2013 Chevrolet Sonic Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic.

20122014
Complaints
322
Crashes
39
Fires
4
Injuries
32
Fatalities
Recalls
9

Worst 2013 Chevrolet Sonic Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#155 complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Avg mileage:60,428 mi
Crash-related:4
#255 complaints

ENGINE

Avg mileage:67,260 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:2
#345 complaints

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Avg mileage:103,774 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55460,428 mi
ENGINE553267,260 mi
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4521103,774 mi
POWER TRAIN38252,170 mi
AIR BAGS251741,973 mi
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1354,351 mi
STEERING13250,438 mi
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)12152,593 mi
SERVICE BRAKES11225,600 mi
SUSPENSION8143,400 mi
VISIBILITY/WIPER837,753 mi
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7229,984 mi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5143,100 mi
STRUCTURE:BODY5246,420 mi
EXTERIOR LIGHTING329,000 mi
SEAT BELTS36 mi
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES247,150 mi
SEATS292,000 mi
STRUCTURE25,050 mi
WHEELS2186,450 mi
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION135,000 mi
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING169,896 mi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR196,540 mi
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1200,000 mi
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR144,000 mi
TIRES156,200 mi
TIRES:SIDEWALL111,000 mi
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1125,000 mi

Recalls for 2013 Chevrolet Sonic

9 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~670,311 vehicles.

23V516000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
~767 affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.

16V257000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
~317,572 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."

16V257000EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
~317,572 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."

14V417000EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
~2,990 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

13V464000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING
~1,558 affected

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured August 2, 2013, through August 12, 2013. Due to insufficient welds, the front fuel tank strap bracket may separate from the vehicle.

13V220000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
~10,210 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

13V220000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
~10,210 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

12V454000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
~4,716 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 29, 2012, through August 29, 2012. When a turn signal lamp fails to operate, the Body Control Module (BCM) in these vehicles does not detect this condition and will not indicate the condition to the driver. Thus, These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

12V454000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
~4,716 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 29, 2012, through August 29, 2012. When a turn signal lamp fails to operate, the Body Control Module (BCM) in these vehicles does not detect this condition and will not indicate the condition to the driver. Thus, These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Other Chevrolet Sonic Years

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Sonic reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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