54 of the 1,423 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Sonic are about the steering — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2012.
54
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
9
Crashes
1
Fires
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Power steering light came on while Driving and lost power steering assist control. Almost crashed while turning down the street.
NHTSA complaint #11734965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the driver's side door was stuck, and extra force was needed to open the door. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the power locks functioned as designed. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel would unlock from the normal position and almost fell into the driver’s lap. The contact stated that failure of the steering wheel was frequent and occurred while driving at various speeds. The failure with the door was intermittent. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was purchased. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
NHTSA complaint #11683159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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In June of 2023 I was driving my vehicle and suddenly the Traction Control, power steering and check engine light came on. I was able to get the vehicle safely home without the use of the power steering. Once I shut the vehicle off, it would not start again. I got the vehicle to my local dealership and they diagnosed it as one of the main wire harnesses was rubbing against a bolt near the battery, which is a known issue, and caused an electrical short in the system. It caused the ECU and electronic power steering to short out. They replaced the ECU, but have not been able to replace the eletronic power steering because it's no longer being manufactured. The vehicle at the time of incident was only 6 years old. I feel like this is a violation of the Magnuson-Moss Act. There are no third party vendors that make this part. It has only ever been available through GM directly.
NHTSA complaint #11603088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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Last week when I was driving my car on the street, and wanted to make a left the steering wheel was very hard to turn. And the next day It happened again , steering hard to turn and it’s been intermittent but not driving my car right now, thanks for your attention
NHTSA complaint #11585587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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Steering Colom locks up, 4 different times. Engine shuts off. NO power to turn vehicle. Vehicle at Paradise Chevrolet since 3\18\24. Only Steering Colom, - service power steering ASAP.
NHTSA complaint #11580683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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steering wheel will lock up when you turn on car, we took it to Paradise Chevrolet, and they found power steering module has update available however need 12 Volt battery to be a higher CCA to reprogram p/s volt battery testing at 356 CCA recommend replacing battery and reprogramming P/S module. Of course, this was not covered under our Protection Plan and should be covered, I had to pay. $578.37 My car is only six years, and this should not be happing. 11/27/23 vehicle shuts off while driving this has happened three time to us. we cannot drive the car it is not safe. 12/19/23 had it tow to Paradise Chevrolet. This car is not safe to drive. We have a protection Plan its useless.
NHTSA complaint #11560907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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UNKNOWN -- During driving the vehicle the radio and power steering will stop working, locks and key for occasionally have issues, and the car shuts down and has to be re-started. Sometimes will take a minute or two to be able to be re-started. If car stalls at high speeds could cause a catastrophic accident, injuring possibly killing driver or other drivers due to not being able to control the car. Car has recently been serviced replacing the radiator, coolant tank, and purge valve (this was throwing the check engine light). No codes can be found and the problem cannot be duplicated. Happens at random times, nothing triggers it.
NHTSA complaint #11510643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle then stalled. The contact pulled over at a gas station and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #11466713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE RELEASE BUTTON FOR THE GEAR SELECTOR FOR PARK THRU REVERSE ON THE CENTER CONSOLE BROKE APART INCLUDING A SPRING THAT IS A PART OF THE DESIGN UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS RENDERS THE CAR TO FAIL IN NUMEROUS UNPREDICTABLE/UNSAFE WAYS e.g. KEY IS STUCK AND CAN'T BE REMOVED/UNABLE TO MOVE GEAR SELECTOR/STUCK IN A CERTAIN GEAR INCLUDING NEUTRAL (POSSIBLE ROLL AWAY). ON THE INTERNET THIS IS REPORTED AS A PREVALENT DEFECT WITH THIS CHEVY CAR AND A $300 DEALER REPAIR. LOOKS AS IF YOU CHECKED WITH OWNERS OF THIS CAR THEY WOULD ALL REPORT THIS FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #11461051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CONSISTENCE OF WHITE SNOW UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DYER CHEVROLET (1000 US-1, VERO BEACH, FL 32960, (772) 617-4793) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
NHTSA complaint #11408014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR "GLICHES" THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, THE POWER STEERING STOPS THE LOCKS GO UP AND DOWN AND ALL ELECTRONICS IN THE DASHBOARD GO ON AND OFF. LAST WEEK, IT SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND I COULD NOT START IT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR SO. GOT IT HOME AND IT DID IT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THIS STARTED YEARS AGO. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER THEY SAID "WELL IT'S NOT DOING IT NOW". I WAS NOT EDUCATED AT THE TIME TO PUSH FOR ANYTHING TO BE DONE. THE STOPPING COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.
NHTSA complaint #11386393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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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.
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MY SONIC HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS NHTSA RECALL NO. : 19E-064, MANUFACTURER RECALL NO. : N192223230. EXCEPT, IT HAPPENED WHEN I REACHED TO USE THE WIPERS RATHER THAN HITTING THE KEY FOB WITH MY LEG. I REACHED TO USE THE WIPERS AND MY ARM HIT THE KEY FOB, KNOCKING IT INTO THE NEXT POSITION, TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. IT COULD HAVE JUST AS EASILY MOVED OVER ONE MORE AND LOCKED THE STEERING. THE RECALL WAS DONE ON THE CAMARO'S, SO WHY WASN'T IT DONE ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE USING THE SAME KEY FOB AND IGNITION REPLACEMENT? WAS IT BECAUSE THE CAMARO'S PRICE IS 4 TIMES THE PRICE OF A SONIC? ARE CAMARO DRIVERS MORE VALUABLE THAN SONIC DRIVERS? THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INCLUDING THE CAMARO RECALL, BUT NOT THE SONIC. HTTPS://WWW.GMIGNITIONSWITCHECONOMICSETTLEMENT.COM/ I REPORTED THIS BACK IN 2014, AND NEVER HEARD A WORD ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #11373669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT RUNNING RIGHT I HAD TO PUT STUFF IN TO CLEAN IT OUT THEN IT STILL DRINK THE GAS SO MUCH NO LEEK OR HOLES BUT THE CAR DRINKS SO MUCH GAS I HAVE TO FILL IT UP AT LEAST 2 TO 3 TIME IN 2 WEEKS SO THE STEERING IS BAD ON IT AS WELL WHEN U TAKE YOUR HAND OFF THE WHEEL IT WANTS TO THE RIGHT ON IT'S OWN IT DOSE NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT WHEN U TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL IT SUCKS U GUYS NEED TO LOOK AT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE GAS LINE ASAP
NHTSA complaint #11323110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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IN MAY OF 2019 WHILE TRYING TO START PUSH BUTTON CAR WOULD NOT START LIGHTS CAME ON IN CAR SAYING SERVICE POWER STEERING AND SERVICE STABILITRAK I GOT IT TO DEALER IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME THEY HAD ME REPLACE A BATTERY FOR OVER $200 WHICH THEY SAY WAS CAUSE ONLY FOR THIS SAME THING TO HAPPEN IN AUG2019/ WHICH THEY CLAIM THEY REPAIRED BOTH TIMES WHILE DRIVING WHEEL TIGHTENS UP AND U CAN'T STEER EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS THEY CLAIM COULD NOT SERVICE CAR CAUSE THEY HAD TO SEE THE READING ON DASHBOARD THEN AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 2019 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AND NOW WARRANTY IS OUT THEY MIRACULOUSLY FOUND OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR BUT WOULD NOT REPAIR BECAUSE OF WARRANTY OUT I FEEL THEY SOLD ME A BAD CAR AND NOW WANT TO CHARGE ME ALL THIS MONEY TO FIX CAR WHEN I DID WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IN TAKING CAR IN WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY JUST CLAIM THEY FIXED CAR AND NEVER DID THIS HAS PUT MY FAMILY AND I IN DANGER NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE I TRUSTED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE CAR ONLY TO FEEL LIED TO NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CAR NOTE ON A CAR I CAN NOT DRIVE AND ALSO WONDERING HOW I CAN GET IT FIXED BUT HONESTLY BELIEVE THEY WILL NEVER FIX CAR RIGHT AT LONESTAR CHEVROLET BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING OR WHAT'S EVEN WRONG WITH THE CAR I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK FROM ALL THE TIMES I TOOK THE CAR IN AND PICTURES OF DASHBOARD READINGS
NHTSA complaint #11282854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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2013 SONIC LS -FROM THE START, THE AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T WORK, THE CAR WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY SWAYS UNCONTROLLABLY BUT SEEMS LIKE WIND AT FIRST BUT THERE'S NO WIND. IT STARTED JERKING AND HESITATING, LIGHTS AND RADIO FLICKERING, WHEN IN MOTION IN FREEWAY, CAR STARTED GETTING HOT BUT NOT ALL THE WAY OVER HEATING PULLED OVER THEN THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED IN THE TURN TO PULL OVER, WHEN STOPPED, THE CAR RPM STARTED REVVING BUT CAR WASN'T GOING NOWHERE, THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AFTER PUTTING IN PARK AND AND THE KEY WON'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION...AFTER WIGGLING THE KEY FOR A FEW MINUTES IT RELEASED. TOWED THE CAR TO FRIENDLIES AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND TOLD THEM EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE RATIATOR FOR $1400.00 AND WE PAID IT. HOWEVER THE CAR IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING AND THE RADIATIR DIDNT FIX ANYTHING WE SEEN AS BEING WRONG. NOW THEY SAID IT'S THE COMPRESSOR BUT WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO CONTINUE FIXING. I READ ONLINE OTHERS WITH THIS CAR ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #11240232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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A FEW YEARS AGO MY POWER STEERING WENT ON. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET REPLACED RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. CURRENTLY MY AC IS BROKEN AND I'VE SPENT A GOOD BIT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX IT; YET IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. NOW MY CAR WON'T START. I'VE RELPALCED THE BATTERY A COUPLE YEARS AGO BECAUSE MY CAR KEPT DYING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAN NEW AND IT HAD CAUSED ME NOTHING BUT FINANCIAL ISSUES. I TRIED CONTACTING CHEVY ABOUT HIS CAR A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. EXPLAINING THAT THESE ARE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF MY CAR IT'S NOT LIKE I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT CHANGING MY TIRES OR NEW BRAKES YOU NOW NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES WITH A NEW CAR. I KNOW IT'S 5 YEAS OLD NOW BUT THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS I STILL OWE $3800 ON MY CAR AND HAVE DEALT WITH DUMPING MONEY INTO A VEHICLE THAT SHOULDN'T OF HAD ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS HAS CAUSED UNESSASACRY STRESS IN MY LIFE. ALSO TWO OF MY WINDOWS DON'T WORK. SO MY AC IS BROKE AND I CAN'T EVEN ROLL DOWN TWO WINDOWS IT'S A DEATH SENTENCE. I'VE HAD A HEAT STROKE IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF IT. LEGITIMATELY SCARED ME.
NHTSA complaint #11196751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE INDICATIOR LIGHT FOR LOW TIRE PRESSURE COMES ON BUT NO WARNING CHIME IS HEARED. THIS CAN BE VERY BAD WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE TIRE WAS LOOSING PRESSURE WITHOUT ME KNOWING AND I HAD NO CLUE UNTIL THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT. THE CHIME NEVER WENT OFF. SAME WITH AN OVER HEATING ISSUE THE LIGHT CAME ON BUT I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS OVER HEATING UNTIL IT STATED SHAVING AND STEAMING AND I LOOKED AT THE DASH TO SEE THE LIGHT ON.
NHTSA complaint #11191644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE 2018 SONIC IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW. IT HAS NO TRACTION TO START FROM A STOPPED POSITION, NO TRACTION TO STOP AND NO ABILITY TO CONTROL STEERING OR TURNING.
NHTSA complaint #11181140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SHIFTER BUTTON STICKS AND CAN'T PULL KEY OUT OF IGNITION....JUST BOUGHT THIS SMH
NHTSA complaint #11114339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.