What 114 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic

Stalls when reduced speed. CEL constant. Codes indicate Emission promlem. Cleared by replacing intake valve. CEL came back on.

NHTSA ODI 11609919

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The traction control and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA ODI 11578281

My cars coolant is leaking and the source is unknown. My car has overheated twice and my mechanic has been unable to find what needs to be repaired. The coolant has need to to be filled twice within a 6 month period. Now my car is having other issues with the catalyst system that lead me to believe the coolant leak might be affecting these other parts. My catalytic converter was already replaced and the same code has popped up 4 months later.

NHTSA ODI 11525327

Once again, my doors unlocked then relocked, my dashboard lights went out and the engine stalled. I was on the KU campus when this happened 3 times within 6 blocks. This is getting very scary, especially when i am in a busy area of town. No codes have ever popped up. This has been happening since May 2022. I will keep reporting, hopefully there will be a recall soon. Very frustrated with this situation!

NHTSA ODI 11483637

3 times yesterday - September 1, 2022, my car locks unlocked then locked again and the engine stalled. Dash lights did not go off, but the car died 3 times in a matter of 10 minutes.

NHTSA ODI 11482611

The car keep getting hot due to liquid missing but I always fill the car up to 2014 it was a recall to all the chef sonics but not the 2015 but is still the same issue

NHTSA ODI 11464906

Vehicle shakes and vibrates when first turned on, and driving. Has alot of vibration.

NHTSA ODI 11463451

My airbag on the passenger side goes on and off all the time, dealership wouldnt fix it couldnt find why it was doing that. Now while driving it just shuts off with out a warning ,scard to take it to dealership cant afford to keep putting money into it. I have had problems since the car was bought from the dealership. Now do not know how to be able to sell if it is doing this.

NHTSA ODI 11425191

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CONSISTENCE OF WHITE SNOW UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DYER CHEVROLET (1000 US-1, VERO BEACH, FL 32960, (772) 617-4793) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ODI 11408014

1ST AT 20K MILES (2019) MY CAR WOULDN'T START, STUCK LATE NIGHT. CALLED AAA, BATTERY HAD DEAD CELL SO I PURCHASED ONE FOR $200. MONTHS LATER FOUND OUT IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I STARTED SMELLING COOLANT (2019). DEALER SAID IT WAS THE WATER PUMP. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. STARTED SMELLING COOLANT AGAIN (2019), IT WAS A VALVE, WASN'T COVERED. THE CAR WOULDN'T START, DEAD CELL IN THE BATTERY AGAIN (2020) STARTED SMELLING COOLANT (2020), NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR, WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. STARTED SMELLING FUMES & HAD A LEAK. IT WAS THE PURGE SOLENOID NEEDED REPLACING, ANOTHER $500. TWO MONTHS AGO (NOV 2020) THE AMBIENT SENSOR WENT OUT $450. NOW TODAY (JAN 5, 2021) THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND I'M TOLD IT'S THE INTERNAL SDM FAULT AND WILL BE CLOSE TO A $900 REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11386608

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR "GLICHES" THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, THE POWER STEERING STOPS THE LOCKS GO UP AND DOWN AND ALL ELECTRONICS IN THE DASHBOARD GO ON AND OFF. LAST WEEK, IT SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND I COULD NOT START IT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR SO. GOT IT HOME AND IT DID IT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THIS STARTED YEARS AGO. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER THEY SAID "WELL IT'S NOT DOING IT NOW". I WAS NOT EDUCATED AT THE TIME TO PUSH FOR ANYTHING TO BE DONE. THE STOPPING COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.

NHTSA ODI 11386393

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE I HAD IT. FIRST THERE WAS A SMELL OF COOLANT IN THE CABIN. ALTHOUGH MISDIAGNOSED INITIALLY, THE MEACHANIC LATER FOUND THAT THERE WAS TRULY AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. BUT IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED, THE HOUSING OF SOMETHING WAS REPLACED A MONTH LATER (I DO NOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE PART). AND A THIRD REPAIR WAS ALSO DONE. ALL FOR THECOOLANT THAT CONTINUES TO FIND A WAY TOLEAK OUT. NOW I AM BEING TOLD AGAIN, BY THE DEALER, THAT THE COOLANT IS LEAKING AGAIN, THIS TIME FROM THE WATER PUMP. I HAVE PAID A NICE CHUNK OF CHANGE TO AND BEING TOLD I NEED TO SPEND YET ANOTHER $400+. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH SONICS ARE HAVING THE ISSUES WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. I ASKED ABOUT A RECALL AND HE TOLD ME TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. WHENEVER THE ISSUE ARISES AGAIN THERE IS ALWAYS A STRONG SMELL OF COOLANT IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. THEN THE CAR STOPS BLOWING HEAT AND AIR, OR BLOWS IT INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11383777

MY CAR STARTING KILLING ON ME I HAD TO LEAVE IT AND GET A RIDE HOME A COUPLE OFF TIMES THE LAST TIME I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WERE THEY FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME WITH A LOCK OUT DEVICE ON IT THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 1-29 I GOT FIRED BECAUSE OF NO TRANSPORTION

NHTSA ODI 11317647

I PURCHASED MY CAR ABOUT A YEAR A HALF AGO AND IT HAS BEEN GIVING ME NON STOP ENGINE AND LEAK ISSUES. I HAVE A 2015 CHEVY SONIC TURBO AND SO FAR I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC 8 TIMES TO FIX COOLANT LEAKS, FIX MY FUEL THERMOSTAT AS WELL AS REPLACE A HEAD GASKET AFTER HAVING IT BLOW.

NHTSA ODI 11300613

VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS VIBRATING WHILE IN IDLE AND WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKES. THERE WAS VERY LOW ACCELERATION AND IT FELT LIKE MY CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING ABOUT 20-25 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. I TOOK MY CAR IN AND HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION COIL AND IGNITION BOOT REPLACED AT 30,345 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11256299

MY CHEVY SONIC STALLS WHILE DRIVING IT. THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, DOOR LOCKS CYCLE, LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES GO OUT, RPMS DROP, AND UNTIL TODAY, IT TURNS BACK ON, THE RPMS JUMP SKY HIGH, AND THE MOTOR REVS BACK TO LIFE AND IT GOES FINE AGAIN FOR AWHILE. BUT TODAY IT STALLED SITTING IN MCDONALDS PARKING LOT AND NOT ONLY DIDN'T START AGAIN, BUT HAD TO BE JUMPED. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I HAD HER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THAT HAPPENED! EVERY OTHER TIME IT'S BEEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD. ONE TIME I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY. ESPECIALLY IF I'M RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONER. IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 MECHANICS AND IT DOESN'T 'THROW ANY CODES'. IT DID SHOW A LITTLE ISSUE WITH THE ALTERNATOR SO WE REPLACED IT BUT IT DIDN'T CHARGE ANYTHING. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH SEVERAL YEARS OF CHEVY SONIC CARS. UNFORTUNATELY OUR OUTCRY IS GOING NOWHERE. GM SEEMS DETERMINED TO IGNORE US UNTIL SOMEONE DIES AND THEY GET SUED. CAN YOU PLEASE GET THEM TO RECALL THE ENGINE OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S CAUSING THIS ISSUE? PLEASE?!!! THANK YOU!

NHTSA ODI 11252537

ANTIFREEZE OVERFLOW HAS A LEAK AND IS BUBBLING OVER THE ENGINE LIGHT ON EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO CHEVY DEALER. CAR STUTTERED AND HAD BAD SMELL AIR DOES NOT GET COOL WE HAD TO PULL OVER AND THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED THE CAR WOULD NOT START

NHTSA ODI 11221906

LIGHT COME ON CHECK ENGINE AND THE ROAD SLIPPING SIGN

NHTSA ODI 11191503

JUNE 2015 THE DEALER SWITCHED CARS WHEN WE REFUSED THE OPTIONS AT THE CLOSING OF THE DEAL TO A BASE/STANDARD CAR. A WEEK OR SO AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR A TIRE POPPED AS WE DROVE DOWN THE STREET. IT IS VERY LOUD IN THE MORNING. A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKING SOUND. NEXT WE HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS,OIL/FLUID LEAKING FROM THE CAR. THE DRIVEWAY IS STAINED FROM IT. THE THERMOSTAT HAS BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN JERKING,STALKING, SPUTTERING. THE ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR HAS BOILED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS BURNING. THE AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T COOL WELL. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TORE UP IN LESS THAN A YEAR.THEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW WHY THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED THEY WANT TO DO MAINTENANCING TO SEE IF THAT FIXES IT. OVER $1000. WE GOT THIS COMPACT CAR TO SAVE AND SURVIVE. THIS HAS BEEN AN EXPENSIVE CHEAP CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11174939

THE FUEL INJECTOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AFTER ONLY HAVING MY CAR FOR 6MONTH.

NHTSA ODI 11162029

VEHICLE DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN MOTION HOWEVER MOTION IS TRIGGERING THE ENGINE TO STAY ON OR AT TIMES DISAPPEAR FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. CONSTANT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING CODE IS P0011. I HAVE BEEN TO GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIPS AS THEY REFUSE ME TO GO OUTSIDE THEIR DEALERS FOR REPAIRS; RESULTS POSSIBILITY OF DENYING ME COVERAGE UNDER MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I HAVE PUT IN CASE AFTER CASE WITH THEIR COMPLAINTS AND ONLY RESULTS INTO SOMETHING I ALREADY DO IS 'SIMPLY' CALL DEALERSHIP. I AM DRIVING A VERY UNSAFE UNPREDICTABLE VEHICLE THAT IS NOT BEING FIXED. I HAVE BEEN TO 3 OF THEIR DEALERSHIPS TOTAL TIMES OF 8 TIMES. CURRENTLY STILL TILL THIS DAY WITH SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11129830

CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND THE RADIATOR IS RUSTED/CORRODED. THIS KIND OF CORROSION SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. I KEPT SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SO I STARTED MONITORING THE COOLANT LEVELS. I WAS ADDING MORE THAN A GALLON OF COOLANT EACH MONTH.

NHTSA ODI 11090198

THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE - THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAS WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY

NHTSA ODI 10970352