2013 Chevrolet SONIC

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Chevrolet SONIC has 322 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: 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. . ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 31 crash reports 28 injuries

322

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

61 complaints

19%

• 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.
• 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 REPLA
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“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. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

57 complaints

18%

• 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
• 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
• 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 HA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

45 complaints

14%

• CAR IS SMOKING FROM ENGINE AND EXHAUST AND CREATING EXTREME HEAT. *TR
• CPSC:I1480205A. 2013 CHEVY SONIC. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY FOB FOR IS CAR. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED HE HIT THE KEY FOB FAIRLY HARD WHICH CAUSED THE KEY TO TURN, AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. *JB
• VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOSING COOLANT FOR LAST SIX MONTHS. THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF COOLANT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE IS WATER INSIDE CABIN AIR FILTER BOX. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE AND INSPECTED VEHICLE WITH A GM ENGINEER, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF EITHER ISSUE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“CAR IS SMOKING FROM ENGINE AND EXHAUST AND CREATING EXTREME HEAT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

38 complaints

12%

• 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.
• 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
• ON MARCH 12, 2014 AROUND 8:00 P.M I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH MY VEHICLE AT MY HOME. MY CAR IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION SO WHEN I WENT TO TURN IT ON, ONLY HALF OF MY BODY WAS IN THE VEHICLE TO TURN IT ON. BEFORE TURNING IT ON I DID NOTICE THE E-BRAKE ENGAGED AND THE CAR WAS IN FIRST GEAR. I PROCEEDED TO TUR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

25 complaints

• 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
• I JUST NOTICED THERE WAS AN AIRBAG RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, I DID NOT GET NOTICE OF THIS RECALL. I WAS IN A RECENT ACCIDENT AND EVERYONE SEEM SHOCKED THAT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DUE TO THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR. ADDITIONALLY, I AM HAVING TO ADD AIR TO MY TIRES WEEKLY AS SOON AS I ADD AIR THEN I GET ANOT
• WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN OHIO WHEN A F-150COME OUT OF ANOTHER ROAD AND T BONED ME THEY HAD O CUT ME OUT OF THE CAR MY NECK WAS INJURED AND MY BACK STILL HURTS AND I HAVE BAD HEADACHES NOW THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT GM SAYS I WAS NOT HIT HARD ENOUGH BUT I HAD SEVERAL AIRBAGS IN THE CAR A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 17 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 322 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: CAR IS SMOKING FROM ENGINE AND EXHAUST AND CREATING EXTREME HEAT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)