Home · 2014 Chevrolet Sonic · Complaints

What 149 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (149)Crash / fire / injury (13)Electrical system (48)Engine (38)Airbags (24)Transmission & drivetrain (20)Fuel system (16)Steering (13)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (8)Brakes (6)Lights (5)Body & structure (3)

16 of 149 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Mar 2, 2026Electrical systemEngineFuel system

Electric My coolant And leaking issues My car door look when keys are inside ignition

NHTSA ODI 11721600

Feb 21, 2026EngineFuel system

It gets hot fast when idle Radiator leaks , leaks coolant burns oil

NHTSA ODI 11719576

Jun 23, 2023Electrical systemEngineFuel system

Car has problems starting after gas is put in it u have to step on gas peddle several times to get it to start car does not have working backup camera in it or even a working radio in it car has a check engine light on I took it to were I ought it twice they cleared codes out of car but codes come back on all the time I would like to exchange this vehicle if possible can u help me Manns Performance Vidalia Ga 30474 is were it was purchased 6/01/2023 this has been a issue since I got from dealership crack in window after having it two weeks even with windows cracked sitting in the yard

NHTSA ODI 11528587

Dec 22, 2022SuspensionEngineFuel system

Overall and to the best of my knowledge, the malfunctioning and failures on my vehicle were the suspension and engine. They are the culprits and it’s honestly very scary and traumatizing to have them completely fail, especially since no one is ever prepared for accidents and/or potential death to happen. Otherwise it wouldn’t be called an accident. With the suspension overall, it’s just awful. CV Axel, control arms, everything with the suspension just failed. With driving over the tiniest bump on the road you feel your is about to literally fall apart at any minute because of the clunking and metal in metal noises it produces. The engine is faulty as well and I am pretty sure the faulty engine happens due to the faulty suspension. When I look under my car there’s something leaking. I don’t know what it is, but it’s poses a safety risk not only for the driver and the passengers, but also to the rest of the world. I know that there was a recall early on about fuel tank breakage or something that could lead to fire ignition. But my vehicle according to my VIN wasn’t on this recall. I have contacted the dealership and a certified service center to inspect these issues. It’s been roughly 4 weeks now and they have been extremely negligent and apathetic. With these issues, everyone’s safety is at risk. My suspension went out and could’ve caused a more catastrophic accident. A fire could’ve broken out with other vehicles surrounding me cause major injuries and death. I’ve seen and read many posts and testimonials and threads online from various independent resources that state very very closely the same issues. Almost verbatim. I’ve been trying to get these issues inspected by the dealership, but they all give me the runaround and don’t want to fix not find a solution. The check engine light has always been on since I’ve Owen the vehicle and the dealership where I purchased this vehicle said having the check engine light on is okay. I need help getting repairs done!

NHTSA ODI 11498488

Aug 23, 2021Fuel system

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, while attempting to start up the vehicle, the vehicle would not start immediately. The vehicle was making an abnormal knocking sound. The vehicle would jerk before starting. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as an issue with the fuel. The mechanic attempted to change the fuel injector to fix the failure however, the fuel continued to flow. The mechanic recommended that the contact reach out to the local dealer to have the vehicle inspected and repaired. The contact reached out to the local dealer to have the vehicle inspected but the dealer informed the contact that they would need to call back in two weeks to schedule an appointment which the contact attempted several times but was never able to schedule the appointment. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11430135

Feb 19, 2021Fuel system

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CODE IS COMING UP EMISSION FUEL LEAK. TRIED REPLACING GAS CAP, DID NOT WORK. WHEN GETTING GAS, THE CAR WILL NOT TURN BACK ON, YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS PEDAL TO GET IT TO COME BACK ON. IDLES HIGH AND JUMPS AFTER TURNING BACK ON

NHTSA ODI 11396908

Jun 5, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2016 FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO MY KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND I HAD TO WAIT A FEW MINS THEN TRY AGAIN. NEXT TIME IT DID THAT IT TOOK 30 MINS TO REMOVE THE KEY UNTIL FINALLY THE LAST TIME IT WOULD NOT COME OUT PERIOD AND I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. I HAD TO REPLACE A PART OF THE SHIFTER. THERE WAS A METAL PIECE RIGHT UNDER THE SHIFTER KNOB THAT FAILED. I HAD AUL INSURANCE VINTAGE NOW AND HAD TO PAY 500,000 DOLLARS FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE HE STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED. PERSONALLY I DON'T BELIEVE THAT BUT I HAD NO CHOICE AND PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE SHIFTER VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIL TWICE WITH A COMPLAINT OF NOT GETTING ENOUGH POWER WHEN I EXCELERATE AND IT MOVES SLOWLY AND IS AT 10-25 MPH BEFORE IT MOVES TO THE HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55MPH. THEY AGAIN SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. AGAIN TODAY I EXPERIENCE THE SLOW EXCELERATION AGAIN, SO I AM MAKING A COMPLAINT THIS TIME. THERE IS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE I 'VE HAD A COUPLE OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS WELL AS A REPLACED WATER PUMP. I GOT THIS IN 2016 IT SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM ALWAYS STOPPED AT A LIGHT IN THE TURNING LEFT LANE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPEN AND OTHER CARS HAVE ALMOST HIT ME SEVERAL TIMES. I WANTIT TO BE INVESTIGATED AND KNOWN BEFORE I GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND TO BE TOLD THATTHERE S NOTHING WRONG. I SEE THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DIM QUITE A LOT WHILE I AM DRIVING. AND WHEN IT STALL LIKE THIS THE POWER LIGHTS GET REALLY DIM BUT YOU CAN STILL SEE YOUR MPH ETC. PLEASE HELP ME SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I DON'T WANT TO DIE IN IT.

NHTSA ODI 11218195

Apr 16, 2019SteeringElectrical systemFuel system

A FEW YEARS AGO MY POWER STEERING WENT ON. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET REPLACED RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. CURRENTLY MY AC IS BROKEN AND I'VE SPENT A GOOD BIT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIX IT; YET IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. NOW MY CAR WON'T START. I'VE RELPALCED THE BATTERY A COUPLE YEARS AGO BECAUSE MY CAR KEPT DYING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAN NEW AND IT HAD CAUSED ME NOTHING BUT FINANCIAL ISSUES. I TRIED CONTACTING CHEVY ABOUT HIS CAR A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. EXPLAINING THAT THESE ARE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF MY CAR IT'S NOT LIKE I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT CHANGING MY TIRES OR NEW BRAKES YOU NOW NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES WITH A NEW CAR. I KNOW IT'S 5 YEAS OLD NOW BUT THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS I STILL OWE $3800 ON MY CAR AND HAVE DEALT WITH DUMPING MONEY INTO A VEHICLE THAT SHOULDN'T OF HAD ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS HAS CAUSED UNESSASACRY STRESS IN MY LIFE. ALSO TWO OF MY WINDOWS DON'T WORK. SO MY AC IS BROKE AND I CAN'T EVEN ROLL DOWN TWO WINDOWS IT'S A DEATH SENTENCE. I'VE HAD A HEAT STROKE IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF IT. LEGITIMATELY SCARED ME.

NHTSA ODI 11196751

Mar 26, 2019Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPUTTER AND SMELL LIKE FUEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI 11191730

Feb 16, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel 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

Mar 15, 2018Fuel system

ON 03/12/2018 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE ACCESS ROAD, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT MY CAR STARTED "BUCKLING", WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN HESISTATION AND MAJOR LOSS OF POWER OCCURED. FINALLY GOT GOING AND WHEN I GOT BACK TO WORK AND PARK IT WOULDN'T START AFTER I WENT IN AND CAME BACK OUT. GOT IT JUMPED AND WENT TO BOTH NAPA AND AUTO ZONE BOTH SAID IT WAS MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. GOT THE PART THE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED IT. ALL WAS WELL TILL TODAY 03/15/2018 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND MY CAR STARTED HESISTATING ON THE HIGHWAY AND EVENTUALLY STALLING AS I WAS PULLING OF TO THE ACCESS ROADS. PRIOR TO HOT AIR WAS BLOWING OUT OF MY A.C WHILE THE COLD SETTING WAS ON. MADE MY WAY TO AUTO ZONE AND THEY SAID IT WAS P0171 RUNNING TO LEAN/TOO MUCH AIR. IN THE PARKING LOT ENSURED THE OIL CAP, DIP STICK, AIR FILTER CABIN WERE ALL SEALED TIGHT, WIRES WERE FINE, UPON INSPECTION OF THE AIR CLEANER INTAKE DUCT HOSE FOUND OUT IT WAS BROKEN ALL THE WAY AROUND THE HOSE. CALLED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AGENT AND HE INFORMED ME THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT IT MAY NOT BE COVERED. IF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PEOPLE AND THE MANUFACTURES KNOW OF THIS, WHY NOT MENTION IT IN THE MANUAL OR HAVE THE TECHS WHO CHANGE OUR OIL AND AIR FILTERS LOOK AT IT AND MENTION IT TO US SINCE ITS RIGHT NEXT TO THE AIR COMPARTMENT. AS I DROVE IT BACK HOME TO PARK, THE ENGINE STALLED ON ME AGAIN LUCKILY IT WAS AS I WAS PARKING.

NHTSA ODI 11079680

Nov 25, 2015EngineFuel system

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

Oct 10, 2014Fuel system

IM ONLY GETTING ABOUT 14 TO 16 MPG ON MY CAR.I WENT TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL.I SAID THAT ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET SUCH LOW MPG WHEN THE PAPERWORK SAYS THAT I SHOULD GET 25/35.KNOW I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE SAID THAT ITS NORMAL TO GET 14 TO 16 MPG.I TOLD HIM YOU TELLING MY 2005 ALTIMA 3.5 GETS BETTER GAS MILEAGE A DODGE DURANGO GETS BETTER GAS MILEAGE?? WELL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CANT SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM.THEY RECALIBRATED EVERYTHING AND ITS EVEN WORSE.I SPEND 300 IN GAS A MONTH WHICH IS UNHEARD OF..PLEASE HELP... *TR

NHTSA ODI 10643955

Jul 20, 2014Fuel system

THIS VEHICLE IS GETTING BETWEEN 19-21 MPG AT THE MOST, INCLUDING HIGHWAY, WHICH IS EXTREMELY LOW COMPARED TO OTHER SIMILAR SONIC VEHICLE MODELS AND THE ESTIMATED 25/35 MPG FOR THIS VEHICLE.I AM WONDERING IF IT IS LEAKING FUEL. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CHEVY REQUIRING THIS MUCH GAS. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THE FUEL RECALL BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. GM AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAVE DISREGARDED MY CONCERNS, TELLING ME MY VEHICLE IS OPERATING NORMALLY. I WOULD LIKE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10614778

Jul 8, 2014Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V464000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,080.

NHTSA ODI 10608902

Jul 8, 2014Fuel system

GAS STARTED LEAKING FROM BOTTOM OF GAS TANK. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10608887

Working with the data? Download all 149 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Chevrolet Sonic verdict →