2013 Chevrolet SONIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
217 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
50,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 165 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 217 complaints (25.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 9.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 7.8% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 55 |
| Engine | 55 |
| Unknown Or Other | 45 |
| Power Train | 38 |
| Air Bags | 25 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 12 |
Electrical System: 55; Engine: 55; Unknown Or Other: 45; Power Train: 38; Air Bags: 25; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Steering: 13; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 48 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 32 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 48; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 52 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 28 |
| 2015 | 30 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2013: 9; 2014: 28; 2015: 30; 2016: 35; 2017: 17; 2018: 25; 2019: 26; 2020: 22; 2021: 4; 2022: 8; 2023: 3; 2024: 5; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10500005 · 2013-02-25 (February 25, 2013)
THIS CONDITION HAPPENS DURING FIRST DRIVE OF THE DAY OR AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR A WHILE. WHILE ACCELERATING THROUGH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THE CAR SURGES/JOLTS AT OR NEAR THE SHIFT POINTS. IT ALMOST FEELS AS IF I STARTED MOVING THE VEHICLE IN THE WRONG GEAR, IF IT WERE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS CONDITION ALSO EXISTS IF YOU START MOVING THE VEHICLE FORWARD AND THEN REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND COAST. THIS VEHICLE IS THE RS MODEL EQUIPED WITH THE 1.4 LITER TURBO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10545712 · 2013-09-27 (September 27, 2013)
THE A/C DOES NOT WORK GOOD WHILE THE CAR IS AT IDLE. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE A/C WILL BEGIN TO COOL. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAVE TO BREAK IT STARTS TO BLOW WARMER AIR. WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, STOP SIGN, THE A/C WILL STOP COOLING AND BLOWS WARM AIR OUT OF THE VENTS. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANIC/TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE DEALERSHIP IS NO HELP AND I JUST WANT MY 17000 CAR AC TO WORK NORMAL/ RIGHT. 2013 CHEVY SONIC 2LT MODEL WITH A 6 SPEED AUTO T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10545712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10750005 · 2015-08-20 (August 20, 2015)
THIS MESSAGE IS DESCRIBING 2 DIFFERENT ISSUES: THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN THE LATE SUMMER OF 2012 AND HAS EXPERIENCED CONSISTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES STARTING IN THE WINTER OF 2012. THE ENTIRE MIDDLE CONSOLE WILL COMPLETE POWER OFF, AND THE DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS DO NOT ACTIVATE. THE ONLY STRATEGY FOR "TURNING IT BACK ON" IS WHEN THE REAR WINDOW DEFROST BUTTON IS PUSHED REPEATEDLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED EVERY WINTER SINCE. I HAVE HAD THE DIRECTIONAL WAND REPLACED, AND HAVE ADDRESSED 2 RECALLS SENT FROM THE MANUFACTUER. THE PROBLEMS STILL PER…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10750005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10785664 · 2015-10-23 (October 23, 2015)
MY WIRING HARNESSES HAVE BEEN CHEWED BY RODENTS TWICE IN LESS THAN 10 DAYS BECAUSE GM USES SOY BASED PLASTICS TO COAT THE WIRING HARNESSES. SOY PRODUCTS ARE USED IN THE MAKING OF RODENT FOODS. MY CAR STOPPED DEAD IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE WIRES BROKE DUE TO THE DAMAGE (FOUND LATER AT DEALERSHIP). IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS JUST PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN IT OCCURRED AND NOT ONCE I HAD REACHED INTERSTATE SPEEDS WHERE I NORMALLY DRIVE TO WORK. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE CONCERNING THIS SAME PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10785664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554427 · 2013-12-02 (December 2, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 327.
Owner-reported narrative. 327 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556632 · 2013-12-19 (December 19, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 32 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD AS THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8000.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10574632 · 2014-03-25 (March 25, 2014)
ON MARCH 12, 2014 AROUND 8:00 P.M I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH MY VEHICLE AT MY HOME. MY CAR IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION SO WHEN I WENT TO TURN IT ON, ONLY HALF OF MY BODY WAS IN THE VEHICLE TO TURN IT ON. BEFORE TURNING IT ON I DID NOTICE THE E-BRAKE ENGAGED AND THE CAR WAS IN FIRST GEAR. I PROCEEDED TO TURN IT ON KNOWING THAT I COULD STILL TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR BEFORE ENGAGING THE CLUTCH AGAIN. AT THE MOMENT OF IGNITION THOUGH, THE CAR TOOK OFF FORWARD AND TOOK ME WITH IT. FROM THE PANIC THAT I HAD, I HELD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND PULLED IT TO THE LE…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10574632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10586253 · 2014-05-02 (May 2, 2014)
WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE POWER TO THE CAR WAS ON BUT THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND WILL NOT RELEASE IT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN DECLARED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP PUT ME IN A RENTAL CAR AND I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM SINCE. NO ONE WILL RETURN MY CALLS OR ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10586253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10676866 · 2015-01-21 (January 21, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I SHIFTED FROM 4TH TO 5TH AND SOMETHING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T ENGAGE. I THEN REALIZED I COULD NOT MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER ON THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF GEAR. I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE THE NEXT EXIT BUT THE RAMP WAS ONLY SUITABLE FOR AROUND 30MPH. I TRIED TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM STALLING AS BEST AS I COULD. AS I GOT AROUND THE RAMP I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND NEARLY HIT A GUARD RAIL BECAUSE THE SHOULDER ENDED AND I BARELY STOPPED IN TIME. I CALLED CHEVY ROADSIDE ASSIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,921 miles reported. Look up ODI 10676866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11384224 · 2020-12-20 (December 20, 2020)
MY 2013 CHEVY SONIC DEVELOPED TICKING SOUND SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT AT 60000 MILES. THE TICKING GOT WORSE OVER TIME AND THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I SCANNED THE CODES AND MULTIPLE FOUR CODES WERE FOUND. P0171, P0496, P1101, AND P2270. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT SEEMED TO BE THAT MOST CRUZE, SONIC, AND TRAX VEHICLES ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD, PURGE VALVE, PCV HOSE, AND VALVE COVER. THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11549029 · 2023-10-09 (October 9, 2023)
2013 Chevrolet Sonic 1.8 L , fuel system lean ,mass airflow sensor, in limp mode preventing acceleration, gas tank when added gas....shuts down after start up-fuel system/gasoline; may cause possible fuel leak and could combust, alarm system and locks don't properly function - electric system equipment, insufficient welds...around fuel tank and front of vehicle on bottom by driver's side could also cause combustion, bcm codes that came up were communication, electrical, fuel, windows, and airbags! AutoZone codes were po171 and co561-77,I looke…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11549029 at NHTSA ↗