Chevrolet SONIC engine problems
67 complaint narratives mention engine 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.
Engine operation evidence
67 of 952 complaints match this topic (7.0%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10469210 · 2012-08-05 (August 5, 2012)
STALLS EASILY AND FREQUENTLY WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP AND IS THEN DIFFICULT TO RESTART, OR I MUST WAIT ABOUT 5 SECONDS BEFORE I CAN ATTEMPT A RESTART. UNEVEN IDLE MOST OF THE TIME. DEALER BLAMES ME FOR THE STALLING (SAYS I'M NOT USED TO THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT MANY ARE COMPLAINING ON THE ONLINE FORUM WWW.SONICOWNERSFORUM.COM) MOST IMPORTANTLY, YESTERDAY (08/04/2012), THE FULLY WARMED 1.4L TURBO ENGINE IN MY SONIC REV'D TO FROM IDLE (750 RPM) TO EXACTLY 3,000 RPM THEN BACK DOWN TO 750 RPM (WHILE 6 SPD MANUAL IN NEUTRAL, CLUTCH FULLY …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,070 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10474012 · 2012-09-05 (September 5, 2012)
MULTIPLE REPORTS OF DAEWOO SONICS (AND CRUZES, ALSO SOURCED FROM DAEWOO THOUGH ASSEMBLED IN THE UNITED STATES) EQUIPPED WITH THE 1.4L TURBOCHARGED ENGINE STALLING OUT AND/OR ACCELERATING POORLY IN WARM/HOT CONDITIONS WHEN USING 87 OCTANE FUEL. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE IN WARM WEATHER WHEN OWNERS USE REGULAR, UNLEADED GASOLINE, EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT PROHIBIT LOW OCTANE FUEL FROM BEING USED. (PREMIUM FUEL IS "RECOMMENDED" BUT NOT REQUIRED, AND THE DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS THAT WILL PURCHASE THESE CARS LIKELY WILL NOT WISH TO SPEND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10474012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10477324 · 2012-09-27 (September 27, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10477324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10483795 · 2012-11-09 (November 9, 2012)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10483795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10489386 · 2012-12-20 (December 20, 2012)
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, "CAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489386 at NHTSA ↗