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2013 Chevrolet Sonic Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 217 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic, most often about the engine (28% of complaints, typically around 72,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Sonic model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2013 Chevrolet Sonic problems
Engine
60 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
Air intake system. Not long after we bought the car the check engine light came on reading a code ph171. We were told it was a knock sensor which we replaced and it didn't fix the problem, after we were told it was the air intake hose, checked it and it looks like it's a new hose no issues with it. Now we are trying…
I have found one new leak and one leak that has been there for at least a year. The new leak is the radiator. It is leaking at the top on the driver side right where the plastic and aluminum meet. The other leak is the plastic thermostat housing. Current miles: 69,500
Electrical
56 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. While driving 70 MPH and attempting to activate the turn signals, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the entire electrical system needed to be replaced. The…
I've had this car for only 2 years and there is always something wrong. First I was driving and it just shut off all the light on dash board went off and from that point on nothing on the steering wheel works. No horn and none of the controls of it are working. My passenger air bag light stays on. Been in the shop 3…
Other or unspecified
45 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles.
Push button on the gear shift sticks preventing the selection (park, neutral, drive etc) to lock in place. In theory if driving the gear shift could be bumped into neutral. It also makes removing the keys from the ignition extremely difficult. It happens either stationary or in motion. A temporary remedy is sticking a…
We received a recall notification in fall 2016 regarding keyminder malfunction. Took vehicle to dealer to fix and they reprogrammed the mylink system per their service bulletin instructions. This did not fix the problem. When the key is left in the ignition the car fails to signal when the driver door is opened making…
Transmission
38 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 52,500 miles.
I took the car in for an oil change where a transaxle leak was noticed. I then made an appointment to bring to dealer as per transmission warranty. They replaced the seal, 3 weeks later when they got it in, I left only to find my engine light still on, I then brought it to a parts store for a read and it came back…
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. When the vehicle was placed in the park position, the engine turned off and it was difficult to remove the key from the ignition. The contact stated that the button on the shift lever seized. The contact stated that the shift lever had to be tapped to disengage the button and…
Air bags
25 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. While driving 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side of the contact's vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a bruised collar bone…
The car has a detection system in the passenger seat. This should detect if anyone is in that seat. When passenger is detected, the passenger airbags should be activated. For small children (under a certain, not specified weight limit), the airbags on passenger side are not activated. Problem is that the passenger…
Fuel system
14 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 79,500 miles.
When the car is first started and turned off, the horn goes off each time. If parked but still running, the horn goes off every 2-3 minutes. When locking the car, it doesn't make any noise indicating it has been locked. When phone is plugged in, the music doesn't always work properly. There is a piece to one of the…
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…
Steering
13 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles.
I've had this car for only 2 years and there is always something wrong. First I was driving and it just shut off all the light on dash board went off and from that point on nothing on the steering wheel works. No horn and none of the controls of it are working. My passenger air bag light stays on. Been in the shop 3…
Takata recall, my car has been hit in the front end 3 times and the last time was a hard hit, none of the times have I had an airbag come out.
Stability control
12 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles.
I've had this car for only 2 years and there is always something wrong. First I was driving and it just shut off all the light on dash board went off and from that point on nothing on the steering wheel works. No horn and none of the controls of it are working. My passenger air bag light stays on. Been in the shop 3…
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Chevrolet Sonic recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed october 23, 2023. Owners may contact buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is n232413120.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: software
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is 17130.
Full defect summary
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."
Equipment: electrical
Risk: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree celsius. The recall began in august 2014. Owners may contact buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is 14257.
Full defect summary
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.
Fuel system: mounting
Risk: If the front fuel tank strap bracket separates, the increased load may lead to the failure of the other tank support. As a result, the fuel tank may come loose from the vehicle causing a fuel leak. A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front fuel tank strap bracket, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on november 7, 2013. Owners may contact gm at 1-800-521-7300. Gm's recall campaign number is 13296.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: brake lights
Risk: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on june 13, 2013. Owner's may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. Gm's recall number is 13158.
Full defect summary
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."
Lights: turn signal
Risk: If the driver is not aware that the turn signal is not functioning and does not have the light repaired, other drivers may not be alerted that the vehicle is turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the BCM and the vehicle's key fobs, free of charge. The safety recall began on october 3, 2012. Owners may contact the chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
Full defect summary
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."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (60 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles); electrical (56 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); other or unspecified (45 complaints, typically around 58,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 27, 2023 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Chevrolet Sonic?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Sonic model year since 2000, with 217 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.