2012 Chevrolet Sonic Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that when the vehicle was turned on, the brakes, ABS, traction control, and braking system warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle took longer than normal to slow down. The contact stated that while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The vehicle taken to a dealer where it was it diagnosed and determined that the brake booster pump assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

NHTSA ID

11656528

Incident

Apr 23, 2025

Mileage

159,000 mi

MY 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY TO ME BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE SEVERAL RECALL CAMPAIGNS ON THE VEHICLE THAT DID NOT COME UP UNDER MY VIN.CAMPAIGN ID 12V52200, CAMPAIGN ID 13V023000, CAMPAIGN ID14V315000, CAMPAIGN ID 14V317000 CAMPAIGN ID 11V599000, CAMPAIGN ID, 12V408000. I COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAD BLEW A STOP SIGN AS I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. MY VEHICLE T-BONE THE OTHER VEHICLE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THE OTHER VEHICLES AIR BAGS DID. MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICE AT MODERN CHEVROLET UNIVERSITY PARKWAY IN WINSTON SALEM NC SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN NOV. 2012 FROM THAT DEALERSHIP. THE ONLY RECALLS THE DEALERSHIP OR GM HAS NOTIFIED ME ABOUT WERE ONLY GM CAMPAIGN ID 12172 REPLACE SWAYBAR LINKS AND GM CAMPAIGN ID12176. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS *TR

NHTSA ID

10947808

Incident

Jan 13, 2017

Mileage

945,000 mi

ON 1/31/2016 A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE FIRST AND BIGGEST ISSUE WAS THE AIRBAG NEVER WENT OFF AND THE SEAT BELT TENSIONERS DID NOT LOCK THE BELTS EITHER. I WENT FORWARD AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL RENDERING ME UNCONSCIOUS!!! ALMOST THE WHOLE FRONT END HAD TO BE REPLACED E.G.: GRILL AND FRONT PANEL, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANELS, RADIATOR, BOTH WHEEL WELLS, SUSPENSION ON BOTH SIDES AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH THOSE PLUS A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS LIKE THE RADIATOR, COOLANT AND WASHER TANKS ETC. ETC.... THIS WAS A FULL-FRONTAL WRECK AND NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG WENT OFF!!! SECONDLY ARE THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. THE ROADS WERE A LITTLE SLICK SO I HAD THE TC ON. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES ALL THEY DID, HAVE DONE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND CONTINUE TO DO TO THIS DAY, IS IMMEDIATELY LOCK UP! I HAD ZERO CONTROL OF MY CAR. THIS CAR HAS, BY FAR, THE WORST ABS SYSTEM I HAVE EVER USED. THE TC IS COMPLETE [XXX], TOO!!! THIRDLY, EVERY TIME I START THE CAR THE ENGINE SEEMS TO MISFIRE OR SOMETHING! IT RATTLES AND SHAKES THE WHOLE CAR, HARD!!! AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT SEEMS TO FIND IT'S GROOVE AND IDLES NORMALLY. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS. ALL THEY TELL ME IS THEY ARE DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING FLAWS. THEY SAID I CAN PAY TO FIX THESE ISSUES WITH MY OWN MONEY OR WAIT AND SEE IF THE ISSUES BECOME RECALLS. WHICH, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, HAVE NOT YET. TO ME, THESE ARE SOME PRETTY BIG SAFETY ISSUES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ADDRESSING!!! AND WHY AREN'T THEY????? I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THEM ANYWHERE. I'LL COME BACK IF I FIND THEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10943705

Incident

Jan 31, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

NHTSA ID

10925439

Incident

Nov 7, 2016

Mileage

47,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING AND I TRIED TO BRAKE AT AN INTERSECTION DUE TO A RED LIGHT AND THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE PAD GOT STIFF AND IT DIDN'T ALLOW ME TO BRAKE, I HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME .

NHTSA ID

10864779

Incident

May 13, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

IN 2015, MY 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PURGE VALVE REPLACED. THE CAR WORKED FOR A WHILE AFTER THIS. HOWEVER, A FEW MONTHS AGO, IT STARTED HAVING A ROUGH IDLE, WITH THE RPMS DIPPING UP AND DOWN. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE RECENTLY, WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY COMPLETELY DIED WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET HIT. NOW, IT IS EVEN WORSE. NOW, IN ADDITION TO THE ROUGH IDLE, TRACTION CONTROL RANDOMLY ENGAGES EVEN WHEN I AM NOT SLIPPING, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL POWER FOR BRIEF PERIODS OF TIME, WHILE IN MOTION. THE TRACTION CONTROL IS GLITCHING SO BAD THAT IT EVEN RANDOMLY ENGAGES WHEN I AM COMPLETELY STOPPED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR WANTS $113 JUST TO TELL ME WHAT IS CAUSING IT, AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO ACTUALLY FIX. THERE ARE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE MODEL I OWN, SHOWS OTHER OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. CHEVROLET HAS BEEN NO HELP

NHTSA ID

10862886

Incident

May 1, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET (STRAIGHT AND FLAT, NO TURNS OR HILLS) AT 25 MPH AND WENT TO USE MY BRAKES. TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NO POWER ASSIST. THE CAR ONLY HAS 48K MILES ON IT AND HAD NEVER DISPLAYED BRAKING PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ISSUES AT THE STOP SIGN JUST A BLOCK BEFORE. AS IT HAPPENED A FEW BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE, I DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT. BESIDES THE LACK OF POWER ASSIST, THE MOTOR STARTED TO IDLE ROUGH-- IT WOULD SURGE TO 2500 RPM AND THEN SLOW DOWN TO 700 RPM, ALL WITH NO THROTTLE INPUT. WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD, TO LOOK FOR AN OBVIOUS LOOSE HOSE, I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING THAT LOOKED OUT OF THE NORM. HOWEVER, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT MORE NOISE THAN NORMAL-- IT WAS A COMBINATION OF HISSING AND WHIRRING. NOT THE NORMAL SOUND THE ENGINE WOULD MAKE WHILE RUNNING WITH THE HOOD OPEN. THERE WERE SOME NOISES COMING FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER AREA (DRIVER'S SIDE BY THE FIREWALL) THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD PRIOR TO THAT DAY. THE CAR HAS A 1.8 FOUR CYLINDER AND A 5 SPEED MANUAL. THE ISSUES DID NOT IMPACT THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN ANY WAY, SO I DOUBT IT IS THE MASTER CYLINDER. AS I NOTED IT SEEMS TO BE A BRAKE BOOSTER ISSUE... HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT TO A GARAGE YET AS THE ISSUE JUST HAPPENED. (I AM NO MECHANIC, BUT HAVE A DECENT UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CARS WORK.) EITHER WAY, IT WAS QUITE A SURPRISE. WHILE I AM A MALE IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE, EVEN I NEEDED TO STAND ON THE BRAKES TO GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN FROM ONLY 25 MPH-- HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER, I WOULD HAVE LIKELY NEEDED TO USE THE E-BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR. AGAIN, AT THIS TIME THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE HAPPENED JUST YESTERDAY. FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT (15 F), BUT THERE WAS NO SNOW OR ICE ON THE ROAD, AND IT WAS SUNNY OUT.

NHTSA ID

10825976

Incident

Feb 12, 2016

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR BOARD, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN AND DRIVING AT 65 MPH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,500. UPDATED 03/09/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10818885

Incident

Jan 7, 2016

Mileage

35,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A TWO LANE ROAD AT NIGHT, APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID ANIMAL IN ROAD. CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND ROAD WAS DRY. THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME TO SLOW TO AVOID ANIMAL SO THIS WAS NOT A PANIC STOP. UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES, HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. DASH LIGHTS STAYED ON MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT OF THE VEHICLE. APPLIED BRAKES WITH MORE URGENCY AND ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED. VEHICLE SKIDDED STRAIGHT UNTIL THE RIGHT TIRES MADE CONTACT WITH THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE CAR THEN SPUN COUNTER CLOCKWISE BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY, ACROSS BOTH LANES, AND CAME TO REST ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ONCOMING LANE (APPROXIMATELY ONE AND ONE-HALF REVOLUTIONS). SKID MARKS ON HIGHWAY CONFIRMED THE WHEEL LOCK AND THE SPIN. CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RE-STARTED AND ALL SYSTEMS WORKED FINE. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10816630

Incident

Nov 23, 2015

Mileage

37,000 mi

WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE THE BRAKE FRONT PADS DON'T CATCH ALL THE WAY SOME TIMES EVEN THE ROADS ARE DRY. IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE IF I'M DRIVING OVER A BUMPY ROAD AND APPLY THE BRAKES YOU CAN FEEL THE SKIPPING OF THE BRAKES NOT CATCHING. HAD BRAKES INSPECTED THEY ARE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH LIFE STILL ON THEM. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE BRAKES THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. I MADE A COMPLAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE UNSAFENESS I FEEL DRIVING. I ONLY DRIVE ON THE STREET TO WORK AND HOME. I STILL HAVE THE SKIPPING IN THE BRAKING. I'M ALWAYS CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL OF SOMEKIND ON THIS CAR PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653923

Incident

Nov 30, 2012

Mileage

16,000 mi

WHEN I AM SLOWING AND THERE IS A GRATE IN THE STREET, MY VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES EVERY TIME I AM ON A GRATE, WHICH IS FAIRLY COMMON IN THE CITY. I TOLD [XXX] AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES (THEY WERE DOING AN OIL CHANGE AND SAID THEY CHECKED THE BRAKES). WHEN I DRIVE OVER ICE, IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM BRAKING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *DT .....UPDATED 02/10/16 *BF

NHTSA ID

10631529

Incident

Sep 2, 2013

Mileage

3,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 7% GRADE GOING DOWN HILL AT 50 MILES AN HOUR MY CAR SHUT OFF, STEERING LOCKED AND BRAKES DIDN'T WORK THE ONLY THING I COULD USE WAS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IF I WASN'T CALM AND USED MY HEAD ME AND MY SON WOULD HAVE DIED. MY CAR NOW IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND SHAKING AFTER IT WARMS UP. MY SHIFTER GETS STUCK AND I CANT PARK OR TAKE MY KEY OUT. EVERYTHING IN THIS CAR IS AN ALARM FOR DANGER OR DEATH. I'VE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DON'T RETURN MY CALLS. I FINALLY GOT A HOLD OF THEM AND THEY SAID I CAN BRING IT IN BUT ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS LIKE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618300

Incident

Jul 29, 2014

Mileage

51,000 mi

REAR NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKE AREA. GM TOLD ME THEY HAVE TO RE-DESIGN THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS, THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME A FIX DATE AND WOULDN'T SAY IF IT WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER. GM PRODUCED A DOCUMENT #3213219 NOV 2012 SAYING THEY WERE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AND DIDN'T SEE IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543657

Incident

Jun 17, 2013

Mileage

11,570 mi

WHEN I APPLY MY BRAKES AT LOW SPEED THERE IS A ROTATIONAL NOISE IN THE REAR END. I FOUND OUT ON MY LAST RECALL VISIT THAT GM KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE AND SENT OUT A DOCUMENT, #PICA DATED 11/19/2012 SAYING THEY WERE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED GM TO SEE IF THEY HAVE RESOLVED THIS ISSUE. THEY REPORTED BACK TO ME, AFTER 3 WEEKS OF PHONE CONVERSATIONS AND TALKING TO MULTIPLE PERSONS, THAT THE REAR DRUMS HAVE TO BE RE-DESIGNED AND THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE FIX. I ASKED FOR A LETTER OR EMAIL SHOWING ME THE DATE MY CAR WILL BE FIXED AND THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE BRAKES. THEY REFUSED ME A LETTER OR EMAIL ON THIS ISSUE AND I ONLY TALK TO SOMEONE WITH A FIRST NAME. I HAVE HEARD THIS SAME NOISE SINCE 5/12/2012 BUT NOW IT IS GETTING LOUDER.

NHTSA ID

10541920

Incident

Aug 6, 2013

Mileage

12,728 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE WHENEVER MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSE BY A DEFECTIVE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED TO SEND A LUBRICATION KIT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. ...UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF UPDATED 10/25/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10475009

Incident

Jul 11, 2011

Mileage

12,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING ON AN INCLINE, THE HILL HOLDER WAS ENGAGED YET THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAL AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR BOTH FAILURES. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THERE WAS CORROSION ALONG THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 925 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1041. UPDATED 04/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. UPDATED 04/30/12

NHTSA ID

10450891

Incident

Feb 16, 2012

Mileage

925 mi