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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is fairly new & is already showing an early trend of transmission problems.

Owners report hesitation when shifting & grinding/hard shifting into gears. Some dealers are calling the condition "normal". Another owner reported his dealership replaced the transmission under warranty, but the new transmission had the same exact grinding problem. Design defect?

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,953 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic Owner Comments (Page 5 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #67

Nov 302015

Sonic

  • 48,230 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The clean air hose from the throttle body to the clean air hose split at the convolutes causing an unregulated air / fuel ratio and lack of power due to the engine running lean. Potential safety issue if accelerating. Mileage at the time of failure 77,791 kilometers (48,230 miles)

- Windsor, Ontario Canada, MI, USA

problem #66

Oct 052015

Sonic

  • 83,261 miles
The console gear shift has a button that must be depressed to shift. Button sticks in depressed position. Cannot remove keys in park position. The button broke I had to replace the whole console gear shift and have it installed. There needs to be a recall on this issue.

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #65

Nov 092015

Sonic

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. While driving approximately 20 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond without warning. The contact pulled over and powered the vehicle off and back on; however, the failure persisted. The contact continued to depress the accelerator pedal. The vehicle eventually shifted into the next gear. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V315000 (power train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Excelsior Springs, MO, USA

problem #64

Oct 162015

Sonic

  • 40,021 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

For 2 months my check emissions light was coming on and going off. According to my owners manual the gas cap or air filter need fixing. I went to autozone to get a free diagnostics reading. At the end of August my car started to hesitate, won't accelerate at take off. Then started heavy jerking at take off and when sitting still. I bought some liquid and changed air filter, same results. I called Chevy dealer to have car checked under my powertrain and my emissions warranty. I have been trying to get help so I could get my car checked next Friday on the 23rd. To have them look at my car. But on the 16th of October I'm leaving work I backed out of stall and pulled forward car was dragging roughly. I was waiting to pull out in traffic when car started jutting forward. I press on the gas went forward about 5 to 8 feet and then nothing. I was stuck inmid traffic. The reverse worked so I was able to roll out harms way.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #63

Mar 282015

Sonic

  • 55,650 miles
Starting March 28, 2015, while parked in several public and private parking area's, the key could not be removed from the ignition for from 20 minutes to several hours. On April 1, 2015, the dealer, seth wadley, identified the problem as "55729 found shifter to be binding internally". they explained that the button that releases the automatic gear shift was getting stuck. This kept the key from being released from the ignition. While waiting for the problem to be evaluated, the car had to be left, unlocked with the keys in the ignition, in several private and public parking areas where children could have taken the car. The gear shifter would not lock into park while the button was stuck. I have the shifter that was replaced for $448.49 on April 3, 2015, and will provide it at your request. Attached are photos of the invoice and the old shifter.

- Ardmore, OK, USA

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problem #62

Sep 212015

Sonic

  • 45,000 miles
2012 Chevrolet Sonic: Gear shift button stuck in depressed position, preventing removal of the key from ignition when in park position and allows the shifter to shift between gears and park positions with little-to-no intervention. Inability disengage button and to remove the key from the ignition also creates inability to securely park the vehicle and turn the vehicle off. The failure to disengage was first expressed intermittently, with a failure occurrence rate of 20%-30% (with the initial failure mileage approximately 45,000 miles). Within 3 months, the failure occurrence rate increased to 100%. the vehicle was diagnosed as "internal fault of shifter and knob assembly, " with recommendation to "replace shifter assembly and shifter knob" (with labor + parts quote at $406 usd). The vehicle was not repaired. Diagnosis identified as a serious safety concern, with request made to issue recall.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #61

Dec 112012

Sonic

  • 1,663 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. While stopped at a red light and attempting to proceed through a green light, the vehicle failed to shift into second gear and the rpms rapidly increased without warning. The contact stopped the vehicle, powered it off and back on, and the vehicle was able to be driven; however, it was difficult to shift the vehicle into second gear. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,663.

- Ft. Jackson, SC, USA

problem #60

Mar 262015

Sonic 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 201,000 miles
I took my 2012 Chevy Sonic lt 6 speed manual to repair shop to have multiple repairs done. When shop installed clutch assembly they used all new oem clutch parts and had a clutch hydraulic slave cylinder, over extend and blow out seal, leaking brake fluid. ( about March 26th 2015.) issue was narrowed down to possible binding or blockage of slave cylinder function, during install or after. After several slave cylinder failures I contacted general manager at dealership who past matter to service manager and he looked up in system for bleeding instructions and found them to be as GM repair manual stated, correctly being done. He then said he would check the pi or engineering service bulletins. He found exact bulletin #pi0421D explaining same events and gave me a copy to pass on to shop. Now after reading report, the problem is clear but out of date slave cylinders were still being sold as replacement part. After I received original bleeder valve from shop I cut top in two pieces to inspect and verify issue. I found that the original slave cylinder left behind in bleeder valve, a rubber seal "as described in bulletin". newest updated slave cylinder available has a hard plastic seal that doesn't seem removable. Currently, it seems that this is covered under a bumper to bumper warranty but my car is far from coverage. Coverage not likely unless, car came in with related symptoms that lead to issue. My biggest concern is that this bulletin is not being updated to a recall. Bulletin states clearly that slave can and has failed (as it did on shops, 3rd attempt) after install, within 1,000 miles. Safety issue: Is that if clutch slave fails during operation, clutch failure will cause car to be stuck in current gear or unable to be put back in gear. This can cause an accident and cost, loss of life. This may have already happened but needs to be investigated.

- Clifton, CO, USA

problem #59

Jun 302015

Sonic

  • 66,655 miles
Gear shift button stuck in depressed position unable to put the car in park and remove key and have to try and pop out button to park car and remove key.

- Glendale , AZ, USA

problem #58

Jun 212015

Sonic

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the gear shift failed to engage in the park position without warning. As a result, the gear shift switched back into reverse and the vehicle rolled independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.

- Stockbridge, GA, USA

problem #57

Jun 102015

Sonic

  • 28,765 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. While driving 20-25 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the air duct/valve cracked and the transmission cable failed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 28,765.

- Washington, PA, USA

problem #56

Jun 012015

Sonic

  • 26,700 miles
Gear shift button got stuck in down position and would not disengage when gear shift was in placed in park. The car could not be completely turned off and the key could not be removed from the ignition. The incident happened three days after the warranty expired on the car. The gear shift had to be replaced at a cost of $450.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #55

May 262015

Sonic

  • 44,673 miles
During the last week had problems with the key not releasing from steering column. The last two days gear shifter getting very hard to shift and button sticks and key will not release, and wheels will not lock. Have had to leave the key in car which is not a very safe thing to do. Have noticed today that the button after awhile will pop out and then the key will release. This is a safety issue and needs to be recalled before things get worse which apparently is going to happen..

- Lyndonville, NY, USA

problem #54

Apr 282015

Sonic

  • 44,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the ignition key remained stuck and failed to turn. As a result, the vehicle was unable to be driven. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission turbine shaft fractured and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000. The VIN was not available.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #53

Nov 032014

Sonic

  • 37,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. While attempting to park, the shifter could not be switched to park. In addition, when in park, the vehicle failed to shift into drive or reverse. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 37,000.

- 281-691-1422, TX, USA

problem #52

May 062015

Sonic

  • 27,110 miles
The shift knob button is sticking. I cannot remove the key from the vehicle. More importantly the car is never fully in park. This is a major safety issue. I took it to the dealership I purchased the car from immediately. He said the car was out of warranty and that was not a recall. There should be a recall as soon as possible.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #51

Apr 142015

Sonic

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. While driving 25 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle started to slow down. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and it was determined that the transmission turbine shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V375000 (power train). The failure mileage was 34,000.

- Spring Valley, CA, USA

problem #50

Mar 302015

Sonic 4WD 4-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
The shifter button sticks when pressed. This does not allow the key to be released. It also doesn't lock the gear shift into place allowing the shifter to move from park to 1 gear with no intervention.

- Goodyear, AZ, USA

problem #49

Oct 272014

Sonic 4-cyl

  • miles
2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Attorney representing consumer writes in regards to parts not available to complete recall. The dealer kept the vehicle for 18 days without performing any work. Recall # 14V315000.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #48

Mar 142015

Sonic

  • 32,000 miles
The gear shift button was locked in park and I could not release the key from the steering column. After researching on the internet, advice said to push hard to the left on the gear shift to pop the button back out. I did that while jostling the button and it did pop out. When I pressed the button again, this time in neutral, the button got stuck within the gear shift column again, but I found that I could then just push the gear shift forward and back between gears without the button locking on the desired gear. This is a major safety issue because it appeared to me that if I were driving, the gear shift column could move to another gear if I hit a pot hole or bump, without me controlling it. In other words, it might have slipped into neutral or reverse. Shouldn't there be a recall on this? I have to take it to the dealer Wednesday, and if this happens again, I will have to drive the trip with my hand on the gear shift knob to insure it will not slip out of gear.

- Nags Head, NC, USA

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