Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Code U0101 is set. Unable to communicate with TCM. Troubleshooted and found TCM is bad. Removed necessary components for tcm replacement. Removed the tcm/valve body assembly and replaced. Replaced necessary gaskets and reinstalled necessary components. Set transmission fluid level to specifications per procedure. Dealer advised they stock 3 TCM at all times due to many failures and demands of TCM.
We have a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic Lt that we bought from car country in Aurora Indiana the transmission has gone the dealer told that the had been serviced but it never was so now we can't drive the car and its just sitting in the our driveway we reported it to car country about the transmission and they totally ignored us about it and refusing to help
The manual transmission's clutch master cylinder failed on two occasions. It snapped into two pieces. On the first occasion, on March 24, 2022 I stepped on the clutch pedal, and it remained on the floor. The car was essentially inoperable. I was able to coast to a stop by the curb, but the car had to be towed. The part was repaired at a Chevrolet dealer with GM parts and returned to me on March 31, 2022. On June 9, 2022, the part failed again, in the identical manner. The part snapped into two pieces. The Chevrolet dealer is, over my objection, replacing the part. I have objected to the replacement of the part, because I am concerned that it is defective and certain to fail once again in the same way as it did on the two other occasions. I was fortunate on both occassions to be on suburban streets with very light traffic. I was able to coast to a stop at curbside on both occasions. My safety and the safety of others would have been at risk if the failure had happened on a heavily trafficked high-speed superhighway, or had I been ascending a hill on a busy road. The failure of the part makes it impossible for a driver to respond to the situation, as it disables the transmission system.
TRANSMISSION IS SURGING IN GEAR, IN MOTION AND STATIONARY, AT ANY SPEED. SENSATION IS STRONG ENOUGH TO NOTICE EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FEELS LIKE RESISTANCE BUILDING AND THEN RELEASING RAPIDLY. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN COLDER WEATHER. UNSURE IF CLUTCH IS SLIPPING/GRABBING. EQUATE SENSATION TO SOMEONE BUMPING THE CAR FROM THE REAR OR PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL BRIEFLY WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE SHIFT INTERLOCK BUTTON SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, OR RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL WITHOUT THE VEHICLE ROLLING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAND PRIZE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 32 NY-304, NANUET, NY 10954, (845) 623-6060) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON (PN: GM95393161) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TR
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.
WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS TURNED ON CALL LOSES POWER IF STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN YOU CAN PRESS THE ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY DOWN CAR IS VERY SLOW TAKING OFF AND SOMETIME WINDOW CONTROL DON'T WORK. AIR-CONDITION BLOWS HOT AIR AT TIMES.
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.
SHIFT BUTTON STICKS. CAN NOT REMOVE KEY, CAN NOT SHIFT VEHICLE INTO PARK. SHIFT BUTTON WAS REDESIGNED BY GENERAL MOTORS PART # 42423234 BUT THEY WILL NOT RECALL! THIS HAPPENS TO EVERY CHEVROLET SONIC.
WE OWN A CHEVY SONIC AT ROUNG 28000 MILES THE BUTTON ON THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD GET STUCK AND NOT POP OUT; ONE LEAVING THE CAR IN GEAR, TWO NOT ALLOWING YOU TO REMOVE THE KEY AFTER YOU HAVE "PARKED" AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. BECAUSE THE BUTTON DOES NOT POP OUT THE CAR STAYS IN GEAR AND THUS EVEN AFTER PARKING AND TURNING THE ENGINE OFF THE CAR CAN SHIFT AND ROLL OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL YEAR SONICS. THE BUTTON STUCK, WHILE WE DROVE, AND PARKED. WE THEN HAD THE PARK REPLACED. THE SECOND BUTTON SNAPPED AT THE BASE TWO MONTHS LATER!!!! NOW AFRIAD TO USE THE CAR. I BELIEVE ONLY REPLACING THE ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT WILL MAKE THIS PROBLEM GO AWAY. THE BUTTONS JUST DONT WORK.
WHEN SHIFTER FROM ANY GEAR INTO PARK THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER STICKS IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION MAKING IT EASY TO BUMP THE SHIFTER BACK INTO GEAR AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE SHIFTER IF PUT INTO THE PARK POSITION THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION UNTIL AFTER THE BUTTON SLIDES SLOWLY INTO THE LATCHED "NOT DEPRESSED" POSITION. THE ISSUE OCCURS ONLY WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE PARK AND DOES NOT AFFECT ANY OTHER SHIFTER POSITION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS OVER THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT INJURED HIS RIGHT HAND AND RIGHT FOOT, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER; HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED AN INVESTIGATOR TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO DRIVER'S ERROR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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