONTROLS, AC ADAPTER WOULD NOT GIVE POWER, OUTSIDE LIGHTBULBS DO NOT LAST, HEADLAMP CONTROLS FELL APART, MIRROR CONRTROLS FELL OFF, VENT CONTROLS FELL APART. WHEN ELECTRIC WINDOW CONTROL STOPPS WORKING AND HISSES AND SMOKES WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED ON. I ALSO HAVE BEEN SHOCKED PAINFULLY WHEN TRYING TO GET THE AC ADAPTER TO WORK. NEXT CAME REPAIR OF THE IGNITION SWITCH.. I COULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON. IN AUGUST 2017, CAR HAD ENGINE MISFIRE, WHICH COST ME REPAIR ON THE FUEL PUMP. A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT, THE BATTERY DIED AND I REPLACED IT. ONE WEEK LATER,, IT STARTED TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. THEN A FEW HOURS LATER, ELECTRIC WAS ON AND OFF BUT POWER TO VECHICLE STOPPED.. THIS ENDED UP BEING THE SERP. MAIN BELT. NEXT CAME THE IGNITION SWITCH. (NOVEMBWR 2017) EARLY 2018.. AC ADAPTER STOPPED WORKING AGAIN, AND IT WAS REPLACED. A C STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR SPRING 2018, AND WITHIN WEEKS, THE WINDOW CONTROL FAILING AGAIN, I HAVE HAD HEAT STROKE TWICE. WINDOW CONTROL UNIT SMOKES AND HISSES WHEN I TURN ON ENGINE. WINDOW ALSO CRACKED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH. PLASTIC VENTS CRACKED OUTSIDE THERM FELL OFF & PLASTIC UNDERCARRIAGE COVER RIPPED B4 AIRCOND, FOLLOWED BY THE FAN. WHEN I BROUGHT CAR IN FOR AIRC, I WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKE PADS AND THE RADIATOR FAN AND COMPRESSOR.. THERE IS NO THERM FOR ENGINE. FIXED ONLY BRAKES. CAR THEN BEGAN TO OVERHEAT WHILE IN TRAFFIC. REPLACED RADIATOR FAN 2 WEEKS LATER. . STILL NEED NEW AC COMPRESSOR. WINDOW CONTROL BEGAN TO FAIL AGAIN NEXT. FIRST TIME WINDOW CONROL FAILED, BATTERY DIED SAME NIGHT, AND I HAD TO GET SERP. BELT AND NEW BATTERY. NEW BATTERY HAS ALREADY HAD TO BE JUMPED 3 TIMES, AND SEEMS AS THOUGH ENGINE MISFIRE IS BEGINNING AGAIN. PROBLEMS GOING UPHILL TODAY.. SLOW ACCELLERATION, UNSTEADY FUEL FLOW.
AFTER ONLY OWNING THE 2012 SONIC FOR LESS THAN 4 MONTHS AND HAVING ONLY @ 3,700 MILES ON IT, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I PULLED OUT OF MY WORK DRIVEWAY, AND THE ENGINE WAS RACING IN DRIVE BUT GOING NOWHERE. IT WAS MOVING FORWARD VERY SLOWLY AND NOT SHIFTING. I EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GET ALMOST OFF THE ROAD, BUT MY BACK END WAS STICKING OUT INTO A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE BECAUSE IT COMPLETELY QUIT GOING FORWARD . I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE TO TRY TO GET IT TO MOVE FORWARD AGAIN. AT THAT POINT, WHETHER IN DRIVE, NEUTRAL, M1, ETC, IT WAS IN REVERSE, SO ESSENTIALLY THE CAR ENDED UP BEING EVEN FURTHER STICKING OUT IN THE BUSY ROAD. I HAD TO WAIT FOR A QUICK BREAK IN TRAFFIC AND DRIVE IT IN REVERSE THE WRONG WAY INTO A PARKING LOT TO GET TOWED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED SOLENOID PACK BUT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THEY TORE TRANSMISSION DOWN AND FOUND IT WAS A TORN BELT ON THE CLUTCH FAN, SO THEY THINK. AS OF TODAY, STILL FIGHTING WITH GENERAL MOTORS FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY JUST WANT TO FIX IT AND EXTEND WARRANTY. I THINK THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR WITH 3,700 MILES ON IT .IT'S A SHAME GM WON'T STAND UP TO THEIR PRODUCT. STARTING TO FEEL THIS CAR WAS NOT A SAFE CHOICE. SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE POWER TRAIN, ESPECIALLY SHIFTING ISSUES. *TR
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A INTERSECTION MY CAR WAS GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR, THEN IT JUST SHUT OFF. IT'S A 5 SPEED AND IT SHUT OFF AND THEN STARTED BACK UP.THE CAR WAS IN 5 TH GEAR AT THE TIME IT WAS VERY SCARY IM GLAD THERE WAS NO ONE DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE DAY 1 THERE IS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH IT. BUT THE DEALERS SAY ITS NORMAL. THEY DONT KNOW WHY IT DID THIS. BUT THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND TO ME ITS A LEMON. I'M TIRED OF FEELING LIKE A IDIOT THIS CAR HAS ISSUES. *TR
RADIO RANDOMLY TURNS ON WHEN CAR IS SHUT OFF. LAST NIGHT IT TURNED ON 13 TIMES. IT ACTIVATES THE FULL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR. WON'T SHUT OFF UNLESS CAR IS STARTED AND XM RADIO IS TUNED TO FM AND SHUT OFF. THEN IF YOUR LUCKY IT MAY STAY OFF. I HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP IN VERMONT AND CHEVROLET FOR 8 MONTHS. THEY TELL ME IT IS NOT AN ISSUE. THEY TESTED RADIO SAID IT WORKS FINE. IT IS WORSE WHEN COLD OUT. RADIO RANDOMLY TURNS ON. WILL NOT SHUT OFF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE RPMS RAPIDLY INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, POWERED IT OFF AND BACK ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN; HOWEVER, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO SECOND GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,663.
THERE IS NO HEAT IN MY 2012 SONIC, THE HEAT IS TURN TO THE HIGHEST POSITION BUT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. OCCATIONALLY THE HEAT WILL START BUT WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN MOTION THERE IS NO HEAT AND ONLY COLD AIR.
WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE THE BRAKE FRONT PADS DON'T CATCH ALL THE WAY SOME TIMES EVEN THE ROADS ARE DRY. IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE IF I'M DRIVING OVER A BUMPY ROAD AND APPLY THE BRAKES YOU CAN FEEL THE SKIPPING OF THE BRAKES NOT CATCHING. HAD BRAKES INSPECTED THEY ARE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH LIFE STILL ON THEM. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE BRAKES THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. I MADE A COMPLAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE UNSAFENESS I FEEL DRIVING. I ONLY DRIVE ON THE STREET TO WORK AND HOME. I STILL HAVE THE SKIPPING IN THE BRAKING. I'M ALWAYS CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL OF SOMEKIND ON THIS CAR PART. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO TIRES, SIZE: 195/65/R15 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE BUBBLES IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BUT THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE LATER OCCURRED ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NOVEMBER 26,2012 WE FINANCED A 2012 CHEVY SONIC ON NOVEMBER 17TH. IT ONLY HAD 5 MILES ON IT. SWEET. RIGHT??? NOPE BY WED NOVEMBER 21ST THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS OVER HEATING. IT WAS SPILLING OUT COOLANT FLUID EVERYWHERE. SINCE IT WAS THE HOLIDAYS I HAS TO WAIT TILL FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. IT IS MONDAY NOVEMBER 26TH AND IT IS STILL IN THE SHOP. THE SERVICE TECH SAID THEY FIXED WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. SO NOW THEY SAY IT'S SOMETHING ELSE NOW. WHAT A DRAG! THEY GAVE ME A LOANER ON MONDAY AND REASSURED ME THAT THERE WOULD BE NO COST TO ME, AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WELL OF COURSE I JUST GOT THE DARN THING.. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE THIS IS THE FOURTH CAR I BOUGHT FROM THIS DEALERSHIP. WELL TOMORROW IS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 27TH LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I SHOULD FIGHT FOR A DIFFERENT NEW CAR!!!!! *TR
THE SHIFTER MECHANISM GETS STUCK & THE CAR CANNOT BE PUT INTO DRIVE. THIS HAPPENS MANY TIMES-ESPECIALLY DURING THE COLDER MONTHS, WHEN THE CAR CANNOT BE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE & I AM LEFT STRANDED IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER. ADDITIONALLY, GM REFUSES TO ADMIT THE SHIFTER IS DEFECTIVE & REFUSES TO BUY THE CAR BACK, AS I AM JUST A STUDENT IN COLLEGE WORKING A PART-TIME JOB. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I NEEDED A DEPENDABLE CAR TO GET ME BACK & FOURTH TO COLLEGE & MY PART-TIME JOB...BECAUSE OF THE CARS DEFECTS, I AM OFTEN LATE FOR SCHOOL & OR WORK. PLUS, MY SISTER ALSO HAS A CHEVY 2006 AVEO SHE WAS GIVEN, BUT THIS CAR ALSO HAS THE VERY SAME ISSUE'S WITH THE SHIFTER...THEREFORE, WHEN GM CEO [XXX] TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS AND TELLS CONGRESS THAT GM IS NOT HIDING OR COVERING-UP ANY ADDITIONAL CAR PROBLEMS...SHE IS A LIAR & I AM STUCK WITH THIS PRETTY MUCH USELESS CAR, THAT GM HAS MY MONEY & I DON'T HAVE A DEPENDABLE CAR & I/WE ARE WILLING TO OFFER BOTH CARS SO THAT AN INDEPENDENT EXPERT MECHANIC CAN EVALUATE BOTH CARS TO PROVE THAT GM INDEED KNEW ABOUT THESE SHIFTER MECHANISM DEFECTS GOING BACK TO AT LEAST 2006 AVEO MODEL, BUT CONTINUED TO SELL THESE TIME-BOMBS TO THE YOUNG ADULTS OF THIS COUNTRY, WHO ARE SCRAPPING BY TO MAKE ENDS-MEAT & TRY TO GET AN EDUCATION...THEN WE BUY A CAR FROM AN ARROGANT, RUTHLESS, EVIL, LYING COMPANY & WE HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN...I TIRED AN NJ LEMON LAW ATTORNEY, BUT I DETERMINED THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY I BED WITH GM & THE OTHER GM ATTORNEY. I WANT GM TO TAKE THIS CAR BACK, AS I WOULDN'T SELL IT TO MY WORST ENEMY, AS THAT IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I WANT GM TO STEP-UP TO THE PLATE & REFUND ALL MY MONEY SO THAT I CAN GO OUT & BUY A DEPENDABLE CAR FROM A REPUTABLE CAR COMPANY. MY DAD, [XXX] , IS ALSO HELPING ME WITH THIS MESS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THIS CAR HAS SO MANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND IT IS GETTING READY TO GO IN FOR THE 5TH TIME. EACH TIME SO FAR I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING...."IT DOESN'T THROW ANY CODES AND WE CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE SO THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE BUT JUST KEEP DRIVING IT AND BRING IT BACK IF IT KEEPS HAPPENING"....{WHATEVER DID MECHANICS DO BACK IN THE DAY BEFORE CARS HAD COMPUTERS?} - ANYWAY, THE TRANSMISSION IS AUTOMATIC AND ACTS LIKE IT IS GRABBING AND DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT UP THROUGH THE GEARS SO IT FEELS LIKE HARD SHIFTING (STARTED BEFORE IT EVEN HAD 10,000 MILES ON IT) - IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME, BUT OFTEN ENOUGH THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT I WORRY ABOUT (IT'S EVEN DONE IT WHEN ON CRUISE CONTROL A COUPLE OF TIMES). NOW, AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES THE CAR IS IDLING ROUGH AND WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES IT MAKES A NOISE IN THE SHIFTER? THE AUTOLIGHTS ADJUST THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO CHANGE IN LIGHTING OUTDOORS (PITCH BLACK NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS WILL DIM DOWN FOR NO REASON AT 45MPH RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND, ETC.) AND THE RADIO ADJUSTS ITS VOLUME THE SAME WAY AND IT EVEN TURNS ITSELF OFF RANDOMLY. THE TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY TRAC LIGHTS COME ON SOMETIMES, STAY ON FOR AWHILE AND THEN GO OFF. NOW THAT IT'S GETTING HOT AND I'M RUNNING THE AC, IT IS ACTING UP ALSO - BLOWING FULL BLAST THEN DROPPING DOWN, THEN BACK UP AGAIN.... - DEALER INSISTS, NO CODES THROWN, WON'T REPLICATE PROBLEM WHEN THEY HAVE IT, THEREFORE NO PROBLEM EXISTS - THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS - I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A SONIC TO ANYONE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE TRANSMISSIONS AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES IN THESE CARS. *TR
AFTER PURCHASING MY CHEVY SONIC 2012, I WENT TO GET MY FIRST OIL CHANGE 3 MONTHS LATER. AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE GONE BACK MULTIPLE TIMES, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS THE GAS CAP WHICH BY THE WAY HAD A RECALL ON IT. THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON A WEEK LATER. TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID THAT THE ONE THEY REPLACED IT WITH HAD A BAD SEAL. THEY ORDERED THE PART REPLACED THE CAP. DROVE FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TOOK IT BACK, THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED A THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT DONE THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK THIS TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A AIR VENT TUBE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE, WHICH BY THE WAY IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY POWER TRAIN, DID THAT AND YET AGAIN THE LIGHT IS BACK ON. NOW MY RADIO GOES ON AND OFF WHEN IT WANTS TO. WHEN I GET UP TO GO TO WORK MY BATTERY IS DEAD. THEY HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE DRIVERS AIR BAG FOR SOME SORT OF RECALL. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WAS REPLACED AS IT ALSO HAD A RECALL. I REALLY WANT TO TRADE THIS CAR IN I AM LITERARY SCARED TO DRIVE IT. SCARED DRIVER...........
THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN OUT OF A RED LIGHT NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF TIMES AND WHEN GOING TO SPEED UP TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE WOULD GET STUCK OR STALL OUT AND NOT SPEED UP. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY LARGER VEHICLES FOUR TIMES NOW BECAUSE IT STALLS OUT WHEN GOING TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE TALKED TO FOUR OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS! *TR
MULTIPLE REPORTS OF DAEWOO SONICS (AND CRUZES, ALSO SOURCED FROM DAEWOO THOUGH ASSEMBLED IN THE UNITED STATES) EQUIPPED WITH THE 1.4L TURBOCHARGED ENGINE STALLING OUT AND/OR ACCELERATING POORLY IN WARM/HOT CONDITIONS WHEN USING 87 OCTANE FUEL. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE IN WARM WEATHER WHEN OWNERS USE REGULAR, UNLEADED GASOLINE, EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT PROHIBIT LOW OCTANE FUEL FROM BEING USED. (PREMIUM FUEL IS "RECOMMENDED" BUT NOT REQUIRED, AND THE DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS THAT WILL PURCHASE THESE CARS LIKELY WILL NOT WISH TO SPEND ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR PREMIUM FUEL FOR ECONOMICAL, SUBCOMPACT AUTOMOBILES.) NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THESE EXAMPLES OF GOVERNMENT MOTORS ONCE AGAIN ENDANGERING THE GENERAL PUBLIC. *TR
THE RUMBLING/RUBBING NOISE BEGAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. WITH ONLY 3,000+ MILES ON THE CAR IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY FOUND A LEAKING RF STRUT AND NOISY MOUNT AND REPLACED BOTH PARTS. THE REPLACED PART SEEMED TO REMEDY THE RUMBLING PROBLEM BUT THE FRONT END STILL SEEMED UNFORGIVING WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN ON ROUGH PAVEMENT. WE BEGAN HEARING A GROANING/ RUBBING/ GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNING CORNERS OR WHILE TURNING ON AN INCLINE ESPECIALLY TO THE RIGHT AND AT 8,000 MILES WE RETURNED THE CAR AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS OPERATING OKAY. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND AT 13,000+ MILES WE RETURNED THE CAR AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THE MOUNT TO BE BINDING ON TURNS AND REPLACED THE RF STRUT MOUNT. AGAIN, THE PROBLEM REMAINED AND FINALLY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN RODE WITH US AND HEARD THE NOISE AND AGREED THAT IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. SO AT 15,000 MILES THE CAR WAS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR TWO AND A HALF WEEKS. THEY REPLACED THE RF STRUT AND MOUNT BECAUSE THE STRUT WAS NOT SETTING FLUSH IN THE MOUNT. DURING THE TIME THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP THE TECHNICIAN CALLED AND SAID THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT THERE WAS STILL ANOTHER NOISE THEY HEARD AND THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO WORK ON IT. WE REQUESTED A RIDE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND THE NOISE WAS ABSENT ON TURNING RIGHT AT A SLOW SPEED BUT VERY APPARENT NOW IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WHEN TURNING IN TO PARK AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AT THAT TIME WE REQUESTED TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING A DEAL FOR A DIFFERENT CAR AS THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ON-GOING ISSUE. WE LOVED THE GREAT GAS MILEAGE AND SPORTY LOOK BUT THE SUSPENSION SEEMS TO BE TROUBLED. *TR
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
VEHICLE HAS NO POWER ON ACCELERATION SO I LOSE POWER IN INTERSECTIONS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK DRIVER'S SIDE FROM LEFT ONTO FRONT BUMPER/FRONT FENDER AREA BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. VEHICLE THAT STRUCK SONIC TRAVELING 50+ MPH IMPACTED ENTIRE FRONT OF VEHICLE FROM LEFT SIDE DAMAGING FENDERS, HOOD, BUMPER(NO LIGHT CASINGS OR BULBS BROKEN), MOVED RADIATOR. NONE OF THE DRIVER'S FRONT, SIDE, OR HEAD AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL. CAR WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. I REQUESTED A DETAILED LISTING OF THEIR FINDINGS AND NONE WAS GIVEN TO ME. THE CAR WAS TAKEN QUICKLY NOT ALLOWING ME TO INVESTIGATE THE AIRBAG FAILURE. REASONS FOR TOTALING IT. I FEEL THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE LOST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT I WILL HAVE TO MAKE UP TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE WHICH I PURCHASED ONLY 54 WEEKS PRIOR. *TR
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.
THE CHEVROLET SONIC THAT WE HAD STARTED HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING OUT OF THE FIRST AND SECOND GEARS AROUND 9000 MILES. IT IS A BRAND NEW CAR WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN MID JUNE OF 2012 WE STARTED NOTICING THAT THE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT TO SHIFT TO A HIGHER GEAR IT WOULD STICK, THEN SHIFT HARD, THUS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. ON JUNE 25, 2012 WE WERE DRIVING IT HOME WHEN AGAIN THE PROBLEM SHIFTING STARTED AGAIN. THIS TIME HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT UP OR DOWN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED IT FROM AND IT TOOK TWO WEEKS TO REPAIR. THE TECHNICIANS TOLD US THAT THERE WAS FAULTY CONTROL LINK OUT AND REPLACED IT. THEY TEST DROVE IT AND IT STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THE TECH'S DETERMINED THAT REPLACEMENT PART WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER ONE. AFTER THIS THE CAR WAS GIVEN BACK TO US. THE CAR PERFORMED WELL UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2012 WHEN IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. WHEN APPROACHING SPEEDS OF 17 TO 18 MILES PER HOUR, THE TRANSMISSION WILL ATTEMPT TO SHIFT, GET STUCK AND JERK FORWARD. IT EVENTUALLY SHIFTS BUT NOT EASILY. THE RPMS WHEN IT DOES THIS IS APPROXIMATELY 3500 RPMS. IT ALSO GETS STUCK WHEN THERE IS A LITTLE MORE TORQUE NEEDED AROUND 25 TO 28 MILES PER HOURS. THIS IS WHAT CONCERNS ME AS A DRIVER IS THAT WHEN IT DOES IT AT THIS SPEED, THE RPMS ARE 5500 TO 6000 AND WHEN IT GETS STUCK AND CANT SHIFT, THE RPMS WILL ACTUALLY RED LINE OR REACH 7000 RPM. MY WIFE AND I AGAIN TOOK THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THAT SINCE THERE IS NO ERROR CODE OR FAULT CODE THEY ARE CONSULTING THE ENGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS FROM GENERAL MOTORS. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THAT CAUSE ONLY THAT IT IS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
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.
AFTER DISENGAGING, ENGAGING, AND THEN DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION GRINDS. *TR
THE OUTSIDE DOOR MIRRORS ARE SMALL AND HAVE BLIND SPOTS. I'VE LOST SIGHT OF VEHICLES I KNOW WHERE BEHIND ME. WHEN GM BECAME AWARE OF THIS OVERLOOK IN DESIGN OF THE 2012 CHEVY SONIC, 2013 MODELS WERE INSTALLED WITH THE SAME SIZE MIRROR WITH A SMALL CONVEX AS PART OF THE MIRROR TO DETECT AREAS PREVIOUS MIRRORS COULD NOT DETECT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY GM TO REPLACE THESE MIRRORS. *TR
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP, AND/OR AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PUSHED IN. THEN, IT TAKES THREE SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR CAN ATTEMPT TO BE RE-STARTED! VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING LEFT ACROSS A HIGHWAY OR INTO TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS WHAT SEEMS TO BE A 'PROGRAMMED' WAITING PERIOD OF 3 SECONDS BEFORE YOU CAN ATTEMPT TO RE-STARTED. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE (1.4L TURBO ENGINE WITH 6 SPD MANUAL TRANSMISSION) SINCE 05/21/2012, AND OVER 8,000 MILES LATER, IT STILL STALLS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. THE DEALERSHIPS SAY, "CANNOT REPRODUCE. OPERATING TO SPECIFICATIONS." *TR
IDLES ROUGHLY, IDLE INCREASES DRAMATICALLY WHILE THE CAR IS AT A STOP, AND THE ENGINE STALLS VERY FREQUENTLY, REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE OR WEATHER CONDITIONS. ON START-UP, OR WHILE STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE IDLE WILL BECOME ROUGH AND VARY BETWEEN 200-3,000 RPM, BUT NOT STALL. ALSO AT TIMES, WHILE STOPPED, THE IDLE WILL INCREASE FROM NORMAL, SMOOTH IDLE UP TO ABOUT 3,000 RPM FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE SECOND, THEN DROP BACK DOWN TO 750 RPM (NORMAL IDLE SPEED) WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE WILL ALSO STALL AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS WHEN I PUSH IN THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR. THE CAR ALSO OFTEN STALLS WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP. A RE-START CANNOT BE ATTEMPTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS. TURN THE KEY, NOTHING HAPPENS. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE (1.4L TURBO ENGINE WITH 6 SPD MANUAL TRANSMISSION) SINCE 05/21/2012, AND OVER 8,000 MILES LATER, IT STILL IDLES ROUGHLY AND STALLS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. THE DEALERSHIPS SAY, "CANNOT REPRODUCE. OPERATING TO SPECIFICATIONS." *TR
FIRST TIME THE STRUT MOUNT WAS REPLACE WITH STRUT. I NEVER HEARD THE RUBBER TENSION/BINDING NOISE. THE STRUT STARTED MAKING A POPPING NOISE BEFORE I TOOK IT TO DEALER AT 13386 MILES. IT WAS FINALLY DUPLICATED AT 19885 MILES TO HAVE MOUNT AND STRUT REPLACED. 65886 MILE REPLACING STRUT AND MOUNT AGAIN. 75922 STABILIZER BAR END LINKS (PER RECALL) 84869 ONLY STRUT MOUNT WAS REPLACED AGAIN 87000 STRUT MOUNT HAS BEGUN TO MAKE RUBBER TENSION/BINDING NOISE AGAIN. GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND I AM WORKING WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND DISTRICT SPECIALIST. *TR
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
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
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
THIS CAR WHEN SITTING AT A IDLE SHAKES IT DON'T MATTER IF YOU START IT UP IN THE MORNING OR IN THE DAY OR NIGHT. IT ACTS LIKE IT HAS A MISFIRE WHEN DRIVING LIKE ALL THE CYLINDERS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY. TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN MARCH 2012. HAS A ROUGH IDLE EVERYDAY ,AFTER IT WARMS UP AND YOU DRIVE WHERE EVER YOU ARE GOING AND THEN SIT AT A IDLE IT BOGS DOWN,SHAKES THE CAR. AND IM TIRED OF GOING THROUGH THIS THE DEALER SAYS ITS NORMAL . AND THAT THE TECH GUYS SAY ITS THERE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT! IM UPSIDE DOWN IN IT SO IM STUCK UNLESS I CAN MAYBE FILE THE LEMON LAW.THE DEALER TOLD ME THE FIRST TIME I WENT THAT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR FROM SITTING OVERNIGHT. LOL REALLY??? AND THAT THE CHEVY TRUCKS DO IT TOO. COME ON....AND IF THE CAR HAS 3 OR LESS BATS SHOWING ON THE GAS AREA IT RUNS EVEN CRAPPIER LIKE ITS GOING TO BREAK DOWN RIGHT IN THE STREET. I HAVE THE 5 SPEED, AND ITS A TERRIBLE CAR! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, SHE NOTICED A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE LAST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30. *TR
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
IDLES DRAMATICALLY WHILE THE CAR IS AT A STOP, AND THE ENGINE STALLS VERY FREQUENTLY, REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE OR WEATHER CONDITIONS. ON START-UP, OR WHILE STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE IDLE WILL BECOME ROUGH AND VERY BETWEEN 200-3,000 RPM. ALSO AT TIMES, WHILE STOPPED, THE IDLE WILL INCREASE FROM NORMAL, SMOOTH IDLE UP TO ABOUT 3,000 RPM FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE SECOND, THEN DROP BACK DOWN TO 750 RPM (NORMAL IDLE SPEED) WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 3RD GEAR COMPLETELY SKIPS AROUND. THE CAR SHIFTS ARE HARD TO THE POINT, ONCE YOU COME TO A STOP IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT. *TR
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
ISSUES BEGAN WITH AN INTERMITTENT RATTLE AT COLD START AFTER CAR HAD BEEN SITTING ABOUT 30MINS TO AN HR, FROM BEING DRIVEN. NO CODES SHOWING SO WENT UN-REPAIRED, ONCE PINPOINTED, IT WAS REPLICATED, STILL NO CODES, NO FIX, STARTING ABOUT AUG 2012 AFTER MY 1ST SERVICE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AT IDLE WHILE STOPPED IN D, STARTED GETTING WORSE PROGRESSIVELY. VEHICLE STALLED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT ITSELF (AUTO TRANS) INTO 3RD, VIOLENT JERK TO A STOP AND IMMEDIATELY PICKED ITSELF UP AND JERKED FORWARD AND MOVED, WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. NEXT STALL OCCURRED ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS LATER, IDLED SO ROUGH AND LOW WHILE IN D AT A STOP LIGHT, CAR BOGGED DOWN AND STALLED, STARTED ITSELF RIGHT BACK UP. ENGINE POWER SURGING BEGAN AT THIS POINT. WHILE BRAKING OR ON BRAKE WHILE STOPPED, ENGINE WOULD POWER SURGE THRUSTING CAR FORWARD, CAME VERY CLOSE TO HITTING SEVERAL CARS WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT FROM THESE SURGES. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE IN MULTIPLE TIMES BETWEEN 1ST OCCURRENCE AND THIS POINT IN SEPT. IT WAS DUPLICATED WITH MULTIPLE SYMPTOMS AT ONCE, INCLUDING AS GIVEN FROM DEALER: HARD SHAKING, MISFIRE, AND RATTLE/KNOCK AT COLD START. ONLY CODE TO SHOW WAS FOR THE MISFIRE, REPAIR: VALVE CLEANING, NOT FIXED. RATTLE BECAME A KNOCKING. IDLE MEANWHILE GETTING ROUGHER. TOOK BACK FOR KNOCKING, SURGING, ROUGH IDLE, STALLING. NO CODES, REPAIR: GM TECH ASSIST HAD CAMSHAFT ACTUATORS REPLACED , FIXED KNOCKING/RATTLE AT COLD START ONLY! IDLE WORSE, NOW LOSS OF ENGINE POWER INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO HARDLY MOVE, HAD VEHICLE BACK LESS THAN 24HRS. ALMOST HAD A "T-BONE" ACCIDENT AND HEAD ON INTO A POLE IN SAME INCIDENT DUE TO SAID LOSS OF POWER. ASKED FOR REPLACEMENT (AFTER 7 SERVICE REPAIR ATTEMPTS), REQUEST PRESENTLY IN LIMBO, NO OFFER OF REPLACEMENT THUS FAR! I AM SEVERELY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AT THIS POINT, CLEARLY DEFECTIVE IN ITSELF WITH NO CODES SHOWING. *TR
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
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.
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
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.
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.
THE CAR HAS A POPPING NOISE WHEN BACKING OVER A CURB OR TURNING SLOWLY. FERMAN DEALERSHIP IN BRANDON, FL. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. 2012 SONICS HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POPPING NOISE UNDER CAR. SEEMS TO BE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ANY COMPLAINTS. THEY ARE NOT TELLING THE TRUTH. *JS
A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2012 CHEVY SONIC, I'VE NOTICED A DECEASE IN POWER AND HESITATION IN ITS AUTOMATIC SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. I'VE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME ISSUE, AND EACH TIME THE SERVICE TECHS (EVEN THE SERVICE MANAGER) HAS TOLD ME AND EXPLAINED THAT IT IS BEHAVING "NORMAL" AND "TO DESIGN". IF IT WERE "NORMAL" WHY HADN'T IT DONE THAT DRIVING RIGHT OFF THE LOT??? AND WHY IS IT, YEARS LATER, ITS SHIFTING HESITATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT OF SEVERE JERKING AS IT SHIFTS FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER, AS IF SOMEONE WERE LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE STICK FOR THE FIRST TIME?????? THERE IS NOTHING "NORMAL" ABOUT HOW MY VEHICLE IS PERFORMING. IT IS COMPLETE[XXX] THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS. AND THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT THERE'S A PROBLEM, NOR WILL THEY SERVICE IT, WHICH MAKES MY VEHICLE INELIGIBLE TO BE CLAIMED AS A LEMON, WHICH IT OBVIOUSLY IS!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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