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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,000 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.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic electrical problems

electrical problem

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2013 Chevrolet Sonic Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #54

Dec 102022

Sonic

  • 125,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the rear windshield suddenly imploded, causing glass shards to be propelled inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that it sounded as if a shotgun had been fired. As a result of the implosion, the contact sustained injuries to the left eye. The contact sought medical attention. The contact stated that there was an abnormal electrical humming sound coming from the rear windshield prior to the failure. The contact stated that the defroster was not activated at the time of the failure. The contact stated that there was prior electrical shortage failures with the vehicle. Additionally, there was melted solder present at the rear window defroster electrical connection. An unknown local dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact stated that he had a Police Report for the failure. The contact stated that a field investigator was sent to the residence to inspect the vehicle; however, the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000.

- Clarkrange, TN, USA

problem #53

Mar 202022

Sonic

  • miles
My Odometer miles was erased about 9 months ago and I cannot retrieve it. A Chevy dealership associate looked at it this week (October 31, 2022) and manually could not recover the miles. A GM parts online website suggested it could be a speed sensor (blown fuse) or dash cluster. To diagnose the problem, the dealership wants to perform a diagnostic which costs $120-140 plus parts and labor. This is unjustified: GM and dealerships should be aware of this problem since it is prevalent in Chevy Sonics. GM should back this repair either partially or fully.

- Old Forge, PA, USA

problem #52

Jun 062022

Sonic

  • miles
The air conditioner instead of blowing cold air, it blows hot air. I have taken it from Miami to a 3rd party mechanic where it did not helped much. Nobody knew what was the problem. I move to Texas and in summer over 100 degrees and having a baby sweat is not good. The temperature as -??weather shows -15 degrees. When right now is 99 degrees at 7:10 am central time

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #51

Jun 042021

Sonic

  • miles

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

At around 45,600 miles the Odometer and Trip Meter on my 2013 Sonic stopped displaying numbers and instead shows just 3 dashes. Disconnecting the car's battery for 30 mins, reconnecting, and starting the car displays the mileage for a few seconds and then returns to the ---. Same happens when pulling the fuse for the gauge cluster; the mileage is displayed for a few seconds and then returns to the ---. Attempting to reset the Trip Meter results in the normal 'beep' but numbers are not displayed. Brought the car to the dealership and since the vehicle is out of warranty they want a nonrefundable deposit of $700 just to diagnose, parts and labor would be an additional bill on top of that. Ridiculous. Since this is likely a computer issue it's beyond the scope of work that can be performed by my trusted local garage and as a result I have not had the issued corrected. This should be a GM recall.

- Bellevue, NE, USA

problem #50

Sep 052020

Sonic

  • 116,000 miles
My power steering keeps going out, I have to tap on the battery post connectors and the power steering starts working again. Sometimes a warning light comes on, sometimes not. My daughter was driving going around a bend in the road when the power steering went out, almost lost control. My odometer quit working, I took it to a shop and was told it's a common problem. Why is this not on recall if a Chevrolet mechanic is telling me it's a common problem...very expensive and unnecessary and should be on recall if it's that common.

- Hanford, CA, USA

problem #49

Aug 082014

Sonic

  • 6,000 miles
My Sonic had the same issue as NHTSA recall no. : 19E-064, manufacturer recall no. : N192223230. Except, it happened when I reached to use the wipers rather than hitting the key fob with my leg. I reached to use the wipers and my arm hit the key fob, knocking it into the next position, turning off the engine. It could have just as easily moved over one more and locked the steering. The recall was done on the camaro's, so why wasn't it done on any other vehicle using the same key fob and ignition replacement" was it because the camaro's price is 4 times the price of a Sonic? are camaro drivers more valuable than Sonic drivers" there is a class action lawsuit including the camaro recall, but not the Sonic. Https://www.gmignitionswitcheconomicsettlement.com/ I reported this back in 2014, and never heard a word about it.

- Gardner, MA, USA

problem #48

Jul 102020

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 86,000 miles

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

Code 84 while driving on regular road at normal speed. Car goes into power reduction mode. It's difficult to accelerate and the "see mechanic" symbol on the dash. Took it to midas, had the pedal assembly replaced and electrical wires greased. Next week same thing, replaced pedal assembly again. Same thing happened again today. Driving in nice weather going under 45mph. Stabilitrack light comes on and power reduction turns on. Turn car off, sit a minute, turn back on, check engine light and power reduction off. Will happen again. Every day for the last 3 weeks after about a year ago having pedal assembly replaced. Code 84 came on again today, took to the mechanic, they say everything is running fine with the diagnostic reading. Not sure why the power reduction comes on. I have tried driving with traction control off, tc off and stabilitrack off. New tires, new brakes, new windshield (replaced when I bought the car in case there was an internal leak. No water intrusion was found by the mechanics. I cannot drive the car safely on the busy road I work on. Car will go into power reduction at random even when on the highway, causing the car to lose ability to accelerate fast enough to not get hit. Always while driving. Sometimes the check engine light stays on and sometimes it's not on at all. Intermittent power reduction. Mechanics say could be an electrical issue but couldn't find the source of the problem. This has been happening on and off for over a year and no solution has been found. All regular maintenance is scheduled in a timely fashion. Unknown cause of safety issue

- Carol Stream, IL, USA

problem #47

Jun 012020

Sonic 4-cyl

  • miles
I've been having a lot of problems with the air conditioner for the last couple weeks I bought it used. I just spent $900 on a new compressor for the air conditioning air switch and now they're saying that it's all electrical issues. I was wondering if there was a recall on the air conditioner unit for a 2013

- Exeter, PA, USA

problem #46

Mar 122019

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 105,000 miles
Was unable to get key out of ignition due to the gear shift button being stuck in.

- Montville, CT, USA

problem #45

Apr 082018

Sonic

  • miles
It started with the radio going dark sometimes not working then the windows wont" go down then my car would not turn on took it to many mechanics no one could figure out what's wrong finally one told me that some Sonics had a recall and it was doing the same thing as mine.this is more often it was once in a while but now is very often my radio doesn't come on and my head lights keeps going off too.

- Dequeen, AR, USA

problem #44

Apr 152020

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles

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

The mylink stereo system all the sudden began changing stations on its own constantly. It reprogrammed all stations to the same channel, the touch screen will not respond to touch. Bluetooth hands free had to be disconnected because it also randomly calls people in my recently called list, often clients. I have a prepaid xm subscription but cannot use my radio at all. There are a number of us with the same issue and we have identified eachother in a facebook group. There are at least 10-15 people who are currently experiencing the same issue. The stereo actually called 911 one day because I had recently dialed the number to report an accident outside my home. This could cause safety issues. This happens whether the vehicle is in motion or parked, any time of day. It's like the stereo has just gone haywire.

- Tavernier, FL, USA

problem #43

Mar 202020

Sonic

  • 90,000 miles
We bought the car used and ever since then it had a weird double locking mechanism, such as when I put it in park it would unlock but when I went to open the drivers side door it would lock itself as I was in the process of opening it. So it would be slightly opened and I'd have to press the button to unlock it to open the door. It did this often only on the drivers side. Then one day after I had drove it somewhere we closed the door for 2 mins max when we went to use the key fob to open the door while the door was parked in a driveway the car door lock would go up then immediately back down. The only way we could open the passenger side door was to try and open it as the door lock went up before it came back down, which was possible but after getting in there was no way to open the drivers side door at all. It was as if the car door lock stick didn't go up all the way to actually unlock the door. There's also no way to get the door panel off with the car door being closed. We've taken it to different places that have actually no idea what's wrong with it. This is such a huge safety problem with the car door not being able to open at all if there was a car crash or anything.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #42

Feb 182020

Sonic

  • 42,550 miles
I bought my van Chrysler pacifica back on July 30 2018 after couple months after I stater noticing sliding door driver side when trying to close it either by key fob inside button nor door was not closing any once need it to try 3 or 4 times to close all the way then radio turning off I called a web called pacifica cares then I was reach by them I was told to provide a email phone number time and date of appointment name and address of the dealership then Y was reach by one case manager I share with her the issues we agreed on the appointment at the date and time which was yesterday 2/26/2020 8 am she said she called them explained to them what was going to happen at the date and time so I got to the dealership and none had a clue about my reason so I explained to service person he said you can't generalized and said the isn't no issues whatsoever which pacificas I called case manager but she wasn't reachable because she's in other state so I was told by advisor at the service that she never talk to him after two hrs I was reach by my case manager and then explained to me that I need it to pay the diagnostic to be able to move forward in the case which it cost 140$ I told her that I was never told that I need it to cover that out of my packet before they can make any decision at this point I'm very disappointed and upset because I was never told that I need it to pay for this diagnosis if I can get any help will appreciate

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #41

Dec 202018

Sonic

  • 90,000 miles
Car gave me a code of U0101 and took it to Chevy dealership and told me it has something to do with lost communication. They tried fixing issue but couldn't.

- La Feria, TX, USA

problem #40

May 012014

Sonic

  • miles
Code P0171 and P0420. I have replaced everything in the car that these codes state. New thermostat, catalytic converter, both 02 sensors, exhaust hose. Fixes for a few days to a week and the same codes keep coming back. Now the button on my gear shift sticks keeping the gear shift from locking into place. This stops me from being able to turn my car completely off and removing key from ignition.

- Myerstown, PA, USA

problem #39

Jul 022019

Sonic

  • 71,000 miles
2013 Sonic ls -from the start, the air conditioner doesn't work, the car was driving on freeway sways uncontrollably but seems like wind at first but there's no wind. It started jerking and hesitating, lights and radio flickering, when in motion in freeway, car started getting hot but not all the way over heating pulled over then the steering column locked in the turn to pull over, when stopped, the car RPM started revving but car wasn't going nowhere, then turned the car off after putting in park and and the key won't come out of the ignition...after wiggling the key for a few minutes it released. Towed the car to friendlies auto repair shop and told them everything that was happening they said they needed to replace the ratiator for $1400 and we paid it. However the car is still doing the same thing and the radiatir didnt fix anything we seen as being wrong. Now they said it's the compressor but we don't have additional money to continue fixing. I read online others with this car are having similar issues.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #38

Jul 242019

Sonic

  • miles
The chime is not working in my car. I called GM about this and they said the recall 17130 has already been closed on my car but the chime is not working. It seems to be a problem with mylink as other things arent working either. Summary General Motors llc (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet spark vehicles equipped with a bring your own media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "theft protection." Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #37

Feb 112019

Sonic

  • 94,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact just purchased the vehicle and noticed that the chime failed to sound when the key was placed in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact to take the vehicle to a Chevrolet dealer. The vehicle was taken to gold rush Chevrolet (located at 570 grass valley hwy, auburn, ca 95603, (530) 392-4672), but was not diagnosed or repaired due to the diagnostic and repair fees. The contact also stated that all the doors failed to remain unlocked when exiting the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and provided case number: 9-5199799138. The contact was referred to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

- Auburn, CA, USA

problem #36

Jan 102018

Sonic

  • 70,000 miles
The indicatior light for low tire pressure comes on but no warning chime is heared. This can be very bad when driving on the interstate. The tire was loosing pressure without me knowing and I had no clue until the vehicle ran off the road due to not being able to control it. The chime never went off. Same with an over heating issue the light came on but I did not know it was over heating until it stated shaving and steaming and I looked at the dash to see the light on.

- Fort Pierce, FL, USA

problem #35

Jan 092016

Sonic

  • 89,000 miles
Electric recall since 2016, I have had a continuous problem with my cars electric features. It started with the radio randomly shutting off, then I noticed that when I would park my car, I was unable to take my key out of the ignition as if it was stuck. This has caused multiple situations where I would have to leave my key in the ignition because I couldn't turn off my car. Eventually my car was stolen due to this issue. Luckily, I was able to get my car back, however, the problem still persists. Anytime I stop my vehicle and put it in park, the key still sticks and I cannot get it out.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

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