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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,824 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.

2014 Chevrolet Sonic engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Chevrolet Sonic Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #13

Oct 062018

Sonic

  • 88,000 miles

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

When driving at 54 mph there is a jumping motion of the vehicle. It feels like I hit the brake pedal. It will do this several time when driving only at 54 mph for more then 1/4 of a mile. There are no warning light and all fluids are checked and are adequate.

- Fort Pierce, FL, USA

problem #12

Sep 142018

Sonic

  • 130,000 miles
Vehicle off and parked. Key in ignition. Off position. Vehicle started on its own with no other manual input. Previously had recall 17130 key reminder chime C/w on 4/27/2016.

- Tarpon Springs, FL, USA

problem #11

Aug 062018

Sonic

  • 31,000 miles
Engine light on. Rpms going up and down in idle. Car stalls when first started in the morning. Rpms go very high after being driven when shifted into park. Gear shifter button sticks and must be manually popped out. Stabilitrak light coming on.

- Blackwood, NJ, USA

problem #10

Mar 182018

Sonic

  • 63,000 miles

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

Thermostat housing and water intake problem. The factory water intake is plastic and does not stand up to heat so it warps and starts leaking. It leaks more when the vehicle is running and under pressure but still drips when the vehicle is parked this causes the check engine light to come on. Went to the dealer they wanted $503 to put 2 gaskets in and would not guarentee what they said it was would fix the problem. I went on your web site and saw 18% of the Sonics sold have this problem. That is only the ones who have complained. I replaced the factory water intake with a metal one and it was good until the plug (which was installed by the manufacturer) on the underside started leaking.

- Desert Hot Springs, CA, USA

problem #9

Aug 042017

Sonic

  • 19,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic. While driving 30 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the failure code for the catalytic converter appeared. The code was cleared, but it re-illuminated. The local dealer (depaula Chevrolet, 785 central ave, albany, NY, 12206) was contacted at 518-278-6036 and stated that they serviced the vehicle for the same failure in June of 2017. No additional assistance was offered. The contact stated to the dealer that she was unaware that her vehicle was serviced at the time for the failure because the vehicle was taken in for an oil change and tires. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #8

Mar 012017

Sonic

  • 31,000 miles
Twice in one month the car engine shut off while I was driving. Power steering was also lost. Mileage approx. 31,000. I was able to restart the car after putting it in park. The first time, I was turning, pulling into a parking lot, so I was able to drift into a parking spot safely. Second time I was in small town bumper to bumper traffic. Took my foot off the brake and stepped on the gas and nothing happened, so I put it in park and restarted it and it seemed fine after that. Took it to dealer where I bought it, they did nothing as the car was not throwing any codes and no warning lights were on. Second garage I went to also could not find an issue so they did nothing. Took it to another dealership and the car stalled on them as they were parking it, right after I had dropped it off. They kept it for almost a week and drove it 61 miles and could not recreate the stalling. They checked the car thoroughly and nothing appeared to be wrong with it. They checked all recalls and bulletins, nothing mentioned in those. The car would also "bounce" up and down when I was stopped at a red light. That was happening more frequently once the engine troubles started. I got my car back last night from the other dealer and didn't notice any "bouncing" so maybe they fixed something when they were checking the car, however the invoice stated all they did was a 27-point inspection and alignment check. No charge to me as car is still under warranty but warranty runs out in 5 months.

- Mechanicsburg, PA, USA

problem #7

Nov 242016

Sonic

  • 45 miles

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

During last two months we had go to the dealer four time and three of these due to the engine noise and overheating. Last week smelled like fire and due to the gas inside the car we had to parking. When review the engine, there was not colant in it. The noise never stopped and some sensor were on during some days. This car is used for a pregnan woman and girls and are not safety for us for this reason we went to the dealer to see the posibility to change the car. So far, we waiting for the solution.

- Sebring, FL, USA

problem #6

Sep 012016

Sonic

  • 42,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle made an abnormal noise coming from the transmission and engine. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle, but could not find a failure. In addition, while driving 45 mph, the engine sensor and temperature warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle started to emit smoke under the hood and was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed, but not repaired. The failure recurred numerous times. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #5

Dec 021919

Sonic

  • 33,810 miles
Vehicle lunges at a stop when in first gear.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #4

Jun 012015

Sonic

  • 10,000 miles
Car cuts out, grinding noise from engine. Had ignition coil replaced but still doing the same thing. Looses power going up steep hill. Only had car about seven months. Only has sixteen thousand miles on it. Sometimes while I am driving car just looses power and almost got hit in the back. I feel one of these days someone will hit me. Took it back to dealership and they say nothing is wrong but the problem is getting worse. The car does have warranty on it.

- Peoria, IL, USA

problem #3

Nov 102015

Sonic

  • 32,000 miles

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

I just purchased my 2014 Chevy Sonic lt hatchback a month ago. First the day I bought it I found out I had a reverse light out. The dealer said they would fix it when the license plant cover bracket comes in. The same day I got the car I smelled something burning. I told them about it an they said if it keeps doing it to let them know an my passenger side brakes fell like they are dragging. They said it should come out of it do to sitting for awhile. Well I'm still experiencing it. My oil percentage drops far down when driving for 2 hrs on the highway. The burning smell comes in threw the vents an outside even when the ac or heater is on. Something is not right. I only have 39,000 miles when I bought it a moth ago with 32,000 miles. The dealer said it went through an expectation an everything came back ok when I purchased the car that day. How can that be with burning smell, lights out an only one side of wheel that I'm getting a dragging, grinding noises. They well be looking at it in the next 2week. When I'm driving my transmission feels like its skipping. The acceleration is so off.

- Dakota City, IA, USA

problem #2

Sep 122015

Sonic

  • 13,800 miles
I had taken the key out of the ignition and it was very hot about the end of July. On Friday August 11, I noticed a pause in the car starting the a sound of a knock leaving work. I arrived home around 6:00 P.M. parked in my drive way for the day. I was awaken Saturday morning by my neighbor be made my car was on fire. This was determined by lawrence fire department of an engine fire.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #1

Jan 182014

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 8,480 miles
I was driving down a long, steep bridge at a cautious speed and reached over to adjust the radio volume. When I placed my right hand back on the steering wheel something didn't feel right so I quickly verified that I had brakes and lights, but no engine power. I shifted into neutral and restarted the engine. The only reason for the engine failure that I could figure out at the time was that I had jarred the key chain with my coat sleeve, inadvertently turning off the engine. This was a rental car and the two sets of keys had been permanently crimped together by a cable. I had called the rental company a few hours after picking up the car at the airport to find out how to separate the keys and was told this was intentionally done to keep the sets together in case the car was dropped off at a different location. A month or so later I learned of the government investigation of the defective ignition switch in GM vehicles that could turn off the car if jostled or weighed down by a heavy key ring. The car was a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic. Fortunately it didn't lead to an accident, but it was a close call and was made even more frightening due to the position on the bridge. From now on I will not rent any GM cars and will insist that the key chains be separated.

- Del Mar, CA, USA

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