Chevrolet SONIC electrical problems
91 complaint narratives mention electrical terms.
Key facts
952 owner complaints analyzed
16 distinct recall campaigns
46,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 to 2020 model years. Data snapshot: . 703 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Electrical and battery issues evidence
91 of 952 complaints match this topic (9.6%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10459472 · 2012-05-23 (May 23, 2012)
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 HESI…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459808 · 2012-05-28 (May 28, 2012)
THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED "HUNTING" (SHAKING LEFT AND RIGHT) AND RESISTED ATTEMPTS TO STEER THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL CONTROLLABLE, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHILE STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND IS NOT THERMAL (WILL HAPPEN BOTH AT COLD START-UP AND WHEN VEHICLE IS UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. IT IS NOT EFFECTED BY AMBIENT TEMPERATURE). THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WITH SPS 155 WT40, STATING THE CURRENT PROGRAMMING WAS INCORRECT. THE INVOICE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 706 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10488762 · 2012-12-14 (December 14, 2012)
RADIO RANDOMLY TURNS ON WHEN CAR IS SHUT OFF. LAST NIGHT IT TURNED ON 13 TIMES. IT ACTIVATES THE FULL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR. WON'T SHUT OFF UNLESS CAR IS STARTED AND XM RADIO IS TUNED TO FM AND SHUT OFF. THEN IF YOUR LUCKY IT MAY STAY OFF. I HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP IN VERMONT AND CHEVROLET FOR 8 MONTHS. THEY TELL ME IT IS NOT AN ISSUE. THEY TESTED RADIO SAID IT WORKS FINE. IT IS WORSE WHEN COLD OUT. RADIO RANDOMLY TURNS ON. WILL NOT SHUT OFF. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10488762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10516109 · 2013-06-10 (June 10, 2013)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,357 miles reported. Look up ODI 10516109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576112 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576112 at NHTSA ↗