34 of the
1,423 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Sonic
are about the suspension —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2012.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while a friend was driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly veered to the right and struck the curb. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the front passenger’s side suspension had failed. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front driver’s side suspension lower control arm had failed and needed to be replaced, along with the front axle and ball joints. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 111,000.
NHTSA complaint #11605355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Overall and to the best of my knowledge, the malfunctioning and failures on my vehicle were the suspension and engine. They are the culprits and it’s honestly very scary and traumatizing to have them completely fail, especially since no one is ever prepared for accidents and/or potential death to happen. Otherwise it wouldn’t be called an accident. With the suspension overall, it’s just awful. CV Axel, control arms, everything with the suspension just failed. With driving over the tiniest bump on the road you feel your is about to literally fall apart at any minute because of the clunking and metal in metal noises it produces. The engine is faulty as well and I am pretty sure the faulty engine happens due to the faulty suspension. When I look under my car there’s something leaking. I don’t know what it is, but it’s poses a safety risk not only for the driver and the passengers, but also to the rest of the world. I know that there was a recall early on about fuel tank breakage or something that could lead to fire ignition. But my vehicle according to my VIN wasn’t on this recall. I have contacted the dealership and a certified service center to inspect these issues. It’s been roughly 4 weeks now and they have been extremely negligent and apathetic. With these issues, everyone’s safety is at risk. My suspension went out and could’ve caused a more catastrophic accident. A fire could’ve broken out with other vehicles surrounding me cause major injuries and death. I’ve seen and read many posts and testimonials and threads online from various independent resources that state very very closely the same issues. Almost verbatim. I’ve been trying to get these issues inspected by the dealership, but they all give me the runaround and don’t want to fix not find a solution. The check engine light has always been on since I’ve Owen the vehicle and the dealership where I purchased this vehicle said having the check engine light on is okay. I need help getting repairs done!
NHTSA complaint #11498488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DAVID STANLEY CHEVROLET (614 W INTERSTATE 240 SERVICE RD, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73139) WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE TIRE WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO FUNCTION WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.
NHTSA complaint #11291598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SONIC NOW RUNS VERY SPOTTY, POOR ACCELERATION, AND SLOW BUMPY IDLE. PRIOR BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED AND THE CV AXIL , ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACED. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WATER PUMP REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS, WITH RECEIPTS, CONSTITUTE A LEMON LAW BREACH. I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO A NEW CAR OR COMPENSATED. YES, THE SUSPENSION ISSUE DID HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AS WELL AS THE ENGINE. WILL UPLOAD DOCUMENTS SOON.OH, ONE LAST THING, VERY DIFFICULT REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION, BEEN GOING ON 4 MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #11240542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THESE ISSUES HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BOTH IN MOTION AND STILL.THE RIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS QUITE EXCESSIVELY. THE MALFUNCTION CAUSES THE REAR INDICATOR TO TURN OFF AND THE PEOPLE DRIVING BEHIND YOU CANNOT SEE YOU USING A TURN SIGNAL. ALSO THE SUSPENSION DOES NOT BRACE IMPACT OR ADJUST TO DIFFERENT TERRAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11045076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONTROL ARM BENT FOR YEARS. I HIT NOTHING. I WAS GOING TO TIRES PLUS FOR 2 YEARS. THEY SAID OUT OF THE BLUE,- THEY WON'T DO WHEEL ALIGNMENT DUE TO CONTROL ARM BENT . IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE CONTROL ARM WAS BENT BY THEM?
NHTSA complaint #11021677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CARS COMPUTER/PROGRAMMING IS REMOTELY CONTROLLED ,BRAKES TRANMISSION LIGHTS SUSPENSION DO NOTB PERFORM AS INTENDED BY MANUFACTURER.HACKING INVOLVED WHILE DRIVING STATIONARY FREEWAYS/CITY STREETS.
NHTSA complaint #10993851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO SHAKE AND MAKE A LOUD POP NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT-END. THE VEHICLE WOULD THAN STALL CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR DUCT WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND REPLACED THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY, FUEL PUMPS, AND THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
NHTSA complaint #10905688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ONCE AGAIN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2013 WITH 16000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE DEALERSHIP TRY TO TELL ME IT WAS THE GAS I WAS USING. COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE AIR INTAKE HOSE WAS CRACKED....THAT WAS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO AND NOW IT IS ON AGAIN!!! THE FIRST IT WAS BARELY COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, I DONT THINK IT WILL THIS TIME. I AM PISSED.....I PAID 17000 FOR THIS CAR AND HAVE HAD IN THE SHOP SO MANY TIMES IT ISNT EVEN FUNNY. I EVEN HAD IT IN FOR THE SWAY BAR LINK THAT WAS BROKE WHICH SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN AT 42000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10854986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10854926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STABILIZER SHAFT LINK JOINT WAS LOSE AT THE BAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE STABILIZER SHAFT LINK THREE TIMES. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,272.
NHTSA complaint #10821231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN WE GO DOWN THE ROAD AND HIT A SMALL BUMP WE HERE A BANG FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT . THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE STABILIZER BAR AND THE BAR BUSHING BUT IT IS NOT THAT IT IS THE STERILIZER BAR LINKS THEY ARE MADE OUT OF HARD PLASTIC THEY SHOULD BE RECALL ON THEM SOME ONE CAN GET HURT OR KILL BECAUSE OF THEM. I ASK GM TO PAY ME BACK BUT THEY SILL WELL NOT CALL ME BACK ON IT. IF SOME ONE IS LOOKING FOR THEM THEY ARE 523-040 BY DORMAN
NHTSA complaint #10789812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. CAR LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING/HESITATION - SOMETIMES ALMOST FEELING LIKE THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN. IT'S RANDOM BUT HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. CAR WAS REPAIRED ONCE ALREADY FOR THIS, WAS BETTER FOR ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS AND NOW IS DOING IT AGAIN. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING ONTO HIGHWAYS OR MAKING RIGHT TURNS ON RED OR SWITCHING LANES. 2. WIPER FLUID WAS NOT WORKING, RECALL ISSUE, BUT NOT ON MY CAR. REPAIRED ONCE AND NOW NOT WORKING AGAIN! 3. SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEREO CHANGING STATIONS, TURNING ITSELF ON AND OFF, VERY LOUD SCREECHING SOUNDS OCCASIONALLY, REPAIRED WITH AN UPDATE BUT STILL HAPPENING. 4. VERY STRANGE SOUNDS COMING FROM SUSPENSION, IT STARTED WHEN BACKING UP I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM 2 TIMES, HOWEVER, NOW IT'S HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING, IN REVERSE AND IT'S GETTING WORSE! 5. STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT ON A WINDY DAY WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE. 6. CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN WITH FOOT ON THE BREAK. 7. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/INTERIOR LIGHTS ALL DIMMING WHEN WIPERS ARE TURNED ON. SERVICE TOLD ME THE WIPER MOTOR IS A BIG DRAIN ON A SMALL ENGINE? NOW MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I STILL HAVE ALL THESE ISSUES!! I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS SAFE OR WELL BUILT. IT TOOK ME OVER 10 YEARS TO GET TO A POINT WHERE I COULD AFFORD A NEW HELLO, WENT WITH CHEVROLET TO KEEP IT "AMERICAN". I FEEL LIKE I MADE A HUGE MISTAKE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE....UPDATED 10/20/15 *BF UPDATED 12/06/2017
NHTSA complaint #10735950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR, WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER BUMPS AND WHEN THE VEHICLE MAKES TURNS. THE KNOCKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD, WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED PUSHING DOWN ON EITHER THE FRONT FENDER BACK PASSENGER SIDE. VEHICLE ALSO SWAYS AT HIGHWAY SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10705656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC HAS GOTTEN ITS SECOND FLAT TIRE FROM ALIGNMENT ISSUES, AND IS ABOUT TO NEED A THIRD TIRE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 26000 MILES WITH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, OTHER THEN MAJOR STEERING ISSUES. THE TIRES COMPLETELY RUN BALD ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TIRE, AND A SHAKING IS EXPERIENCED AT ALL SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE I AM NOT DOING AN ALIGNMENT EVERY 6500 TO 7500 MILES; WHICH I FIND TO BE RIDICULOUS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF HAVING TO ALIGN A CAR THAT FREQUENTLY. SO THERE VERDICT THIS FAR IS I HAVE TO BY ALL NEW TIRES AND GET AN ALIGNMENT DONE ON MY CAR WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES. I CONTACTED CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS OUT OF FRUSTRATION CAUSED FROM THE DEALER SHIP WRITING ME OFF TWICE, AND SAYING ITS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CAR. UNFORTUNATELY CORPORATE WAS UNWILLING TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE SAME REASON, IT IS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. I DON'T KNOW HOW A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILES COULD ALREADY HAVE SUCH A HORRIBLE ALIGNMENT, REQUIRING THREE TIRES TO BE CHANGED. I HAVE DROVE CHEVY'S MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING COMPARABLE TO THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10663465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.