Chevrolet SONIC steering problems
72 complaint narratives mention steering 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.
Steering behavior evidence
72 of 952 complaints match this topic (7.6%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
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 10466332 · 2012-07-17 (July 17, 2012)
WE BOUGHT THE CHEVY SONIC BRAND NEW, OFF THE DEALERS LOT. WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH OR ABOVE WE FOUND THAT THE CAR DRIFTS EXCESSIVELY AND IS VERY HARD TO KEEP IN THE LANE. ON A FEW OCCASIONS DRIVING AT POSTED HIGHWAY SPEEDS WE WERE FORCED TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE OF RADICAL SWERVING. OUR FIRST COMPLAINTS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WERE ANSWERED WITH "IT'S THE NEW ELECTRONIC STEERING, YOU'LL GET USED TO IT" AFTER DRIVING A FEW MORE WEEKS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT, WE TOOK IT BACK IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. A NOTICE CONCERNING THE BELL…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466332 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10547711 · 2013-10-12 (October 12, 2013)
I BROUGHT MY CAR IN BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I ASKED THAT AN OIL CHANGE BE DONE AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP THE CAR HAD WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND HAD A STRONG BURNING SMELL. THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE I WAS ONLY GONE 10 MINUTES FROM THE DEALER BEFORE I HAD TO BRING IT BACK. BROUGHT IT BACK DEALER SAID THEY SMELLED BURNING AND SPRAYED A DEODORIZER IN VENTS TO MASK IT, BUT THEY DID NOT ADDRESS THE SMOKING THAT IS STILL HAPPENING. FILED COMPLIANT WITH GM REQUESTING A BUY BACK OF VEHICLE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,765 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10551738 · 2013-11-11 (November 11, 2013)
DURING AN CONTINUOUS LEFT HAD TURN IN A PARKING LOT THE STEERING LOCKED UP NOT ALLOWING FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO CENTER CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A CURB INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT. ONCE IMPACT WITH RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS MADE AND DAMAGE SUSTAINED, MINIMAL STEERING WAS REGAINED ALLOWING FOR CAR TO BE MANEUVERED TO A SAFE LOCATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10551738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10594703 · 2014-05-28 (May 28, 2014)
MY MOTHER STATED THAT SHE WAS SITTING STILL AT A RED LIGHT WAITING FOR IT TO TURN GREEN WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD CAUSING HER TO STRIKE THE CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HER. SHE MANAGED TO STEERING AROUND THAT CAR AND BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. SHE AND MY SISTER TOLD ME THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS STANDING STILL AND HER FEET WERE ON THE BRAKES.UPDATED 06/03/14 *BF *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 55,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10594703 at NHTSA ↗