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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is fairly new & is already showing an early trend of transmission problems.

Owners report hesitation when shifting & grinding/hard shifting into gears. Some dealers are calling the condition "normal". Another owner reported his dealership replaced the transmission under warranty, but the new transmission had the same exact grinding problem. Design defect?

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,582 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic Owner Comments (Page 6 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #48

Mar 142015

Sonic

  • 32,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The gear shift button was locked in park and I could not release the key from the steering column. After researching on the internet, advice said to push hard to the left on the gear shift to pop the button back out. I did that while jostling the button and it did pop out. When I pressed the button again, this time in neutral, the button got stuck within the gear shift column again, but I found that I could then just push the gear shift forward and back between gears without the button locking on the desired gear. This is a major safety issue because it appeared to me that if I were driving, the gear shift column could move to another gear if I hit a pot hole or bump, without me controlling it. In other words, it might have slipped into neutral or reverse. Shouldn't there be a recall on this? I have to take it to the dealer Wednesday, and if this happens again, I will have to drive the trip with my hand on the gear shift knob to insure it will not slip out of gear.

- Nags Head, NC, USA

problem #47

Dec 182014

Sonic

  • 30,000 miles
When placing the car in park the gear shifter button gets stuck and doesn't disengage. Since it doesn't disengage the keys can't be removed from the car. If the car is placed in reverse or drive the button stays stuck causing the shifter to be engaged and able to freely shift into reverse or park while driving. This has happened on several occasion and most often in colder temperatures.

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #46

Feb 182015

Sonic

  • 41,000 miles
(automatic transmission) button on gear shift gets stuck in engage. Allows free shifting from park to any gear without the brake pedal being pressed. May easily be bumped into neutral, drive, reverse, or manual with just a touch. Also applies if in drive or any other gear which may result in loss of control if it should accidentally be bumped. When this occurs, it is not possible to remove the key from the ignition. This exposes the vehicle to the potential of theft or other unauthorized use. This video illustrates the same issue with a 2013 Sonic: Https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=tmuxp0bxtvi.

- Port Crane, NY, USA

problem #45

Feb 062015

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 46,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2012 Chevy Sonic and the gearshift will not lock into place and an accidental bump will knock the car into another gear which could be dangerous to me and others. Reading online threads, I have noticed that this affecting many other cars of this make and model. I notice that GM wait until the last minute to issue recalls. I just hope that it is not to late for me and my family.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #44

Jan 012012

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
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).

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

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problem #43

Jan 162015

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 48,419 miles
The button to release the car out of gear, and once in park that releases the key came apart. It has been sticking for awhile then all of a sudden, something sharp started poking out of the bottom of the button, and it has cut my husband's hand. Now the button barely pushes in and the car is very hard to get out of park.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #42

Dec 022014

Sonic

  • 39,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When I place the car in park the gear shift will not completely release or register the car is in park. My key will not release, and I have to place the car in drive then park several times before the key will release.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #41

Jan 092015

Sonic

  • 40,758 miles
Gear shift knob sticks preventing removal of key. 2. gear shift knob will not return to normal position preventing steering wheel to lock when vehicle is unoccupied, this seems to be common problem with this vehicle. There are many complaints of similar nature on web forums.

- Brownsville, TX, USA

problem #40

Jan 012013

Sonic

  • 34,000 miles
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.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #39

Nov 282014

Sonic

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V315000 (power train). However, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Mount Savage, MD, USA

problem #38

Nov 272014

Sonic

  • 50,300 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My wife was driving on the highway and it felt like transmission was slipping. We have a 6 speed manual turbo Chevy Sonic. While the car was under the 36000 warranty an engine fault light came on and we brought it to the dealer. I believe they said it had to do with turbo " they repaired the fault and now at 50000 miles it appears the transmission has let go and/or clutch " recall 14234 appears to be what happened to our vehicle or the aforementioned turbo problem they worked on and want us to pay for something that maybe a recall item or faulty workmanship during warranty period.

- Southington , CT, USA

problem #37

Oct 152014

Sonic

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the button on the gear shifter seized. As a result, the shift lever became lodged in one gear. The failure recurred daily and no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the entire gear shifter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Nomad , UT, USA

problem #36

Nov 042014

Sonic

  • 54,000 miles
Button on shifter knob that allows car to be put into gear gets stuck and eventually breaks. This allows the car to accidentally be put into gear. This problem also does not allow you to remove your key from the ignition, forcing you to leave your key in the ignition if you want to leave the vehicle.

- Greenwood, IN, USA

problem #35

Oct 182014

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 47,740 miles
Beginning from the first month of ownership. Approx. 28,000 mi. At cold start there is a rattle noise like metal on metal. Then will disappear right after. Has been getting worse/ louder. Hard shifts, loss of power. Now as of last night the check engine light is on and the car runs rough. High idle, stalls, knocking noises from engine. Fault code. P0011?

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #34

Oct 012014

Sonic 4-cyl

  • miles
2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Consumer writes to express a complaint concerning the service received for a safety recall. The consumer was informed, the parts needed to be ordered. Recall # 14V315000. The consumer stated the repairs were done. However, eight days was too long to have the vehicle, when the recall stated it would take 10 hours and 20 minutes. Updated 12/10/14

- Williamson, WV, USA

problem #33

Aug 012014

Sonic

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V315000 (power train). The contact stated that the part needed to remedy the vehicle was unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was unavailable. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Smock , PA, USA

problem #32

Sep 242014

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 69,860 miles
My car hesitates to shift gears between 18-27 mph and sometimes when I make a right hand turn going down an incline the car acts like its not in gear to drive.

- Middleport, OH, USA

problem #31

Jul 162014

Sonic

  • 38,000 miles
Pulled into my work parking lot and gear shifter would not shift into park. After trying multiple times and beating on it I finally got it into park but key would not turn off or come out of ignition. Put back into drive and went through all gears (neutral, reverse and drive) before I could finally put it in park and turn off the key and take key out of ignition. Happened again the following week, had it towed to dealer. The tow truck driver had never seen anything like it. He could not tow it without getting it into neutral. They had to break the shifter in order for me to drive it until the new shifter came in. Dealer would not replace without charge. So, I will probably have to replace the shifter every three years to the tune of $400. Also, air intake hose has broken and check engine light comes on and off. Can only order through dealer. Duck taped it until you recall it for engineering design defect. I should not have to replace this hose every three years.

- Romeoville, IL, USA

problem #30

Sep 012014

Sonic

  • 32,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the check engine and gear box warning indicators illuminated while the vehicle was in drive, reverse, or park. While traveling approximately 55 mph on a major highway, the vehicle decelerated and stalled. The contact stated that the gears were difficult to shift during the failure. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The dealer stated that the intake duct and boot needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V315000 (power train). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #29

Jul 082013

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
Shifter button gets stuck and can't take key out of ignition! its been replaced before and this is the second time! dealer wont replace under warranty!

- New Cumberland, PA, USA

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