FaultScore

Chevrolet Sonic body problems

28 of the 1,423 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Sonic are about the body and structure — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2012.

28

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

2

Fires

Body & Structure complaints by model year

2012 Sonic 12 42.9%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

2013 Sonic 8 28.6%

Median failure at 17,350 miles

2014 Sonic 3 10.7%

Median failure at 78,921 miles

2015 Sonic 2 7.1%

Median failure at 24,600 miles

2016 Sonic 2 7.1%

Median failure at 15,000 miles

2017 Sonic 1 3.6%

What owners said

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Hoffman Estates, IL

STRUCTURE:BODY

I purchased a 2012 Chevy Sonic with 65k miles on it from Carvibe LLC earlier this month. When I took it into Firestone for a full inspection, they found that the car has severe rusting to the mechanical parts along with the body of the vehicle - the entire structure of the vehicle is compromised. Someone spray painted the rust black but Firestone was still able to see the covered up rust. Firestone has deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive.

NHTSA complaint #11758358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Chevrolet Sonic Winston-Salem, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY

Oil cooling system has been replaced. Major leak in AC line needs replacement. Purge solenoid stop functioning and was replaced, now there is an additional major coolant leak

NHTSA complaint #11732795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Chevrolet Sonic at 90,000 miles Waterbury, CT Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE BUTTON ON MY GEAR SHIFTER WAS STUCK FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THEN IT BROKE RESULTING IN ME CRASHING INTO A PARKED CAR BECAUSE I LOST CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #11378427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Chevrolet Sonic at 67,842 miles Riverside, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE GEAR BUTTON BROKE AND STICKS/IS STUCK

NHTSA complaint #11360593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic at 131,000 miles Leroy, MI Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND WAS COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION I HAD TO TURN AT. I PUSHED THE BREAK PEDAL, BUT IT WAS REALLY STIFF AND DIDN'T DO MUCH. MY CAR SLID ACROSS THE ROAD INTO A WOODEN ELECTRIC POLE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT STOP. MY CAR IS TOTALED AND NOW I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO GET A DIFFERENT VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11292281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Sonic at 48,000 miles Scio, OR Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH WHEN SHE SAW A DEER IN THE ROAD - SHE SWERVED AND BRAKED HITTING THE DEER IN THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT AREA ABOVE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE AND BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND HOLD HER IN PLACE.

NHTSA complaint #11245012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic at 68,000 miles Jacksonville, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

FOR ALL BLACK 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC'S HAVE A BAD PAINT JOB.

NHTSA complaint #11165080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic at 44,000 miles Chambersburg, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE'S DOORS AND BECAME LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE FOR HOURS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WERE FINALLY ABLE TO OPEN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE DUE TO A FAILING DOOR SENSOR. THE CONTACT CALLED JENNINGS CHEVROLET BUICK GMC AT (717) 496-4158 (LOCATED AT 916 NORLAND AVE, CHAMBERSBURG, PA 17201) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11110335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic at 62,000 miles Birdsboro, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY

I NOTICED THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS NOT CLOSING COMPLETELY. UPON INSPECTION I SAW THE DOOR LATCH POST THAT IS SCREWED ONTO THE BODY WAS LOOSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED DURING DRIVING AND ALSO A BODY INTEGRITY ISSUE SHOULD WATER ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #11034295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Chevrolet Sonic at 15,000 miles Jacksonville, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY

WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN THE RIGHT LANE IN THE AREA OF MILE MARKER 7 IN SOUTH CAROLINA A PIECE OF FOREIGN DEBUS WAS RAN OVER BY THE CAR IN FROM OF ME. THE LARGE PIECE OF METAL BOUNCED OF THE ROAD AND HIT THE FRONT BUMPER GRILL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER ( 24 INCH PIECE OF METAL IT APPEARED TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HOLD A SEMI TRACK SPARE TIRE IN PLACE) THE CAR I WAS BEHIND DIDN'T STOP TO ENSURE MY SAFETY HOWEVER THEY DID BRAKE AND CONTINUE ON THEIR JOURNEY. I PULLED OFF AS SOON AS I COULD GET IN A SAFE PLACE AND I HAVE ATTACHED THE IMAGES OF THE DAMAGE AND THE ESTIMATE TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE. MY DEDUCTIBLE IS $1000.00. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10983523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic at 29,000 miles Cumberland, MD 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE CHROME ON THE FRONT INSIDE DOOR HANDLES IS PEELING. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO SLICE MY FINGERS OPEN ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.

NHTSA complaint #10955475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic at 57,000 miles Prescott, AZ 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY

FRONT SEAT RIGHT AND LEFT DOOR HANDLES , CHROME COVERING SPLIT CAUSING SHARP EDGE RESULTING CUT HAND FOR DRIVER.

NHTSA complaint #10927040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Chevrolet Sonic East Lansing, MI Fire

STRUCTURE

2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SIGNIFICANT RODENT DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT INSULATION CAUSES A MINOR FIRE. *SMD

NHTSA complaint #10869954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic at 40,000 miles Chino, CA Crash

STRUCTURE:BODY

TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING AND I TRIED TO BRAKE AT AN INTERSECTION DUE TO A RED LIGHT AND THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE PAD GOT STIFF AND IT DIDN'T ALLOW ME TO BRAKE, I HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME .

NHTSA complaint #10864779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Sonic at 1,200 miles Santa Teresa, NM

STRUCTURE:BODY

THIS SONIC SUN VISORS WILL NOT PULL OUT TO EXTEND AND ALSO HAVE NO PULL-OUT EXTENSIONS. PEOPLE DRIVING NORTH IN THE IN THE P.M. OR SOUTH IN THE A.M. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH ONE HAND ONLY IN ORDER TO BLOCK THE SUN WITH THEIR LEFT HAND. THERE IS PROBABLY A HIGHER INCIDENT OF ACCIDENTS AT THESE TIMES OF DAY INVOLVING SONICS. I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR IF I REALIZED THAT THE VISORS DID NOT PULL OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10840416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic at 55,000 miles Pharr, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW. PAINT STARTED TO LOOSE SHINE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO ( I PERSONALLY WASH THE VEHICLE WITH PROPERLY CARS WASH SOUP). TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T COVER UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. COST OVER $400.00. CHECK ENGINE ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND TWO HOSES DAMAGED AND THERMOSTAT LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10816320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Chevrolet Sonic Cape Coral, FL

STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLARE ON THE DASHBOARD IN SUNNY WEATHER THAT CREATED POOR VISIBILITY. THE DASHBOARD HAD A VENT ACROSS IT THAT PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO BLOCK THE GLARE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/06/15

NHTSA complaint #10684335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Indianapolis, IN 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY

AS THE ONLY DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, I AM MAD THAT MY DOOR MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #10681524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic at 4,100 miles Gardner, MA

STRUCTURE

CHEVY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A WORKING SOLUTION. THEIR RELATED BULLETIN IS PI0826. I PARK MY CAR ON AN INCLINE WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE LEFT BY APPROXIMATELY 10 DEGREES WHEN IT RAINS, WATER COMES IN THROUGH THE LOWER WINDSHIELD AREA, DOWN AN AIR VENT, THROUGH AND AROUND AN AIR FILTER, THROUGH AND AROUND A FAN ASSEMBLY AND DRIPS ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED, I THOUGH IT WAS ME, LEAVING THE WINDOW AJAR, OR A WATER BOTTLE LEAKING, OR ACCIDENTLY LEAVING DOOR UNLOCKED AND SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING. I DRIVE MAYBE ONCE A WEEK, SO BY THE TIME I FOUND THE PROBLEM, THE CAR SMELLED REALLY BAD. IT WAS A FISHY TYPE SMELL. I HAD CHECKED WINDOWS, THEY WERE UP. I HAD TO UNLOCK, SO IT WAS NO ONE GETTING IN. LUCKILY, THE MAT HAD A PLASTIC BOTTOM AND IT HELD MOST OF THE WATER, BUT THE CARPET BELOW DID GET WET AS WELL. I HADN'T USED THE CAR FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS, AND THE FLOOR MAT WAS STILL SOAKED 3-4 DAYS AFTER THE ACTUAL RAIN. IT TOOK 3 DAYS TO REMOVE THE SMELL FROM THE MAT ALONE. LAUNDRY DETERGENT DIDN'T WORK. I FINALLY GOT IT BETTER WITH WHITE VINEGAR. I HAD TO SPRAY IT AFTER THAT WITH LYSOL AND COLOGNE. SO MUCH FOR THE "NEW CAR SMELL". 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED I KNEW IT WASN'T ANYTHING I DID. LUCKILY, I WENT OUT TO CHECK IT THE DAY AFTER A STORM. IT WAS SOAKED AGAIN, AND AGAIN I HAD TO CLEAN IT AND DRY IT UP. THIS IS WHEN I SEARCHED AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE BULLETIN. IT WAS APPLIED BY A DEALER, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. 2ND ATTEMPT TO REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE LOWER TRIM ON WINDSHIELD. THERE IS LESS WATER, BUT IT'S STILL COMING IN. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY HOW I PARK. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MOLD FROM THE WET FILTER & FLOOR PADDING, PREMATURE RUSTING WHEN THE FLOOR GETS WET AND PREMATURE FAILURE IF THE FAN GETS WET. I HEARD SAME ISSUE ON ANOTHER MODEL HAS A SPECIFIC PART FOR THE FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10651872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Hagerstown, MD

STRUCTURE

2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING THE TURBINE SHAFT. *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. RECALL # 14V315000. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED, IT TOOK A NUMBER OF DAYS FOR THE DEALER TO CORRECT AN OUTSIDE WATER LEAK ON THE RIGHT, FRONT PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10639976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Sonic problems