44 of the
1,423 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Sonic
are about the braking system —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2012.
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.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that when the vehicle was turned on, the brakes, ABS, traction control, and braking system warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle took longer than normal to slow down. The contact stated that while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The vehicle taken to a dealer where it was it diagnosed and determined that the brake booster pump assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.
NHTSA complaint #11656528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that operating the vehicle, the front driver side seat would erroneously slide forward causing the driver's knees to make contact with the dash panel. In addition, while driving at various speeds the vehicle had suddenly stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the electronic control unit hardware was faulty. Also, the emergency brake cable was hanging low to the ground under the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failures. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 28,000.
NHTSA complaint #11436408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR WAS IN MOTION GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. STOPPED AT A REDLIGHT. CONTINUED QHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN BUT NOT FAST AS THE NEXT LIGHT WAS TURNING RED. BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. UPON COLLISION THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT DEPLOY. MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE CHEVROLET SONIC STARTING FROM THE 2015 MODEL. GM WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS YET TO FIX IT OR RECALL IT.
NHTSA complaint #11113010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ROAD I WAS DRIVING ON IS 55 MPH ON BEAR IN. AS I BEGAN TO BREAK NOTHING HAPPENED. A 90 CORNER WAS IN FRONT OF ME. 55TH AVE. I PUSHED AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BREAKS. IT WAS SMOOTH.. TRACTION CONTROL WAS ON. NO BREAKING UNIT WENT INTO AFFECT. IT WAS SMOOTH ALL THE WAY INTO A TREE HEAD ON. ZERO SKID MARKS! I WAS CONSCIOUS THE ENTIRE TIME CLOSED ON EYES RIGHT BEFORE IMPACT. AIR BAGS DID WORK. THE ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE 3X. THEY HAD TO USE THE JAWS OF LIFE TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE TREE. I PUSHED SO HARD ON THE BREAK THAT IT BROKE MY ANKLE, SPLIT MY KNEE OPEN AND SPRAINED MY KNEE. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 56K. THIS SHOULD HAVE KILLED ME. THE BREAKS HAD WORKED FINE BEFORE THIS.. NO SQUEALING, SHAKING ETC. IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. CONDITIONS WERE DARK, DRY ROADS, NO WIND. I DO HAVE REPORTS BUT CAN NOT SCAN THEM. I LOADED 5 IMAGES! PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER IMMEDIATELY. LIVES ARE AT STAKE.
NHTSA complaint #11093407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT FELL ASLEEP AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND DEEMED DESTROYED. AN INSPECTOR FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CRUCIAL ABS FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,603.
NHTSA complaint #11090981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2017 CHEVY SONIC HAS A BRAKE PROBLEM . BRAKES SOMETIMES FAIL TO STOP WHEN APPLIED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN MOVING AND COMING TO STOP AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAIDED THEY ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM GM.
NHTSA complaint #11057324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CONCRETE MEDIAN AND THROUGH BUSHES BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A THUMB INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUFFENBERG CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (830 VALLEY CREEK DR, FARMINGTON, MO 63640), BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,847.
NHTSA complaint #11051689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE PEDAL FEELS TOO SOFT AND CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MAKING SMOOTH STOPS. I NOTICED THIS CHANGE IN OCTOBER 2016. THIS PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE SUDDEN STOPS AT INTERSECTIONS OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM STRIKING MINE IN THE REAR OR A CHILD BEING HURT OR KILLED WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS. IT IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE. I TOOK IT TO MY CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. I AM INCLUDING AN IMAGE OF THE DEALER'S SERVICE REPORT FROM 11/09/2016. THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES TO THIS DATE, 8/8/17. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING, I CANNOT REPORT AN ACTUAL DATE, MILEAGE, OR DRIVING SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #11013806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY TO ME BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE SEVERAL RECALL CAMPAIGNS ON THE VEHICLE THAT DID NOT COME UP UNDER MY VIN.CAMPAIGN ID 12V52200, CAMPAIGN ID 13V023000, CAMPAIGN ID14V315000, CAMPAIGN ID 14V317000 CAMPAIGN ID 11V599000, CAMPAIGN ID, 12V408000. I COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAD BLEW A STOP SIGN AS I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. MY VEHICLE T-BONE THE OTHER VEHICLE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THE OTHER VEHICLES AIR BAGS DID. MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICE AT MODERN CHEVROLET UNIVERSITY PARKWAY IN WINSTON SALEM NC SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN NOV. 2012 FROM THAT DEALERSHIP. THE ONLY RECALLS THE DEALERSHIP OR GM HAS NOTIFIED ME ABOUT WERE ONLY GM CAMPAIGN ID 12172 REPLACE SWAYBAR LINKS AND GM CAMPAIGN ID12176. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS
NHTSA complaint #10947808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 1/31/2016 A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE FIRST AND BIGGEST ISSUE WAS THE AIRBAG NEVER WENT OFF AND THE SEAT BELT TENSIONERS DID NOT LOCK THE BELTS EITHER. I WENT FORWARD AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL RENDERING ME UNCONSCIOUS!!! ALMOST THE WHOLE FRONT END HAD TO BE REPLACED E.G.: GRILL AND FRONT PANEL, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANELS, RADIATOR, BOTH WHEEL WELLS, SUSPENSION ON BOTH SIDES AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH THOSE PLUS A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS LIKE THE RADIATOR, COOLANT AND WASHER TANKS ETC. ETC.... THIS WAS A FULL-FRONTAL WRECK AND NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG WENT OFF!!! SECONDLY ARE THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. THE ROADS WERE A LITTLE SLICK SO I HAD THE TC ON. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES ALL THEY DID, HAVE DONE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND CONTINUE TO DO TO THIS DAY, IS IMMEDIATELY LOCK UP! I HAD ZERO CONTROL OF MY CAR. THIS CAR HAS, BY FAR, THE WORST ABS SYSTEM I HAVE EVER USED. THE TC IS COMPLETE [XXX], TOO!!! THIRDLY, EVERY TIME I START THE CAR THE ENGINE SEEMS TO MISFIRE OR SOMETHING! IT RATTLES AND SHAKES THE WHOLE CAR, HARD!!! AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT SEEMS TO FIND IT'S GROOVE AND IDLES NORMALLY. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS. ALL THEY TELL ME IS THEY ARE DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING FLAWS. THEY SAID I CAN PAY TO FIX THESE ISSUES WITH MY OWN MONEY OR WAIT AND SEE IF THE ISSUES BECOME RECALLS. WHICH, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, HAVE NOT YET. TO ME, THESE ARE SOME PRETTY BIG SAFETY ISSUES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ADDRESSING!!! AND WHY AREN'T THEY????? I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THEM ANYWHERE. I'LL COME BACK IF I FIND THEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10943705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.
NHTSA complaint #10925439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FAILED TWICE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,889. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10903914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LIST OF POWER BRAKE BOOST UNDER SEVERAL CONDITIONS. 1. WHEN ENGINE IS WARM, AFTER SHIFT INTO REVERSE, LIST OF POWER BRAKE BOOST 2. WHILE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, AND AT THE SAME TIME APPLIED BRAKE, RESULTS IN LOST OF VACUUM BOOST IN BOTH CONDITIONS, CAR IS IN MOTION AND UNABLE TO STOP WITHOUT THE USE OF EXTRA BRAKE EFFORT, COMPRISING STOPPING DISTANCE AND SAFETY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING BRAKE, DUE TO EXTREME STIFFNESS OF THE PEDAL
NHTSA complaint #10888497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2.
NHTSA complaint #10881525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAULTY COMPUTER/RECALLS I PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO AND A MONTH AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS BACK TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIX, BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING. IT IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH MY ENGINE, BUT RATHER THE COMPUTER. BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY COMPUTER ISSUE, IT HAS CAUSED OTHER ISSUES IN MY CAR, INCLUDING FAULTY READING AND MY INABILITY TO KNOW IF SOMETHING DANGEROUS ACTUALLY WAS OCCURRING IN MY VEHICLE. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND EACH YEAR I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED.
NHTSA complaint #10873951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.