2014 Chevrolet SONIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
149 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
50,665 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 112 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 149 complaints (31.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 13.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 10.7% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 10.1% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 8.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.4% |
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 | 47 |
| Engine | 38 |
| Unknown Or Other | 34 |
| Air Bags | 23 |
| Power Train | 20 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 8 |
Electrical System: 47; Engine: 38; Unknown Or Other: 34; Air Bags: 23; Power Train: 20; Fuel/Propulsion System: 15; Steering: 13; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 37 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 33 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2014: 13; 2015: 14; 2016: 14; 2017: 13; 2018: 33; 2019: 24; 2020: 9; 2021: 8; 2022: 6; 2023: 4; 2024: 6; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 20 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 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 10660410 · 2014-11-24 (November 24, 2014)
MY 2014 SONIC AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR 40 MIN FAILED TO START, A CHECK OF THE BATTERY INDICATED FULL VOLTAGE. CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AFTER THEY TAPPED ON THE STARTER THE CAR WOULD START. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS AND COULD NOT REPEAT THE PROBLEM, WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK WHEN I HAD THE PROBLEM AGAIN. I HAVE HAD TO TAP ON THE STARTER ONCE BECAUSE I WAS TOO FAR FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. AT 1974 MILES I HAD THE PROBLEM AGAIN CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER PUT THE KEY IN THE R…
Owner-reported narrative. 850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10660410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10717244 · 2015-05-19 (May 19, 2015)
TRADED IN MY ORIGINAL RECALL CHEVY COLBALT 2005 IN APRIL 2014. I WAS GIVEN A TRADE IN AMOUNT WHICH I USED TO PUT DOWN ON A NEW CAR, CHEVROLET SONIC 2014. I HAD IT ALL OF A WEEK WHEN SUDDENLY I WAS DRIVING AND STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDDLE IT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN TO NOT MOVING REGARDLESS TO HOW MUCH I STEPPED ON THE GAS. NATURALLY, I WAS VERY UPSET. I CALLED FOR HELP.THEY TRANSFERRED ME INTO A DIFFERENT 2014 SONIC. FROM DAY 1 I NOTICE PROBLEMS NOT CONCERNED ONLY BECAUSE THE ISSUE LASTED 10-15 MINUTES AND THEN IT WAS FINE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH NOT B…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577515 · 2014-04-04 (April 4, 2014)
THE DRIVER BACKED OUT ONTO THE RESIDENTIAL STREET. THE DRIVE ALIGNED THE WHEELS TO POINT STRAIGHT DOWN THE STREET. THE DRIVER SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND PRESSED PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR RAPIDLY ACCELERATED AND SWERVED TO THE LEFT. IT GRAZED THE BUMPER OF A PACKED CAR AND CAME TO REST ON A TREE. UPON LEAVING THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS DEFLATED. THE REPAIR SHOP REPORTED LEFT SUSPENSION DAMAGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10578024 · 2014-04-07 (April 7, 2014)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A LONG, STEEP BRIDGE AT A CAUTIOUS SPEED AND REACHED OVER TO ADJUST THE RADIO VOLUME. WHEN I PLACED MY RIGHT HAND BACK ON THE STEERING WHEEL SOMETHING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT SO I QUICKLY VERIFIED THAT I HAD BRAKES AND LIGHTS, BUT NO ENGINE POWER. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE ONLY REASON FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE THAT I COULD FIGURE OUT AT THE TIME WAS THAT I HAD JARRED THE KEY CHAIN WITH MY COAT SLEEVE, INADVERTENTLY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR AND THE TWO SETS OF KEYS HAD BEEN PERMANENTL…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,480 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10681399 · 2015-02-05 (February 5, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE WHILE VEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY VEERED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 12/09/15.*JB UPDATED 9/20/2017*CN
Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10681399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605510 · 2014-06-24 (June 24, 2014)
DRIVING IN 70MPH TRAFFIC, MY WIFE JOSTLED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WHILE REACHING UP TO ADJUST WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE CAR STALLED. A TRUCK WAS BARRELING DOWN ON US. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN TIME. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITH NO TROUBLE. THIS WAS A RENTED CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10605510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10678597 · 2015-01-23 (January 23, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,520.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10678597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10608887 · 2014-07-08 (July 8, 2014)
GAS STARTED LEAKING FROM BOTTOM OF GAS TANK. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 3,480 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10608902 · 2014-07-08 (July 8, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V464000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,080.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,080 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608902 at NHTSA ↗