2013 Chevrolet Sonic Engine Problems

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 ID

11709620

Incident

Oct 11, 2025

Mileage

134,000 mi

Vehicle enters into catalyst monitor too early. Monitor Fales indicating that the catalyst is below efficiency threshold. A vehicle is run for a significant amount of time before being allowed to enter the driving conditions for the catalyst monitor, monitor will pass. This indicates that there is a programming failure, not an actual component failure. Theory has been tested multiple times. Catalyst had also been tested by temperature sensor as well as by taking readings with a gas analyzer before and after the catalyst. Everything indicates the catalyst is well within operating parameters. Theories, test, and confirmations have been conducted by a certified technician and mechanical engineer.

NHTSA ID

11666137

Incident

May 8, 2025

Was driving in heavy rain when car suddenly cut power and decelerated showed code 84 and the CEL came back with P2138. It is a known issue that rain gets up into the connector and causes a malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11603878

Incident

Jul 22, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that there was fluid leaking from underneath the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a water pump and the thermostat housing failure. The contact discovered Technical Service Bulletin: 14371B; however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11585004

Incident

Mar 24, 2024

2013 Chevrolet Sonic 1.8 L , fuel system lean ,mass airflow sensor, in limp mode preventing acceleration, gas tank when added gas....shuts down after start up-fuel system/gasoline; may cause possible fuel leak and could combust, alarm system and locks don't properly function - electric system equipment, insufficient welds...around fuel tank and front of vehicle on bottom by driver's side could also cause combustion, bcm codes that came up were communication, electrical, fuel, windows, and airbags! AutoZone codes were po171 and co561-77,I looked up recalls , several came up for my make and model but weren't specific to my vin# however my vehicle is doing everything pertaining to them! And I looked up if there was any special coverage on it and said there is...before 120k miles or ten years time. And I was never notified of it & never received anything in the mail ...

NHTSA ID

11549029

Incident

Nov 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, she heard abnormal knocking sounds coming from the rear wheels of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that she heard clicking sounds while making turns. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact drove to her residence and parked the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11487116

Incident

Jun 29, 2021

Mileage

150,000 mi

Multiple parts in my engine have malfunctioned in the past year, the most recent being a tube bursting and getting coolant everywhere. Other problems have been with valves, temperature gauges and even the radiator. It’s like something new breaks every month. I have had every issue fixed and usually I don’t get a warning lamp until I’m broken down on the side of the road.

NHTSA ID

11469507

Incident

Jun 15, 2022

Boniface hiers Chevrolet dealer in Melbourne Florida said they did a full inspection before selling this vehicle. 2 days later after purchase the Radiator fan stop working even tho they put a new one, missing thermostat, code 3rd gear malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11463776

Incident

May 6, 2022

MY 2013 CHEVY SONIC DEVELOPED TICKING SOUND SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT AT 60000 MILES. THE TICKING GOT WORSE OVER TIME AND THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I SCANNED THE CODES AND MULTIPLE FOUR CODES WERE FOUND. P0171, P0496, P1101, AND P2270. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT SEEMED TO BE THAT MOST CRUZE, SONIC, AND TRAX VEHICLES ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD, PURGE VALVE, PCV HOSE, AND VALVE COVER. THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS AND THE ONLY ONE WAS THE VALVE COVER BUT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTICS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER IT OR NOT. THE BREATHER DIAPHRAGM IN THE VALVE COVER GOES BAD DUE TO A FAULT INTAKE MANIFOLD ON THESE VEHICLE MODELS. THERE IS A LITTLE ORANGE GASKET IN THE MANIFOLD THAT GOES BAD AND CAUSES THE DIAPHRAGM TO GO OUT RESULTING IN HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NOT ONLY CAUSES GHAT ISSUE BUT CAUSES THE CAR TO GET JUMPY AT STOPS AND STALLING OUT. HAVE ALMOST HAD A FEW PEOPLE REAR END ME DUE TO THIS. THE PURGE VALVE GOES OUT AS WELL AND WHEN AT THE FUEL PUMP THE CAR WILL HESITATE TO CRANK OR RUN AT VERY LOW IDLE SHUTTING OFF MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS UP AND THEN RUNS ROUGH UNTIL A DECENT AMOUNT OF FUEL HAS RAN THROUGH THE ENGINE. THE CAR WOULD NOT GET ENOUGH FUEL WHEN AT STOPS OR ON HIGHWAYS AND WOULD ALSO JUST LOSE FUEL AND CUT THE ENGINE OFF. THOSE COMPONENTS HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED BY MYSELF AND NO MORE ISSUES. CHEVY WILL NOT RECALL THE PARTS THAT ARE CAUSING THE ISSUES AND THEREFORE THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN OUT ON THE HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ID

11384224

Incident

Oct 1, 2020

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE FUEL SYSTEM IS RUNNING WEAK, FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 30000 MILES, ONE OWNER AND FULL MAINTENANCE, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND GO ALL THE TIME AND EVERYTHING WAS CHECKING

NHTSA ID

11377989

Incident

Apr 9, 2020

THE PCV PRESSURE REG VALVE FAILS AND CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. GM SENT A LETTER TO CUSTOMERS BUT ONLY COVERS THE WORK UP TO 120K MILES. MINE FAILED AT 125K MILES AND COST OVER $1000 TO FIX. GM IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.10/15/2020

NHTSA ID

11377375

Incident

Oct 15, 2020

Mileage

125,961 mi

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 3 YEARS AGO PREOWNED FROM THE DEALER AND WITHIN THESE 3 YEARS I HAVE ALREADY HAD A CATALYTIC CONVERTER RECALL, THE ISSUE RECENTLY IS MY AC SYSTEM IN MY CAR IS OUT AND AS A DID RESEARCH ON THE SPECIFIC YEAR THERE'S PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE AC SYSTEM UP TO 5 TIMES FOR 2013 SONICS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED ON CHEVROLET'S BEHALF.

NHTSA ID

11350653

Incident

Mar 18, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

LEAKING WATER PUMP

NHTSA ID

11337596

Incident

Jun 15, 2020

Mileage

95,000 mi

MY CAR HAS LEAKED OUT ITS ENTIRE COOLANT TWICE NOW WITHIN A SIX MONTH PERIOD. THIS TIME IT HAS LEAKED FLUID ONTO THE COMPUTER CAUSING FURTHER ISSUES THAN AFTER THE FIRST FIX. THE LACK OF A TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM OVERHEATING IS A HUGE ISSUE. I CONSTANTLY MAKE SURE THERE IS COOLANT BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ALL IN THE SAME DAY IT HAS EMPTIED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE CAUSING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BREAKDOWN INSTANTLY. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW WITH MY TODDLER IN THE VEHICLE, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE FORTUNATELY IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE ON STREET ROADS, WHERE I COULD IMMEDIATELY AND SAFELY MOVE INTO A PARKING LOT, AND NOT THE HIGHWAY BUT THIS SITUATION PUTS MY CHILD'S HEALTH AT RISK AND THAT I AM NOT OKAY WITH.

NHTSA ID

11316501

Incident

Jan 13, 2020

Mileage

113,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING ABNORMALLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB GRIMM CHEVROLET LOCATED AT (2271 S MAIN ST, MORTON, IL 61550, (309) 263-2241) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND TEST DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID

11315988

Incident

Mar 3, 2020

Mileage

99,000 mi

CAR GAVE ME A CODE OF U0101 AND TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND TOLD ME IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH LOST COMMUNICATION. THEY TRIED FIXING ISSUE BUT COULDN'T.

NHTSA ID

11307120

Incident

Dec 20, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

BEGAN OVER HEATING AT SHORT DISTANCES. A/C WENT COOL RAN HOT AIR TRIED TO SEE IF FREON JUST NEEDED REFILLING BUT EVEN USING ALOMST A FULL CAN STILL NOTHING. HAVING FUEL ISSUES BIG DIFFERENCE WEEKS APART FUEL ISSUES.THEN OVER HEATING, NEXT UNABLE TO HOLD COOLANT, CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. STILL UNABLE TO KEEP COOLANT FROM LEAKING, WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I 95 OUT OF NO WHERE I LOOSE THE ABILITY OF SPEED THEN SHUTTERING RUNNING HOT AGAIN BLEW HEAD GASKET LOST POWER HARD TO GAIN CONTROL AND WAS ALMOST HIT 2 TIMES BY CAR BEHIND AND ON SIDE.CAR HAD TO BE PUSHED TO SHOULDER AND PICKED UP WITH WRECKER SERVICE. MECHANIC HAD TO COME TO CAR BC IT WOULDN'T STSRT. HE SAID THE GASKET IS GONE. CAR WILL NOT DO ANYTHING NOW. WILL GET RECEIPTS FROM DEALER SERVICING, WRECKER, AUTO ZONE MULT COOLANT PURCHASES, MECHANIC

NHTSA ID

11306198

Incident

Jan 9, 2020

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 ID

11292281

Incident

Dec 31, 2019

Mileage

131,000 mi

CODE P0171 AND P0420. I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING IN THE CAR THAT THESE CODES STATE. NEW THERMOSTAT, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BOTH 02 SENSORS, EXHAUST HOSE. FIXES FOR A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK AND THE SAME CODES KEEP COMING BACK. NOW THE BUTTON ON MY GEAR SHIFT STICKS KEEPING THE GEAR SHIFT FROM LOCKING INTO PLACE. THIS STOPS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO TURN MY CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION.

NHTSA ID

11243204

Incident

May 1, 2014

THE SONIC NOW RUNS VERY SPOTTY, POOR ACCELERATION, AND SLOW BUMPY IDLE. PRIOR BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED AND THE CV AXIL , ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACED. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WATER PUMP REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS, WITH RECEIPTS, CONSTITUTE A LEMON LAW BREACH. I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO A NEW CAR OR COMPENSATED. YES, THE SUSPENSION ISSUE DID HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AS WELL AS THE ENGINE. WILL UPLOAD DOCUMENTS SOON.OH, ONE LAST THING, VERY DIFFICULT REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION, BEEN GOING ON 4 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

11240542

Incident

May 9, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED AND TURNED OFF, THE HORN GOES OFF EACH TIME. IF PARKED BUT STILL RUNNING, THE HORN GOES OFF EVERY 2-3 MINUTES. WHEN LOCKING THE CAR, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY NOISE INDICATING IT HAS BEEN LOCKED. WHEN PHONE IS PLUGGED IN, THE MUSIC DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK PROPERLY. THERE IS A PIECE TO ONE OF THE HOSES THAT BROKE AND IS NOW MAKING CAR RUN LEAN. WHEN IDLING (AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN) THE ENGINE SHAKES VIGOROUSLY AND IS HARDER TO GET BACK SPEED. WHEN CAR IS RUNNING AND THE HOOD IS OPEN, THERE IS A HISSING SOUND.

NHTSA ID

11206508

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JACK SCHMITT CHEVROLET OF O'FALLON (LOCATED AT 127 REGENCY PARK, O'FALLON, IL 62269, (618) 509-9727) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5195608729. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,540.

NHTSA ID

11203047

Incident

Feb 23, 2019

Mileage

96,540 mi

TAKATA RECALL - THE ENGINE HAS BEEN MISFIRING THIS HAS ALSO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE I KNOW WHO HAS HAD THE SAME VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND THEY DON'T HAVE IT AS A RECALL YET BUT ALL OF THE DEALERSHIP ARE AWARE OF IT. THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN YOUR DRIVING OR WHEN ITS PARKED. THIS IS NOT THE ALTERNATOR OR ANYTHING ELSE I HAD THAT REPLACED AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT AND THE SAME ISSUE IS STILL OCCURRING. IT A BAD PART THEY PUT IN THE ENGINE AND IT NEEEDS TO BE RECALLED. IT IS UNFAIR AND NOT SAFE FOR CUSTOMERS WITH THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE JERKS AND WHEN IS DOES IT IT FEELS LIKE IT HESITATES TO DRIVE WHILE IN DRIVE MODE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS IT HAS JUST GOTTEN WORSE AND I AM TRULY SCARED.

NHTSA ID

11197182

Incident

Apr 17, 2019

Mileage

94,000 mi

I HAVE FOUND ONE NEW LEAK AND ONE LEAK THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. THE NEW LEAK IS THE RADIATOR. IT IS LEAKING AT THE TOP ON THE DRIVER SIDE RIGHT WHERE THE PLASTIC AND ALUMINUM MEET. THE OTHER LEAK IS THE PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING. CURRENT MILES: 69,500

NHTSA ID

11173927

Incident

Feb 4, 2019

Mileage

69,500 mi

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 ID

11165206

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

Mileage

85,000 mi