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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

Engine complaints

38 reports
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31,000 miles · Apr 26, 2017
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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 BUMP…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10980845

45 miles · Nov 29, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10928576

42,000 miles · Nov 28, 2016
Engine

TL* 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 VEHIC…

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TL* 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.

NHTSA ODI #10928303

33,810 miles · Mar 14, 2016
EngineUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE LUNGES AT A STOP WHEN IN FIRST GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10846487

10,000 miles · Nov 25, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10807076

32,000 miles · Nov 11, 2015
EnginePower Train

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 THE…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10789720

13,800 miles · Oct 24, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFire

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 D…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10785823

8,480 miles · Apr 7, 2014
Engine

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 F…

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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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578024

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.