2013 Chevrolet SONIC: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

I HAVE FOUND THE SWITCH BLADE KEY USED BY MANY CHEVROLET PRODUCTS HAS A TENDENCY TO OPERATE WHEN THE KEY IS PUT IN YOUR PANTS POCKET. ON MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED THE DOORS OR RELEASED THE TRUNK LATCH SIMPLY BY SITTING DOWN OR WALKING DOWN THE STEPS.THIS IS A MINOR PROBLEM UNTIL YOU REALIZE THERE IS AN AUTO START FEATURE ON THIS KEY AND I WORRY THAT I COULD ACCIDENTALLY START THE CAR BY SITTING IN MY LAZYBOY WITH THE KEY IN MY POCKET. THE RESULTS COULD BE DEATH DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDE WITH THE GARAGE BEING UNDER THE BEDROOMS.THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502364 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE FRONT DRIVER, ROOF AND SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511168 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT TURN ON MY 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC HATCHBACK AS I WAS PULLING UP MY DRIVE WAY. THE AC STOP BLOWING COLD AIR. LIQUID WAS DRIPPING FROM THE FRONT PORTION OF THE CAR. THE FAN KEPT GOING EVEN WHEN AFTER I TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. TURNS OUT RADIATOR HAS TO BE REPLACE. RIDICULOUS SINCE ITS A BRAND NEW CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511310 at NHTSA ↗

2013 CHEVY SONIC LOUD VIBRATION NOISE FROM ENGINE BAY AREA WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED OR IN THE DRIVE POSITION WHEN STOPPED, IT ALSO OCCURS WITH OR WITHOUT A HEAVY LOAD (MEANING RADIO ON/OFF, AC ON/OFF). AS A CONSUMER I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION, NORMAL OPERATION WOULD MEAN EITHER AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OR SOMETHING THAT ARISES AFTER HIGH MILEAGE ON THE AUTO. PER TECH NOTES "CASE [XXX], ADVISED A NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC OF 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. COMPARED TO SIMILAR VEHICLE MADE THE SAME SOUND. WAS ABLE TO DEADEN NOISE BY APPLYING PRESS…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533749 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

I HAD THIS CAR AS A RENTAL. WHILE DOING SOMETHING WITH THE RADIO, I SOMEHOW HIT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE KEY THEN TURNED TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF. IN THE SPAN OF A DAY. I DID THIS 3 TIMES. ONCE WAS WHILE MAKING A WIDE TURN ONTO A FREEWAY. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME WHEN I HAD TO SUDDENLY STOP TO RESTART THE CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10547186 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2012-09-17 (September 17, 2012)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 29, 2012, through August 29, 2012. When a turn signal lamp fails to operate, the Body Control Module (BCM) in these vehicles does not detect this condition and will not indicate the condition to the driver. Thus, These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the driver is not aware that the turn signal is not functioning and does not have the light repaired, other drivers may not be alerted that the vehicle is turning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the BCM and the vehicle's key fobs, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 3, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

Reported: 2013-05-24 (May 24, 2013)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

Consequence: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.

Reported: 2013-09-26 (September 26, 2013)

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured August 2, 2013, through August 12, 2013. Due to insufficient welds, the front fuel tank strap bracket may separate from the vehicle.

Consequence: If the front fuel tank strap bracket separates, the increased load may lead to the failure of the other tank support. As a result, the fuel tank may come loose from the vehicle causing a fuel leak. A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front fuel tank strap bracket, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 7, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13296.

Reported: 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

Consequence: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

Reported: 2016-04-28 (April 28, 2016)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

Reported: 2023-07-27 (July 27, 2023)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232413120.