2014 Chevrolet Sonic Problems, Recalls & Reliability
230 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 39/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 51,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2014 sits among all Sonic years
What owners report
“Electric My coolant And leaking issues My car door look when keys are inside ignition”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Sonic
“Shifter button stuck. Key will not release and vehicle will shift from park to drive without pressing brake.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Sonic
“The vehicle over heated and was towed to the dealer for repair. One of the engine coolant outlets was made of plastic and crumbled into pieces where the hose connects to it. The bolts were also broken off into the side of the engine. This repair cost $1,200 and was done twice within 2 months time.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Sonic
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 153 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 55,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 19,000 and 73,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
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 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured July 28, 2014, to August 1, 2014. Due to a loss of electrical connection in the steering column, in the event of a severe crash, the driver's frontal air bag…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will test the terminals in the IP harness clock spring coil connector and replace any loose terminals, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners…
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…
Technical service bulletins
1,505 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2014 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 2014 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
The 2014 Chevrolet Sonic drew 230 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 39/100, scored against the model's worst year (2012).
What are the most common 2014 Chevrolet Sonic problems?
The top reported problems for the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic are electrical (53 complaints), other (44), and engine (38).
At what mileage do 2014 Chevrolet Sonic problems show up?
Owners most often report 2014 Chevrolet Sonic problems around 55,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 19,000 and 73,000 miles.
Does the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2014 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.