NHTSA Complaint #10476554 — 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC

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