2013 Chevrolet Sonic Problems, Recalls & Reliability
322 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 63/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 79,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2016–2017.
Avoid
Where 2013 sits among all Sonic years
What owners report
“The same issues with the coolant leak in the water pump for the 1.4l engine is happening to my 1.8l chevrolet sonic”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonic
“Was unable to get key out of ignition due to the gear shift button being stuck in.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonic
“When the key is in the ignition it does not chime when the door is open. It will only chime with the door open if it is turned to accessory.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonic
“Vehicle shift knob button is sticking. Allows the car to be shifted with little force and caused the key to lock in the ignition.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonic
“Takata recall, my car has been hit in the front end 3 times and the last time was a hard hit, none of the times have i had an airbag come out.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Sonic
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 226 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 53,611 miles. Half of those reports fall between 24,397 and 88,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014.…
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured August 2, 2013, through August 12, 2013. Due to insufficient welds, the front fuel tank strap bracket may separate from the vehicle.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front fuel tank strap bracket, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 7, 2013. Owners may contact GM at…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 29, 2012, through August 29, 2012. When a turn signal lamp fails to operate, the Body Control Module (BCM) in these vehicles does not detect this…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the BCM and the vehicle's key fobs, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 3, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade,…
Technical service bulletins
1,724 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic drew 322 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 63/100, scored against the model's worst year (2012).
What are the most common 2013 Chevrolet Sonic problems?
The top reported problems for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic are engine (61 complaints), electrical (60), and other (57).
At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Sonic problems show up?
Owners most often report 2013 Chevrolet Sonic problems around 53,611 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 24,397 and 88,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.