What 353 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR

NHTSA ODI 11319258

THE CAR GOT STUCK IN 1 GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND THEN WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAVE PLATE HAS BROKEN. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 70,598 MILES ON IT. HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. I DID A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AND THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS! THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT DOESN'T INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. HTTPS://M.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/SONIC/2012/TRANSMISSION/BAD_TRANSMISSION.SHTML

NHTSA ODI 11315613

THE SHIFT LEVER BUTTON WILL NOT RELEASE WHEN IN PARK, SO THE VEHICLE DOESNT NOT READ THAT ITS FIRMLY IN PARK; THE KEY WONT RELEASE AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE BUTTON UNJAMS ITSELF OR I LUBRICATE IT TO DO SO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FREQUENTLY. THE ONLY FIX IS REPLACING THE ENTIRE SHIFT LEVER, WHICH IS UPWARDS OF $300

NHTSA ODI 11269558

MY CAR JERKS WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS. IT'S BEEN DOING THIS ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I GOT IT. GOT IT CHECKED OUT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. FAST FORWARD...IT'S WORSE. THE CAR JERKS IN SECOND AND FIRST DOWNSHIFTING. DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE OR CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11267103

GEAR/TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN STEADY TRAFFIC... CAR SUDDENLY WENT TO 5-6000RPMS WITHOUT PRESSURE ON THE GAS AND THEN DOWN QUICKLY TO 1000RPMS BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND PULL OVER. AFTERWARDS, I COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO MOVE ABOVE 1000RPMS AND REVERSE GEAR WENT INTO FAILURE. THE TOW TRUCK COULDN'T MOVE IT WITHOUT PLACING IT INTO MANUAL MODE. IT'S BEEN IN THE GARAGE FOR A WEEK WITH ALL DIAGNOSTICS SHOWING FAILURE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. AT THIS POINT, I EITHER NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR BUY A NEW CAR. I ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES ON THE CAR IN 7 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11266588

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND BEGAN TO STALL. I'VE WENT TO TWO CHEVY DEALERSHIPS AND TWO REPAIR AND NO ONE IS ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT'S THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11265702

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 10 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS THREE MILES AWAY FROM HER DESTINATION WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR WAS NOT SHIFTING AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED CHEVROLET OF COLUMBUS (2825 MERCHANT MILE, COLUMBUS, IN 47201, (812) M308-4380) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11245299

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V315000 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11229189

AUTOMATIC SHIFTER RELEASE BUTTON STICKING YOU CAN NOT GET THE CAR TO GO INTO PARK TO SHUT OFF CAR ALSO IT STAYS DEPRESSED CAUSING YOU TO BE ABLE TO EASLY HIT THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTERAL OR REVERSE WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11196762

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE AND JUST STOPPED. IT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL STATES! I COULD HAVE WRITTEN IT MYSELF. THANKFULLY, GOT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. GM STATES THIS VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. CERTIFIED CHEVROLET DEALER'S "DIAGNOSTIC" IS "BLACK FLUID WITH METAL IN IT" (MORE OF AN OBSERVATION) AND THEY WILL NOT TAKE TRANSMISSION APART TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS INDEED THE TURBINE SHAFT FRACTURE. OF COURSE, THEY JUST WANT TO PUT IN A NEW ONE AT MY EXPENSE. GM SHOULD WANT TO KNOW IF THERE ARE MORE SONICS WITH THIS ISSUE TO EXTEND THE RECALL AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE!!

NHTSA ODI 11186353

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBINE SHAFT MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN IN THIRD GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TURBINE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ODI 11186376

THE CAR HAS UNDER 100K MILES AND SEEMS TO BE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINTANCED. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR BEING THE SECOND OWNER. THE CAR HAS ISSUES GETTING UP TO SPEED CAUSING PEOPLE TO TAILGATE ME OR SPEED UP AND GO AROUND ME. YOU CAN ALSO FEEL/HEAR THE TRANSMISSION GOING THROUGH THE GEARS. THE TAKEOFF IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. YOU CAN TELL THE ENGINE IS WORKING HARD. THE RPMS DON'T GO ABOVE THE DANGER ZONE BUT THEY DO RISE WHEN SWITCHING THROUGH THE GEARS. IT'S VERY LIKELY TO CAUSE A ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR CANNOT GET OUT OF IT'S OWN WAY.

NHTSA ODI 11184507

CAR WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. CAR WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, APPEARS TO BE STUCK IN 2ND GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11173530

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN SUBURBAN SETTING CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT. THIS MODEL AND MODEL YEAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR TRANSMISSION ISSUE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR IS NOT PART OF IT DESPITE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11165125

HAVE BEEN HAVING BAD ISSUES WITH FEAR SELECTOR BUTTON STICKING, AND IT AFFECTS THE SELECTOR SLIPPING INTO OTHER GEARS AS IT CANNOT LOCK.

NHTSA ODI 11164964

BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER OCCASIONALLY STICKS. WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU CANNOT GET YOUR KEY OUT AND YOU CAN EASILY ACCIDENTALLY GO INTO REVERSE. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE I'VE COME ACROSS SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD

NHTSA ODI 11144473

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SHEARER CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC, 1675 SHELBURNE RD, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403, (802) 658-1111) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION TURBINE SHAFT MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11118091

IN THE SUMMER OF 2017 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY SONIC AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WOULD EVEN HAPPEN AT RED LIGHTS WHEN I WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND HAVING IT SIT FOR A FEW SECONDS, IT SEEMED TO BE FINE. IN SEPTEMBER 2017, IT WAS UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH A HOSE IN MY ENGINE AND HAD IT REPLACED. THE CAR RAN FINE DURING THE WINTER. IN SPRING OF 2018, WHEN THE WEATHER STARTED TO CHANGE, THE ISSUE OF THE CAR STOPPING AND FAILING TO ACCELERATE CAME BACK AND BEGAN TO OCCUR. IT IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT I WAS HAVING BEFORE AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF SAFETY. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF THE SERVICE EXPAINATION AND RECEIPT.

NHTSA ODI 11113406

VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING, WAS USING 6000 RPMS BUT ONLY GOING 30 MPH, FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. CAR LOST ABILITY TO GO IN REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI 11111643

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, BUT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MAHER CHEVROLET, 2901 34TH STREET N, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA 33713) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SHIFTER WAS REPLACED BY ANOTHER DEALER (DIMMITT CHEVROLET, 25485 US HIGHWAY 19 N, CLEARWATER, FLORIDA 33763) APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI 11111132

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS WHEN PROMPTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REMAINED STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. MIKE MAROONE CHEVROLET SOUTH IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 11097807

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE ABNORMALLY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11093609

MY 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC LT SEDAN HAS HARSH SHIFTING AND FEELS LIKE IT IS DOWNSHIFTING WHEN IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE WHILE IN MOTION

NHTSA ODI 11090839

TRANSMISSION FRACTURED

NHTSA ODI 11085141

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHEN PRESSING THE SHIFT GEAR BUTTON TO SWITCH BETWEEN GEARS, THE BUTTON WOULD BECOME STUCK AND REMAIN DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE SHIFTER WOULD INADVERTENTLY CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, NEUTRAL, OR PARK, WHEN ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER (PENNY KEMP CHEVROLET IN EVANSVILLE, IN) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11080331