The Chevrolet Sonic Years To Avoid
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Despite the popularity of SUVs, there remains a significant number of people who prefer small, compact cars. This preference can be attributed to a variety of factors.
Personal preferences play a significant role, as some people find smaller cars more appealing or comfortable to drive. Practicality is another key factor since compact cars are often easier to maneuver and park in urban environments. Lastly, cost-efficiency is another major consideration, as smaller cars are more affordable and typically offer better fuel efficiency.
The Chevrolet Sonic is worth considering if you’re looking to buy a solid compact car that can get you from point A to B. The Sonic offers good safety scores, an impressive value proposition, and fun driving dynamics with the right configuration. However, is it a reliable choice for used car buyers?
Today, we highlight some of the Chevrolet Sonic years to avoid due to various issues and user complaints. Let’s take a look.
Which Chevrolet Sonic Years To Avoid?
Below are the Sonic model years used car buyers should avoid because of their reported issues, a high number of customer complaints, and other problems.
- 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
- 2013 Chevrolet Sonic
- 2014 Chevrolet Sonic
- 2015 Chevrolet Sonic
2012 Chevrolet Sonic
The first production year of any car model is often seen as a “guinea pig” year. Manufacturers use this time to work out any kinks or issues that may not have been apparent during the design and testing phases – that is, unfortunately, the case with the 2012 Sonic.
CarComplaints says the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is the worst model year of this compact car and was awarded the “Beware of the Clunker” badge. The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic has 687 complaints and seven recalls, with the most common problem being a bad transmission, costing around $3,600 to fix and occurring at an average mileage of 73,000 miles.
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Unfortunately, transmission issues are one of the cardinal sins in automotive reliability. One owner reported that the transmission bearing failed at 86,400 miles, making the car unusable and unsellable. Meanwhile, another owner experienced a transmission failure at 72,000 miles that matched the description of a fracture in the turbine shaft from a 2014 recall.
Another major pain point of this model is the illuminated check engine light. One owner reported that the engine light came on, and all the oil ended up in the antifreeze due to a part that should have been recalled. This happened after the car was serviced, and the owner was left with a hefty repair bill. Another complainant had their check engine light come on and off. The codes pulled by their mechanic all pertained to the thermostat and/or engine temperature.
With these major issues, buyers should avoid the 2012 model at all costs.
2013 Chevrolet Sonic
The 2013 model fared better in terms of long-term reliability and user complaints, but it’s still one of the worst Chevrolet Sonic years to avoid due to its own set of issues.
According to CarComplaints, the 2013 Sonic received 393 complaints and five recalls. Its main issue is an electrical problem that prevents the vehicle from starting. One owner reported that their 2013 Sonic would suddenly not turn over. Despite the battery being charged, the car would not start, and the key was stuck in the ignition.
Another person had to have the Electronic Control Module (ECM) replaced when their Sonic suddenly would not start. All dashboard lights were on, and the battery was good, but the car would not start.
The 2013 Sonic also received reports about coolant leaks. An owner reported that their engine check light did not notify them when their car leaks radiator fluid, which could have led to severe engine damage or a fire. Meanwhile, another complainant had to replace the water pump twice due to a leak within the first two years of owning the vehicle.
However, it’s worth noting there were fewer complaints for this model year. While this doesn’t make the vehicle wholly unreliable, these issues may lead to inconvenient situations and costly repairs.
2014 Chevrolet Sonic
Chevy did a good job with the 2014 Sonic as it’s significantly more reliable than the two previous models. However, it does have its fair share of issues potential buyers should know.
CarComplaints documented over 250 complaints and four recalls for the 2014 Sonic. Thankfully, the top reliability woes of this model are relatively minor compared to the previous years. For instance, several owners complained about the car’s faulty A/C. A frustrated owner reported that their air conditioning system was blowing warm air and had to bring it to the dealership a whopping seven times.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE CHEVROLET SONIC
If you’re looking for a used Chevrolet Sonic, you’ll want to purchase your car from the best years, not the ones riddled with recalls and manufacturing hiccups. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most reliable years for used Chevrolet Sonics.
The car also received a few reports of unintended acceleration. One owner experienced bouts of unintended acceleration from the first day they drove their Sonic. This was most prominent when the car was idling. The car had an automatic transmission and covered about 34k miles. Again, these are only a few reports, hardly indicating a widespread issue.
Overall, the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic is not the most unreliable year, but it has issues that many people may find inconvenient.
2015 Chevrolet Sonic
The 2015 model is far from the worst Chevrolet Sonic years to avoid, but as usual, it has many reported reliability problems worth pointing out.
CarComplaints has listed 176 complaints and three recalls for the 2015 Sonic. Unfortunately, a few people reported issues of engine failure for this model. One owner claimed that their car suddenly died while driving, causing a loss of lights, engine power, and steering. This happened at an intersection and almost resulted in a serious accident.
Another distraught owner reported that the car died while idling just a few minutes after being turned on. On another occasion, the vehicle died while trying to cross traffic, and the owner had to drive the car slowly across traffic.
In general, the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic is probably the most reliable model on this list. However, while it has fewer issues and complaints, the nature of the problems is rather major. Thus, you’ll want to think twice before buying a 2015 Sonic.
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