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2014 Chevrolet Sonic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Sonic years

Owner complaints for the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic are substantially higher than the model-year median of 42.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Sonic years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

112 reports with mileage · 38 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THISNVEHICLE WAS PURCHASE ON THE YEAR 2016 OF APRIL. SO HAPPY AT FIRST BUT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE PROBLEM WITH LIGHTS AND ONE OF TTHE COVER OF THE FRONT MIRRORS ARE MISSING . CALLED AND WENT BACK TO THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF NORTH HOLLYWOOD ) AND SAID BRING IT TO THE CHEVY BRANCH WHERE THEY CANNCHECK AND FIX IT . IT WAS STRESSIN…

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THISNVEHICLE WAS PURCHASE ON THE YEAR 2016 OF APRIL. SO HAPPY AT FIRST BUT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE PROBLEM WITH LIGHTS AND ONE OF TTHE COVER OF THE FRONT MIRRORS ARE MISSING . CALLED AND WENT BACK TO THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF NORTH HOLLYWOOD ) AND SAID BRING IT TO THE CHEVY BRANCH WHERE THEY CANNCHECK AND FIX IT . IT WAS STRESSING AND DEPRESSING CAUSE EVRYWEEK PASSED YOU'LL EXPERIENCED ANOTHER PROBLEM SUCH AS AIRDCONDITION AND HEATER NOT WORKING . I'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO CHEVY IN VAN NUYS , CALIFORNIA BUT THEY ARE SAYING THAT THERE'S NO WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE . I TRIED TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THAT DEALER BUT THEY SAID THAT MY CREDIT SCORE STILL LOW OF COURSE IT WILL SHOW THAT CAUSE I JUST BOUGHT IT AND MY CREDIT HASN'T BEEN SMESTABLISH YET , WHEN I BOUGHT IT THEY ASKED A LARGE AMOUNT $3500 OF DOWN PAYMENT DUE TO HAVING LOW SCORE. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE CAUSE I WILL USE A VEHICLE THAT HAS ELECTRICAL DISFUNCTIONAL. I HAVEN'T EVEN USE THE HEATER AND THE AIRCON ON THIS CAR EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT CAUSE IT'S NOT WORKING . YOU CAN ASK THE DEALER HOW MANY TIMES I WENT THERE AND TRIED TO BEG TO GIVE ME A DIFFERENT CAR BUT NO LUCK INSTEAD I FOUND OUT THE SALES PERSON SOLD THE CAR TO ME WASN'T WORKING THERE ANYMORE . AND I WALKED OUT WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM THEM . YOU CAN EVEN ASK CHEVY IN VAN NUYS HOW MANY TIME I'VE BEEN THERE TO ASK HELP CAUSE THE DEALER ALWAYS POINTING ME BACK TO THEM . IT'S HARD TO USE A FINANCE CAR PAYING $396 SOMETHING A MONTH AND THE CAR IS NOT FUNCTIONING RIGHT . THEY HAVE ADDED A GAP INSURANCE ON MY CONTRACT AND EVEN THAT COMPANY WASN'T HELPING ME AT ALL . SO I END UP USING THIS CAR WITHOUT ACCESS ON AIRCONDITION AND HEATER . SUFFER 4 YEARS WITHOUT THESE BENEFITS . I COULDN'T AFFORD FIXING THAT EVER SINCE CAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE . YOU CAN SEE THAT I HAVEN'T PUT A LOT OF MILEAGE ON THIS CAR CAUSE I DON'T REALLY USE IT THAT MUCH. STILL PAYING THIS .

NHTSA ODI #11351713

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. ENGINE RANDOMS SHUTS OFF. CAR WONT START AFTER FILLING CAR UP. T/C COMES ON RANDOMLY AND CAR STARTS SHAKING. LIGHTS OF CAR DIM WHEN YOU ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI #11180554

31,000 miles · Aug 22, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11121612

100,000 miles · Jun 24, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY STEELING WHEEL CONTROL BUTTONS JUST STOP WORKING AS WELL AS TRUCK AND OFF ROAD BUTTON IN MIDDLE STOP WORKING. AFTER STOPPING TO CHECK, A REVERSE CAMERA COMES ON NOW BUT NO CAMERA IS ON THIS MODEL. NEVER SEEN THE CAMERA BEFORE. AND TEMPERATURE IS NOT DISPLAYED ON SCREEN ANY MORE.

NHTSA ODI #11103650

55,000 miles · Mar 21, 2018
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrash

WENT TO PASS AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER ON AN INTERSTATE AND AS I ACCELLERATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL, WHEN I RAN OVER A BUMPY PART IN THE ROAD DUE TO A BRIDGE THAT FELL , I LOST ALL STABILITY CONTROL AND CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. WE SLAMMED INTO THE CAB OF THE RITE ENTRANCE WHEELER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IN THE FRONT. N…

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WENT TO PASS AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER ON AN INTERSTATE AND AS I ACCELLERATED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL, WHEN I RAN OVER A BUMPY PART IN THE ROAD DUE TO A BRIDGE THAT FELL , I LOST ALL STABILITY CONTROL AND CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. WE SLAMMED INTO THE CAB OF THE RITE ENTRANCE WHEELER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE IN THE FRONT. NO AIR BAGS WERE RELEASED. WHEN WE HIT THE EITEEN WHEELER IT PUSHED OUR CAR TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE WIRE RAILING, THE BACK OF OUR VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HIT THE TRAILER. NO AIR BAGS RELEASED. WE THEN GRINNED ACROSS THE WIRE RAILING AND RAN OVER A FEW CONES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. ON ALL THREE IMPACTS, NO AIR BAGS WERE RELEASED.

NHTSA ODI #11080642

14,326 miles · Aug 24, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

IT STARTED EARLIER WHEN I WENT INTO THE STORE. BEFORE I COULD MAKE IT BACK TO THE CAR TO TURN THE CAR ON OR EVEN UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH MY KEYS THE CAR WAS PLAYING MUSIC AND THE LIGHTS WHERE FLASHING ON AND OFF. I ACTUALLY KNEW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND THE CAR RETURNED BACK TO NORMAL. LATE ON TODAY I PARKED…

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IT STARTED EARLIER WHEN I WENT INTO THE STORE. BEFORE I COULD MAKE IT BACK TO THE CAR TO TURN THE CAR ON OR EVEN UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH MY KEYS THE CAR WAS PLAYING MUSIC AND THE LIGHTS WHERE FLASHING ON AND OFF. I ACTUALLY KNEW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND THE CAR RETURNED BACK TO NORMAL. LATE ON TODAY I PARKED MY CAR TURNED THE WHEELS TOWARDS THE SIDEWALK BECAUSE THE CAR WAS ON A HILL GOING DOWNWARDS. I GOT OUT THE CAR LOCKED ALL OF THE DOORS WENT INTO THE COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE I REMAINED FOR ABOUT AN 1HR CAME OUT UNLOCKED THE CAR DOORS GET IN THE CAR WHERE THE RADIO AUTOMATICALLY COME ON THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF. THAT'S WAS PRETTY WEIRD I PUT THE CAR IN THE IGNITION AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN NOR WOULD THE STEERING COLUMN MOVE. I COULDN'T EVEN TURN THE WHEEL I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR CHEVY AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY NEEDED TO TOW MY CAR TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP

NHTSA ODI #10759006

1,800 miles · May 19, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

TRADED IN MY ORIGINAL RECALL CHEVY COLBALT 2005 IN APRIL 2014. I WAS GIVEN A TRADE IN AMOUNT WHICH I USED TO PUT DOWN ON A NEW CAR, CHEVROLET SONIC 2014. I HAD IT ALL OF A WEEK WHEN SUDDENLY I WAS DRIVING AND STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDDLE IT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN TO NOT MOVING REGARDLESS TO HOW MUCH I STEPPED ON THE GAS. NATURALLY, I…

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TRADED IN MY ORIGINAL RECALL CHEVY COLBALT 2005 IN APRIL 2014. I WAS GIVEN A TRADE IN AMOUNT WHICH I USED TO PUT DOWN ON A NEW CAR, CHEVROLET SONIC 2014. I HAD IT ALL OF A WEEK WHEN SUDDENLY I WAS DRIVING AND STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDDLE IT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN TO NOT MOVING REGARDLESS TO HOW MUCH I STEPPED ON THE GAS. NATURALLY, I WAS VERY UPSET. I CALLED FOR HELP.THEY TRANSFERRED ME INTO A DIFFERENT 2014 SONIC. FROM DAY 1 I NOTICE PROBLEMS NOT CONCERNED ONLY BECAUSE THE ISSUE LASTED 10-15 MINUTES AND THEN IT WAS FINE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN TRUNK,DOORS LOCK OF STEERING WHEEL WHEN EXITING THE CAR AND THE BEEPING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WAS LEFT ON IN THE CAR. AS TIME PASSED IT WAS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENT. FINALLY IN APRIL 2015 THE BEEPING AND STEERING WHEEL AND ALL THE ABOVE NOW WOULDNT STOP. I RAN IT TO SERVICE. THEY DID A TOTAL GLOBAL DIAGNOSTIC SAID ALL WAS NOW FINE. I LEFT WITH EASE, WITHIN 3 WEEKS ON MAY 9TH MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE COMING HOME AND JUST PARKED. I COULDNT OPEN ANY LOCKS REMOTE DIDN'T WORK MANUAL LOCKS DIDN'T WORK THE CAR WAS IN TOTAL SHUT DOWN. I DIDN'T HAVE MY CELL PHONE, I BELONG TO ONSTAR AND CALLED THEM FOR HELP. TO MY SURPRISE THEY REFUSED ME ROADSIDE ASST SAYING ITS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THEY DON'T GET INVOLVED . THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE. BEING IN FLA STUCK IN A HOT CAR FOR OVER AN HOUR OF FEAR IN A STATE OF PANIC, I TRIED PUSHING EVERY BUTTON POSSIBLE OUT OF FEAR, AND CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS I TURN THE BUTTON HEADLIGHTS FROM AUTO TO OFF { TAKE NOTE THE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON } AND SUDDENLY THE LOCKS OPENED. STRANGE.TOWED CAR TO SERVICE AGAIN, HELD IT FOR A WEEK AND CANT FIND ANY ISSUES. NOT SATISFIED DUE TO THE ISSUES IN THE PAST AND MOST RECENT. I KNOW SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG. SPOKE TO CORPORATE AND NO ONE WANTS TO DO ANYTHING .THEY ARE ONLY OFFERING ME 11,000 AND I HAVE AN OUTSTANDING LOAN FOR 13,200. SO I WILL BE WITHOUT A CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10717244

100 miles · Mar 17, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

HAS HAPPENED OFF & ON SINCE I BOUGHT CAR OCTOBER 2014. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP CAR WILL ROCK BACK AND FORTH AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL ISN'T PUSHED DOWN ALL THE WAY & THE CAR ISN'T SURE IF IT IS TO BE DRIVING FORWARD SLIGHTLY OR STOPPED. EVEN WITH ME PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR, CAR STILL ROCKS BACK & FORTH. IF…

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HAS HAPPENED OFF & ON SINCE I BOUGHT CAR OCTOBER 2014. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP CAR WILL ROCK BACK AND FORTH AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL ISN'T PUSHED DOWN ALL THE WAY & THE CAR ISN'T SURE IF IT IS TO BE DRIVING FORWARD SLIGHTLY OR STOPPED. EVEN WITH ME PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR, CAR STILL ROCKS BACK & FORTH. IF AT STOP LIGHT WHILE DOING THIS ISSUE & LIGHT TURNS GREEN FOR ME TO DRIVE AHEAD CAR WILL NOT MOVE TILL DONE HAVING ITS ROCKING BACK & FORTH FIT. IT ONLY LASTS 15-20 SECONDS BUT CAN NOT DRIVE FORWARD WHILE CAR IS HAVING FIT. IS THIS THE COMPUTER/STABILITITRACK NOT COMMUNICATING PROPERLY? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694942

Official recalls

4

16V257000 · Electrical System:software; Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

Apr 28, 2016

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

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."

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

Remedy: 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.

Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

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."

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

Remedy: 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.

14V543000 · Air Bags

Sep 9, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured July 28, 2014, to August 1, 2014. Due to a loss of electrical connection in the steering column, in the event of a severe crash, the driver's frontal air bag deployment may be limited to the first-stage deployment only instead of the intended first-stage and second-stage deployments.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If only the first-stage of the driver's frontal air bag deploys without the additional second-stage, the driver has an increased risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will test the terminals in the IP harness clock spring coil connector and replace any loose terminals, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14537.

14V417000 · Equipment:electrical

Jul 2, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

Remedy: 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.

13V464000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Sep 26, 2013

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.