2012 CHEVROLET SONIC Complaints

THE RUMBLING/RUBBING NOISE BEGAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. WITH ONLY 3,000+ MILES ON THE CAR IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY FOUND A LEAKING RF STRUT AND NOISY MOUNT AND REPLACED BOTH PARTS. THE REPLACED PART SEEMED TO REMEDY THE RUMBLING PROBLEM BUT THE FRONT END STILL SEEMED UNFORGIVING WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN ON ROUGH PAVEMENT. WE BEGAN HEARING A GROANING/ RUBBING/ GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNING CORNERS OR WHILE TURNING ON AN INCLINE ESPECIALLY TO THE RIGHT AND AT 8,000 MILES WE RETURNED THE CAR AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS OPERATING OKAY. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND AT 13,000+ MILES WE RETURNED THE CAR AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND THE MOUNT TO BE BINDING ON TURNS AND REPLACED THE RF STRUT MOUNT. AGAIN, THE PROBLEM REMAINED AND FINALLY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN RODE WITH US AND HEARD THE NOISE AND AGREED THAT IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. SO AT 15,000 MILES THE CAR WAS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR TWO AND A HALF WEEKS. THEY REPLACED THE RF STRUT AND MOUNT BECAUSE THE STRUT WAS NOT SETTING FLUSH IN THE MOUNT. DURING THE TIME THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP THE TECHNICIAN CALLED AND SAID THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT THERE WAS STILL ANOTHER NOISE THEY HEARD AND THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO WORK ON IT. WE REQUESTED A RIDE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND THE NOISE WAS ABSENT ON TURNING RIGHT AT A SLOW SPEED BUT VERY APPARENT NOW IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WHEN TURNING IN TO PARK AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AT THAT TIME WE REQUESTED TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING A DEAL FOR A DIFFERENT CAR AS THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ON-GOING ISSUE. WE LOVED THE GREAT GAS MILEAGE AND SPORTY LOOK BUT THE SUSPENSION SEEMS TO BE TROUBLED. *TR

HAVING HEARD RATTLING IN THE FRONT OF HER SONIC MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. THE MAIN COMPLAINT WAS RATTLING FROM THE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE ONLY. AFTER MUCH RUN AROUND(FROM A SUPPOSED 5 STAR SERVICE DEPARTMENT) THEY TOLD HER THAT IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FIND OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SO THEY SENT HER ON HER WAY. LAST WEEK SHE WAS DRIVING HOME AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. SHE THOUGHT SHE HIT SOMETHING OR SOMETHING HIT HER. NO DAMAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE VEHICLE OR IN THE ROADWAY. A MYSTERY BANG FOR SURE. I DROVE THE CAR AND HEARD NOTHING. NOT SAYING THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT MY DAUGHTERS, AS IS EVERYONE'S, SAFETY IS AT RISK HERE. I AM TAKING MY DAUGHTERS CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WITH RECALLS IN HAND WILL REQUEST INSPECTIONS OF EVERY PART ON THE RECALLS. *TR

ON JUNE 19, 2013, AFTER PICKING UP MY 5 YR OLD GRANDSON FROM SUMMER CAMP, WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO THE PARK. I AM DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY GRANDSON OPENS THE DOOR! WHILE THE LOCKS ENGAGE WHEN PUT INTO GEAR, HE WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR! NEEDLESS TO SAY, I FLIPPED OUT! THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN! MY DOORS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LOCKED!!! I FIND THIS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR ANYONE, ANY AGE! MY CAR DOES HAVE CHILD LOCKS, BUT WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO TURN THEM ON EVERY TIME SOMEONE GETS IN MY CAR WHEN MY LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WHEN PUT IN GEAR!!!!!?????????? CHEVROLET HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE MAKE OF A VEHICLE AND THAT IS WHY I CHOSE TO BUY ONE. PLUS, THE SONIC WAS A WISE CHOICE FOR ME AT THE TIME BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING 60-75 MILES A DAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND HOME. THEN MORE TRAVELING ON THE WEEKENDS TO MOBILE, AL TO VISIT FAMILY. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, PLEASE MARK MY WORD, THAT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY AGAIN, AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE ELSE DOES AS WELL. I WILL CONTACT MY LOCAL NEWS STATION AND HIRE AN ATTORNEY, IF I HAVE TO, MAKE CHEVY IMPROVE MY VEHICLE OR GIVE ME SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS SAFER FOR MY FAMILY! WHAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO MY GRANDSON? THEN WHAT? WHAT IF IT WERE YOU AND YOUR GRANDBABY OR SON OR DAUGHTER? YOU BEST BETTER BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST LAWSUIT ON YOUR HANDS THAT YOU'VE EVER HAD TO WITNESS!!! AND I GUARANTEE THAT YOU STILL WILL HAVE ONE, IF THEY DON?T MAKE THIS RIGHT! I AM NOT ASKING FOR MONEY (THAT?S NOT WHAT I?M ABOUT), BUT SIMPLY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS SAFER THAN THE CHEVY SONIC AND TO MAKE ALL CHEVY SONICS SAFER!!!! I AM APPALLED THAT CHEVY WOULD MAKE A VEHICLE THAT IS SO UNSAFE! *TR

THIS CAR HAS SO MANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND IT IS GETTING READY TO GO IN FOR THE 5TH TIME. EACH TIME SO FAR I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE SAME THING...."IT DOESN'T THROW ANY CODES AND WE CAN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE SO THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE BUT JUST KEEP DRIVING IT AND BRING IT BACK IF IT KEEPS HAPPENING"....{WHATEVER DID MECHANICS DO BACK IN THE DAY BEFORE CARS HAD COMPUTERS?} - ANYWAY, THE TRANSMISSION IS AUTOMATIC AND ACTS LIKE IT IS GRABBING AND DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT UP THROUGH THE GEARS SO IT FEELS LIKE HARD SHIFTING (STARTED BEFORE IT EVEN HAD 10,000 MILES ON IT) - IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME, BUT OFTEN ENOUGH THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT I WORRY ABOUT (IT'S EVEN DONE IT WHEN ON CRUISE CONTROL A COUPLE OF TIMES). NOW, AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES THE CAR IS IDLING ROUGH AND WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKES IT MAKES A NOISE IN THE SHIFTER? THE AUTOLIGHTS ADJUST THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO CHANGE IN LIGHTING OUTDOORS (PITCH BLACK NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS WILL DIM DOWN FOR NO REASON AT 45MPH RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND, ETC.) AND THE RADIO ADJUSTS ITS VOLUME THE SAME WAY AND IT EVEN TURNS ITSELF OFF RANDOMLY. THE TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY TRAC LIGHTS COME ON SOMETIMES, STAY ON FOR AWHILE AND THEN GO OFF. NOW THAT IT'S GETTING HOT AND I'M RUNNING THE AC, IT IS ACTING UP ALSO - BLOWING FULL BLAST THEN DROPPING DOWN, THEN BACK UP AGAIN.... - DEALER INSISTS, NO CODES THROWN, WON'T REPLICATE PROBLEM WHEN THEY HAVE IT, THEREFORE NO PROBLEM EXISTS - THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS - I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A SONIC TO ANYONE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE TRANSMISSIONS AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES IN THESE CARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, SHE NOTICED A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE LAST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JOLT, THUD, AND OTHERWISE NOT SHIFT. LEAVING ME EXTREMELY SLOW IN HIGH TRAFFIC. THE SELLING DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. GM REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED ANOTHER CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY NOTED DEBRIS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND A FAULTY CAM PHASER (TRANSMISSION) AND THE REPAIR MAY NOT CORRECT THIS. *TR

FIRST TIME THE STRUT MOUNT WAS REPLACE WITH STRUT. I NEVER HEARD THE RUBBER TENSION/BINDING NOISE. THE STRUT STARTED MAKING A POPPING NOISE BEFORE I TOOK IT TO DEALER AT 13386 MILES. IT WAS FINALLY DUPLICATED AT 19885 MILES TO HAVE MOUNT AND STRUT REPLACED. 65886 MILE REPLACING STRUT AND MOUNT AGAIN. 75922 STABILIZER BAR END LINKS (PER RECALL) 84869 ONLY STRUT MOUNT WAS REPLACED AGAIN 87000 STRUT MOUNT HAS BEGUN TO MAKE RUBBER TENSION/BINDING NOISE AGAIN. GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND I AM WORKING WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND DISTRICT SPECIALIST. *TR

WAS DRIVING AND SMELT SOMETHING BURNING AND THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS BURNING SOMETHING AND I DROVE THRU THE SMOKE AND SO I KEPT DRIVING AND A MILE DOWN THE ROAD I KEPT SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING SO I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AROUND IN MY CAR THEN GOT OUT AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTHING SO I WENT AHEAD AND DROVE HOME THEN LOOKED AROUND AGAIN AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING SO I JUST WENT INSIDE THEN THE NEXT DAY AFTER IT RAINED I SEEN THAT BOTH MY FOG LIGHTS HAD MOISTURE IN THEM AND WHEN I GOT DOWN AND LOOKED BOTH MY FOG LIGHTS ARE ALL BURNT AND MELTED INSIDE, I GUESS IT GOT SO HOT IT MELTED THE LIGHT HOUSING AND ALL THAT.. IT GOT SO HOT ITS BLACK INSIDE MY FOG LIGHTS AND U CAN SEE WHERE IT GOT HOT AND THE PLASTED MELTED AND RAN DOWN TO THE BOTTOM ON THE INSIDE OF MY FOGS. *TR

ACCESSORY CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS BEING USED TO CHARGE A CAR PHONE WHILE ON A TRIP OUT OF STATE, WHEN WE STOPPED TO GET GAS AND HAD THE CAR OFF AND RETURNED IT ON AFTER FILLED WITH GAS ALL THE GAUGES ON THE CAR WENT CRAZY DROPPING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ZERO ON ALL GAUGES EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS WORKING PROPERLY DURING THIS TIME, EVEN THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED ZERO, I DONT KNOW IF IT WAS BECAUSE WE CHARGING THE PHONE OR WHAT CAUSED IT. BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE SO FAR. *TR

IDLES DRAMATICALLY WHILE THE CAR IS AT A STOP, AND THE ENGINE STALLS VERY FREQUENTLY, REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE OR WEATHER CONDITIONS. ON START-UP, OR WHILE STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE IDLE WILL BECOME ROUGH AND VERY BETWEEN 200-3,000 RPM. ALSO AT TIMES, WHILE STOPPED, THE IDLE WILL INCREASE FROM NORMAL, SMOOTH IDLE UP TO ABOUT 3,000 RPM FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE SECOND, THEN DROP BACK DOWN TO 750 RPM (NORMAL IDLE SPEED) WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 3RD GEAR COMPLETELY SKIPS AROUND. THE CAR SHIFTS ARE HARD TO THE POINT, ONCE YOU COME TO A STOP IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT. *TR