What 217 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic

The contact owned a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously sustained undercarriage damage while driving at 20 MPH and hitting a pothole. The undercarriage was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle started to overheat. A coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled into the Walmart parking lot and parked the vehicle. An independent mechanic was notified of the failure. The contact stated that while the mechanic was towing the vehicle to the repair shop, the vehicle caught on fire. The mechanic pulled over to the side of the road. The incident occurred near the mechanic's shop. The contact stated that the workers of a nearby recreation center extinguished the fire with fire extinguishers. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location and was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The contact stated that the fire originated from the engine compartment. A police report was filed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

NHTSA ODI 11709620

On 7-27-2023 General Motors issued a recall on 2013 models of Sonic, my VIN was not included in this recall. However on 4-16-2025 my sonic was involved in a impact incident in which the air bags should have deployed, and did not. It is my opinion that Chevy, knowing of the issues with the model of car, should have issued a recall for my vehicle as well, but did not. As a result I suffered additional strain and injury during my impact as no airbags deployed.

NHTSA ODI 11655253

UNKNOWN. Our car caught fire but I'm not sure what actually caused it, it was in perfect working condition before. I saw articles online saying there was a voluntary recall due to faulty welding in the fuel tank so it could be that. I believe it's a dangerous defect and should be an official recall. My family and I almost lost our lives because of it

NHTSA ODI 11640190

The Sonic rear ended a stationary vehicle going close to 50mph. No airbags deployed.

NHTSA ODI 11632221

Car accident November 3, 2023. A dear ran in front car while traveling 55mps. As the impact took place causing front and of the car to be smashed Air bags in the car did not deployed. Causing head to hit steering wheel.

NHTSA ODI 11553681

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the rear windshield suddenly imploded, causing glass shards to be propelled inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that it sounded as if a shotgun had been fired. As a result of the implosion, the contact sustained injuries to the left eye. The contact sought medical attention. The contact stated that there was an abnormal electrical humming sound coming from the rear windshield prior to the failure. The contact stated that the defroster was not activated at the time of the failure. The contact stated that there was prior electrical shortage failures with the vehicle. Additionally, there was melted solder present at the rear window defroster electrical connection. An unknown local dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact stated that he had a Police Report for the failure. The contact stated that a field investigator was sent to the residence to inspect the vehicle; however, the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 11498949

On Tuesday, September 27 at 10:25 AM, I was driving to pickup medication for my dog. I was less than 5 miles away from my home. As I pulled up to park, I slowed down and turned into the nearest parking stall. As I set the automatic shifter to Park, the car came out of park and shifted gears into Drive; mounting the curb. I hit the brake but the car continued to move forward. When I went to pull on my Emergency brake, the car hit the side of the building. As soon as I hit the building, I was able to regain control of the car and turn the ignition off. Gratefully, no one was hurt.

NHTSA ODI 11434745

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND WAS COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION I HAD TO TURN AT. I PUSHED THE BREAK PEDAL, BUT IT WAS REALLY STIFF AND DIDN'T DO MUCH. MY CAR SLID ACROSS THE ROAD INTO A WOODEN ELECTRIC POLE BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT STOP. MY CAR IS TOTALED AND NOW I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO GET A DIFFERENT VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11292281

THE INDICATIOR LIGHT FOR LOW TIRE PRESSURE COMES ON BUT NO WARNING CHIME IS HEARED. THIS CAN BE VERY BAD WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE TIRE WAS LOOSING PRESSURE WITHOUT ME KNOWING AND I HAD NO CLUE UNTIL THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL IT. THE CHIME NEVER WENT OFF. SAME WITH AN OVER HEATING ISSUE THE LIGHT CAME ON BUT I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS OVER HEATING UNTIL IT STATED SHAVING AND STEAMING AND I LOOKED AT THE DASH TO SEE THE LIGHT ON.

NHTSA ODI 11191644

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT FLUID/WATER WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 5 STAR CHEVROLET (495 WATSON BLVD, WARNER ROBIN, GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE YEAR LATER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11165206

2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO AN ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO OBTAIN BRAIN DAMAGE. *AS *JS *JS *TT VIN INVALID *JB

NHTSA ODI 11143110

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND A FRACTURED RIGHT RIB, WHICH NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A JUNKYARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11128474

THINGS STARTED AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER A CAR HIT ME AND TOOK OFF. I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND STAYED ON, AT CERTAIN TIMES THE CAR EITHER WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STOPPED THE CAR WILL EITHER SHAKE FOR 2-3 MINUTES OR ALSO WHILE STATIONARY THE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT WILL COME ON THEN TURN OFF. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH SLOW OR NOT AS RESPONSIVE ACCELERATION OR UNPROMPTED RPG GAUGE REVVING AND SOMETIMES THATS COUPLED WITH THE SHAKING TO THE POINT THAT MY HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET. I WAS NEVER AWARE OF ANY RECALLS SO IM NOT SURE IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH A POSSIBLE RECALL THAT HASNT BEEN DIAGNOSED BUT THERES GREAT CAUSE FOR CONCERN. - SN: I WASNT ABLE TO CHOOSE EVERY AFFECTED PART.

NHTSA ODI 11055177

LAST YEAR ON APRIL 12TH 2016 I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH A CSX DUMP TRUCK HER MERGED ONTO MY SIDE AND HIT ME MY DOOR CAVED IN AND EVERYTHING BUT MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IM OKAY AND SO IS MY CAR BUT I HAD TO GET MY WHOLE DRIVER SIDE FIXED AND NOW MY CHILD DONT WORK AT ALL AND I HAVE A 3YR OLD THAT IS FIGURING OUT HOW TO OPEN THE DOOR AND IM LOSEING SPEED AND POWER AND MY THING THAT TELLS ME HOW MANY MILES TILL THE NEXT GAS STOP IS ALL MESSED UP IT JUST TELLS ME OFF THE WALL NUMBERS AND I NEED ALL OF THIS FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11015622

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING OIL AND SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL CAP SEAL WAS TORN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

NHTSA ODI 10990938

TAKATA RECALL, MY CAR HAS BEEN HIT IN THE FRONT END 3 TIMES AND THE LAST TIME WAS A HARD HIT, NONE OF THE TIMES HAVE I HAD AN AIRBAG COME OUT.

NHTSA ODI 10928588

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE ROAD TO GET IN A TURNING LANE, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL FRACTURED AND THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND MINOR BRUISING. THE FRONT PASSENGER FLEW INTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE GEAR SHIFTER FRACTURED WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS IMPACTED BY THE FORCE OF THE CRASH. AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND TWO CHILDREN PASSENGERS SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD. THE MANUFACTURER INVESTIGATED THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,700. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 11/16/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10914440

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DEER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOOD AND BUMPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNAWARE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 10884913

THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AND I HAD A STRONG FRONTAL CLASH AGAINST A RETAINING WALL, THE IMPACT DAMAGED ALL ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS AND THE AGENCY WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IS NOT CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SERIOUS LACK IN THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT WHICH IS WORRYING FOR THE CAR LOT WHERE IT CAME FROM MY CAR AND THE SAFEGUARD OF THE DRIVERS OF THIS TYPE OF BRAND OF DEFECTIVE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 10837641

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE ENGINE REVVED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER HEAD AND NECK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10822556

I WAS GOING UP HILL APPROACHING A PARKING SPACE IN THE GARAGE WHERE I WORK. I WENT TO TURN INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND MY TURBO ENGINE SPED UP AND SLAMMED ME INTO THE GARAGE WALL. THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION ON THIS CHEVY SONIC. IF I HAD PARKED ON THE TOP FLOOR, I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE IT WOULD HAVE CRASHED DOWN INTO THE STREET. I MY ARMS AND MY ONE LEG WAS BURNED BY THE AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ODI 10762295

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRUISED COLLAR BONE AND SOFT TISSUE BRUISING, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10683816

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY REPORTED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ODI 10638739

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND BRUISES ON HER BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ODI 10627194

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN OHIO WHEN A F-150COME OUT OF ANOTHER ROAD AND T BONED ME THEY HAD O CUT ME OUT OF THE CAR MY NECK WAS INJURED AND MY BACK STILL HURTS AND I HAVE BAD HEADACHES NOW THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT GM SAYS I WAS NOT HIT HARD ENOUGH BUT I HAD SEVERAL AIRBAGS IN THE CAR AND NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED AND CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS .I THINK IT IS PRETTY SAD WHEN U BUY A VEHICLE FOR SAFETY THEN YOU CRASH AND THE COMPANY HAS NO CARE ABOUT YOU THEY JUST CARE ABOUT TRYING TO SAY THAT NOTHING WAS FAULTY ON THERE PART BUT AS WE ALL KNOW THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL RECALLS ON THESE CARS SINCE FOR FAULTY AIRBAGS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10607727