2012 CHEVROLET SONIC Power Train Problems
150 NHTSA complaints on file
All Power Train Complaints — Page 3
THE SHIFTER BUTTON STICKS WHEN PRESSED. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO BE RELEASED. IT ALSO DOESN'T LOCK THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PLACE ALLOWING THE SHIFTER TO MOVE FROM PARK TO 1 GEAR WITH NO INTERVENTION. *TR
2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL. *SMD THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 18 DAYS WITHOUT PERFORMING ANY WORK. RECALL # 14V315000. *JB
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...
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. *TR
(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. *TR
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. *TR
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...
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. *TR
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. *TR
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. *TR
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.
TL* 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.
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. *TR
TL* 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.
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. *TR
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? *TR
2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS A COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE SERVICE RECEIVED FOR A SAFETY RECALL. *TGW 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
TL* 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.
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. *TR
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 $400.00. ALSO, AIR INTAKE HOSE HAS BROKEN AND...
TL* 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.
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! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V315000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER THE PART 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND IT BECAME HARDER TO SHIFT GEARS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABIN FILTER; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE CORRECT GEAR CAUSING THE ENGINE RPM TO SUDDENLY INCREASE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD COME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V315000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
THE SHIFTER BUTTON/KNOB ALWAYS GETS STUCK. THIS VEHICLE HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SO IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE PRIOR RECALL REGARDING THE SHIFTER. THE CAR RADIO TURNS ON BY ITSELF AFTER I HAVE REMOVED BY CAR KEY AND LOCKED THE DOORS. THIS HAS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN AND NOW IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CHEVY DEALER SAID THAT REPLACING THE SHIFTER "MAY" CORRECT THE ISSUE WITH THE RADIO. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE SHIFTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS OF USE. I HAVE HAD MUCH OLDER CARS WITH FAR LESS ISSUES AND NEVER NEEDED TO HAVE A SHIFTER REPLACED. IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED YET. *TR
WHILE ENGAGING THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY INTO GEAR, THE BUTTON ON THE ASSEMBLY BECOMES STUCK. THE CAR CAN THEN BE MOVED FROM PARK INTO ANY GEAR BY ACCIDENT. ALSO CAUSING THE KEY TO BE STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
AUTOMATIC SHIFTER BUTTON STICKS WHICH DOESN'T LET THE KEY TO COME OUT. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING WHILE THE BUTTON IS STUCK IN. YOU CAN BUMP THE SHIFTER N IT'LL TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR DUE TO THE SHIFTER BUTTON STICKING N NOT POPPING OUT. *TR
VEHICLE HAS NO POWER ON ACCELERATION SO I LOSE POWER IN INTERSECTIONS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
WAS DRIVING AND CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING...HAD JUST ENOUGH POWER TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC...CAR WAS RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. DID EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL STATED IF THE TRANSMISSION TURBINE SHAFT FRACTURE OCCURS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IN THE FIRST OR SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT UPSHIFT TO THE THIRD THRU SIXTH GEARS LIMITING THE VEHICLES SPEED... *TR
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. IN JANUARY I VISITED THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY HEATER WAS NOT WORKING. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE MY BATTERY SOON THAT IT HAD SOME LEAKING ACID. THREE WEEKS LATER I REPLACE THE BATTERY. AT THAT TIME THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. IVE SPENT THOUSANDS SINCE THEN REPAIRING WHAT THE DEALERSHIP DESCRIBED AS A ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE. I ALSO HAVE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES THAT THERE ARE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. I INSISTED THEY DRIVE WITH ME AND ALTHOUGH THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES HAVE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED, THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN BUSY REPAIRING THE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE OF THE BATTERY, THE HAVE NEVER TOUCHED MY TRANSMISSION. I STILL HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MY CAR HESITATES AND DOESN'T ACCELERATE CAUSING ME TO ALMOST WRECK SEVERAL TIMES. I ALSO HAVE HAD SEVERAL IGNITION PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE....
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 &...
2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALLS AND VEHICLE REPAIRS ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE KNOCK SENSOR AND LOWER TRANSMISSION MOUNT WERE REPLACED. *JB
FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW EVERYTIME I GO TO PARK MY CAR MY SHIFTER GET STUCK AND I AM UNABLE TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK OR TAKE THE KEY OUT. I WENT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND I WAS TOLD I COULD SPEND $150 TO GET IT LOOKED AT & THEN SPEND HOW EVERY MUCH MONEY IT WOULD BE TO FIX IT. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR THAT AT THE MOMENT BUT NOW ITS TO THE POINT WHERE I CANT EVEN DRIVE MY CAR AT ALL BECAUSE THE SHIFTER ALWAYS GETS STUCK AND I CANT GET MY KEY OUT TO PARK OR PUT IT IN PARK DRIVE REVERSE ETC...... ! ! ! I HAVE SEEN THAT A COUPLE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM SO ITS NOT JUST MY CAR. BUT SINCE IT GETS SUCK I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HIT THE SHIFTER BY...
ON OR AROUND DECEMBER, 2014, THE SHIFT COVER WOULD NOT ATTACH PERMANENTLY. ON OR AROUND MARCH 10, 2014, THE ELECTRICAL ACCESS PLUG DID NOT OPERATE. ON OR AROUND MARCH 6, 2014, MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING AROUND 45MPH, AND WE HIT AN ELK. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
WHEN TRYING TO CROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION, I HAD NO POWER WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. WE SLOWLY MOVED FORWARD AND WERE VERY NEARLY HIT BY BOTH SIDES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND PUT ON FLASHERS. I DROVE ON THE SIDE OF ROAD UNTIL THE GEARS ENGAGED A FEW SECONDS LATER. EVER SINCE I STILL HAVE ISSUES MERGING ON HIGHWAYS ON IN TRAFFIC. *TR
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
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...
THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JOLT, THUD, AND OTHERWISE NOT SHIFT. LEAVING ME EXTREMELY SLOW IN HIGH TRAFFIC. THE SELLING DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. GM REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED ANOTHER CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY NOTED DEBRIS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND A FAULTY CAM PHASER (TRANSMISSION) AND THE REPAIR MAY NOT CORRECT THIS. *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
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
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...
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
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...
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
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...
AFTER DISENGAGING, ENGAGING, AND THEN DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION GRINDS. *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...
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
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
Other 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC Problem Areas
Engine
82 complaints
Electrical System
56 complaints
Unknown Or Other
46 complaints
Air Bags
34 complaints
Suspension
19 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
16 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
15 complaints
Service Brakes
14 complaints
Steering
13 complaints
Visibilitywiper
11 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
9 complaints
Structurebody
9 complaints
Exterior Lighting
6 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
4 complaints
Seat Belts
4 complaints
Traction Control System
3 complaints
Wheels
3 complaints
Equipment Adaptivemobility
2 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
2 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
2 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
2 complaints
Electrical Systemhorn
1 complaint
Electrical Systemignition
1 complaint
Electrical Systemignitionswitch
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkages
1 complaint
Power Trainautomatic Transmissionlever And Linkagecolumn Shift
1 complaint
Seats
1 complaint
Steeringcolumn
1 complaint
Structure
1 complaint
Structurebodydoor
1 complaint
Tires
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
1 complaint
Visibility
1 complaint
Visibilityglass Siderear
1 complaint
Visibilityrearview Mirrorsdevices
1 complaint
Visibilitywindshield
1 complaint
Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasher
1 complaint