2015 Chevrolet Sonic

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated the audible indicators for the driver's seat belt and the "Key Left in Ignition' was inoperable. The contactor also stated that the radio powered on independently, causing the driver to be startled due to the loud volume. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer, but not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V422000 (Electrical System, Equipment), 16V257000 (Equipment, Electrical System) or 15V416000 (Equipment). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

Incident Oct 28, 2023

First sign of problem - Sept. 2021. Driving on highway at about 35 mph. Simultaneously, engine quit running, door locks unlocked and all dash lights came. In a matter of less than a second the doors relocked, forward momentum of vehicle caused transmission to kick start the engine and jolt forward rather violently. Then the dash lights went off and the vehicle resumed normal operation. This continued to happen with increasing frequency. I took the vehicle to the local Chevy dealer to set up an appointment for service. When I explained the problem to the representative, he told me that the battery was the likely cause. I went to an auto parts store and had the battery checked. It did, indeed, have a bad cell. I replaced the battery and the car operated fine for several months but the problem began to recur, infrequently at first but continued to worsen. I discovered later that the same problem also happened when when the car was sitting idling. The difference was that without the forward momentum of the car, the engine did not restart and required being shifted into neutral and started with the key. Also, when driving at a speed of less than about 30 mph, the forward motion was not enough to kick start the engine and shifting into neutral and using the key to restart was necessary while coasting in traffic. Final symptom, the above has happened only now the dash lights go out and the vehicle does not respond at all. After several minutes and several attempts the lights come back on and the vehicle runs. The car had 55,563 miles on it when I bought it and in just over 3 years, I have put 6,237 miles on it and it now sits because I am afraid to drive it. I have had the vehicle back at the dealer twice since having the new battery installed. They simply tell me that they cannot recreate to get a code and therefore cannot help.

Incident Sep 21, 2023

Air bag light on. There are 4 codes in the SDM, due to an internal fault in the sensing diagnostic module. The dealership states that it has to be replaced and will cost close to $1100 to have repaired and to clear all of the codes.

Incident Jun 24, 2023

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

Incident Jun 2, 2023

My cars coolant is leaking and the source is unknown. My car has overheated twice and my mechanic has been unable to find what needs to be repaired. The coolant has need to to be filled twice within a 6 month period. Now my car is having other issues with the catalyst system that lead me to believe the coolant leak might be affecting these other parts. My catalytic converter was already replaced and the same code has popped up 4 months later.

Incident Apr 11, 2023

Passenger side front airbags did not deploy during a front end vehicle crash. All other airbags in vehicle did deploy. Injury did occur due to this.

Incident Apr 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned on with the transmission in park(P), the doors would erroneously lock. On several occasions after parking and turning the vehicle off, moments later the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who checked the battery but found no failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 39,000.

Incident Jul 2, 2022

The driver, and front passenger interior door handles the metallic chrome coating starts to lose its adhesive. When opening the door from the inside it cuts your hands if you don't notice it. Both door handles started to have the same issue within the same year. My children, my wife and myself all have been cut from the same problem. I tried to remove the parts that caused the injury due to us not being home and still required to use the door handles. I didn't want further injury to occur to my family.

Incident Dec 2, 2022

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the odor of exhaust fumes was present inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the catalytic converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage 86,000.

Incident Oct 1, 2022

Once again, my doors unlocked then relocked, my dashboard lights went out and the engine stalled. I was on the KU campus when this happened 3 times within 6 blocks. This is getting very scary, especially when i am in a busy area of town. No codes have ever popped up. This has been happening since May 2022. I will keep reporting, hopefully there will be a recall soon. Very frustrated with this situation!

Incident Sep 8, 2022

On September 2, 2022, the locks on my car unlocked and relived while I was driving at about 20 mph. This keeps happening over the last 4-5 months. This time it happened twice in two blocks near my home. I have reported this several times. No codes ever come up. Sometimes the car will stall but always starts right back up. I know I am not the only one with this issue. Please find a cause and issue a recall to get this fixed! This can be very dangerous even life threading if there is an accident because of it.

Incident Sep 2, 2022

3 times yesterday - September 1, 2022, my car locks unlocked then locked again and the engine stalled. Dash lights did not go off, but the car died 3 times in a matter of 10 minutes.

Incident Sep 1, 2022

While driving, the locks on the car will unlock then relock quickly, the dash will go black and the motor will rev like I am trying to go in the Park position. This has happened several time in town where I live. Update from Aug 11, 2022The first time it happened I took it to the dealership and of course there were no codes and they couldn't find anything wrong. - [XXX], US INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Incident May 15, 2022

Dashboard speed indicator dimming and getting brighter for no reason. no warning lamps. Check engine lamp turned on then after fueling vehicle engine won't start, or won't shut off. Vehicle is an automatic transmission. A button must be engaged to put vehicle in park, drive, etc. The Button often sticks and keys cannot be removed because the transmission won't go in to park . On July 17 the button popped out while driving. This could have stranded myself or my family. The cause of the issue is unknown, but drivers may become distracted when the end of the automatic gear shift lever pops out or as in my case when putting the vehicle into park it pops out and breaks off entirely. I believe it to be a defective part that can easily break. My vehicle has less than 70,000 miles. It has not been assessed by an insurance agent or dealership yet

Incident Jul 17, 2022

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.

Incident Jun 9, 2022

Vehicle shows P0420 code (Bad Catalytic Converter) at relatively low miles 92,000 miles on a 2015 model with a 1.8L engine.

Incident May 17, 2022

The car keep getting hot due to liquid missing but I always fill the car up to 2014 it was a recall to all the chef sonics but not the 2015 but is still the same issue

Incident May 16, 2022

Vehicle shakes and vibrates when first turned on, and driving. Has alot of vibration.

Incident Feb 10, 2020

Catalytic converter failed at 110,000 miles. Same exact catalytic converter recalled for 2013 and 2014 sonic models, for some reason not covered by the recall for 2015 models

Incident Jul 18, 2021

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet sonic. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, there was white smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact mentioned that once the vehicle was to the side of the road, the contact noticed that there was antifreeze all over the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rear water outlet needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred twice. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. The VIN was invalid.

Incident Nov 15, 2019

My airbag on the passenger side goes on and off all the time, dealership wouldnt fix it couldnt find why it was doing that. Now while driving it just shuts off with out a warning ,scard to take it to dealership cant afford to keep putting money into it. I have had problems since the car was bought from the dealership. Now do not know how to be able to sell if it is doing this.

Incident Jun 18, 2021

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the communication system failed to operate as designed. There were no warning chimes and the horn was disengaged. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the radio software needing to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 16V422000 (Electrical System, Equipment). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

Incident Jan 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CONSISTENCE OF WHITE SNOW UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DYER CHEVROLET (1000 US-1, VERO BEACH, FL 32960, (772) 617-4793) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

Incident Apr 1, 2018

HAS BEEN HACKED

Incident Nov 21, 2019

THE RADIO WILL FREEZE SOMETIMES AND THE SEATBELT CHIME WILL NEVER COME ON IF IT'S NOT BUCKLED, AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE LOCKING ITSELF WITH THE CAR KEYS IN THE IGNITION EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS ON

Incident Mar 1, 2020

1ST AT 20K MILES (2019) MY CAR WOULDN'T START, STUCK LATE NIGHT. CALLED AAA, BATTERY HAD DEAD CELL SO I PURCHASED ONE FOR $200. MONTHS LATER FOUND OUT IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I STARTED SMELLING COOLANT (2019). DEALER SAID IT WAS THE WATER PUMP. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. STARTED SMELLING COOLANT AGAIN (2019), IT WAS A VALVE, WASN'T COVERED. THE CAR WOULDN'T START, DEAD CELL IN THE BATTERY AGAIN (2020) STARTED SMELLING COOLANT (2020), NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR, WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. STARTED SMELLING FUMES & HAD A LEAK. IT WAS THE PURGE SOLENOID NEEDED REPLACING, ANOTHER $500. TWO MONTHS AGO (NOV 2020) THE AMBIENT SENSOR WENT OUT $450. NOW TODAY (JAN 5, 2021) THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND I'M TOLD IT'S THE INTERNAL SDM FAULT AND WILL BE CLOSE TO A $900 REPAIR.

Incident Jan 5, 2021

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR "GLICHES" THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, THE POWER STEERING STOPS THE LOCKS GO UP AND DOWN AND ALL ELECTRONICS IN THE DASHBOARD GO ON AND OFF. LAST WEEK, IT SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND I COULD NOT START IT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR SO. GOT IT HOME AND IT DID IT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THIS STARTED YEARS AGO. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER THEY SAID "WELL IT'S NOT DOING IT NOW". I WAS NOT EDUCATED AT THE TIME TO PUSH FOR ANYTHING TO BE DONE. THE STOPPING COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.

Incident Dec 30, 2020

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE I HAD IT. FIRST THERE WAS A SMELL OF COOLANT IN THE CABIN. ALTHOUGH MISDIAGNOSED INITIALLY, THE MEACHANIC LATER FOUND THAT THERE WAS TRULY AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. BUT IN THE LAST YEAR I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED, THE HOUSING OF SOMETHING WAS REPLACED A MONTH LATER (I DO NOT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE PART). AND A THIRD REPAIR WAS ALSO DONE. ALL FOR THECOOLANT THAT CONTINUES TO FIND A WAY TOLEAK OUT. NOW I AM BEING TOLD AGAIN, BY THE DEALER, THAT THE COOLANT IS LEAKING AGAIN, THIS TIME FROM THE WATER PUMP. I HAVE PAID A NICE CHUNK OF CHANGE TO AND BEING TOLD I NEED TO SPEND YET ANOTHER $400+. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH SONICS ARE HAVING THE ISSUES WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. I ASKED ABOUT A RECALL AND HE TOLD ME TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. WHENEVER THE ISSUE ARISES AGAIN THERE IS ALWAYS A STRONG SMELL OF COOLANT IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. THEN THE CAR STOPS BLOWING HEAT AND AIR, OR BLOWS IT INTERMITTENTLY.

Incident Dec 7, 2020

DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT LATCH WILL NO LONGER CATCH AND LOCK WHEN FASTNEING SEATBELT

Incident Sep 1, 2020

HAZZARD LIGHTS BUTTON WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. HAD JUST REPLACED ALL FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND 3 WEEKS LATER THEY BOTH WENT OUT. SIDE MIRRORS SWITCH IS NOT WORKING.

Incident Jul 18, 2020

2015 HATCHBACK 'MY LINK'/INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM JUST 'FROZE'/PUSHING ON SCREEN TO ACTIVATE USUAL FUNCTIONS BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

Incident Mar 31, 2019

DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. KEY WILL NOT COME OUT. WHEN I PUT IT INTO PARK TO GET OUT.

Incident Aug 7, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY CEASED IN THE IGNITION CAUSING THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS JUMP STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO GERRY WOOD HONDA (414 JAKE ALEXANDER BLVD SOUTH, SALISBURY, NC 28147) TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V257000 (EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.

Incident Apr 9, 2019

IF YOU ARE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND YOU HAVE YOUR HIGH BEAMS ON THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK. THE WIPERS WILL TURN OFF, THE RPM'S RACE HIGH ACCELERATING THE CAR INTO ALMOST A SPIN IF YOU DO NOT COUNTER CORRECT THE STEERING. THE ENGINE AND RADIO SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM TIMES AS WELL. HAD A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK DONE, NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, BATTERY OR ALTERNATOR. WAS TOLD IT IS A MANUFACTURER IS WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM, BUT NHTSA WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE UNTIL SOMEONE GET'S KILLED, SO GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT FIX IT, UNTIL THEY ARE IN PROBATE COURT. AS A LEO THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR, ESPECIALLY AFTER OUR GOVERNMENT JUST BAILED THEM OUT AGAIN WITH OUR TAX MONEY. *TR

Incident May 26, 2020

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM TURNS OFF EVEN WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETIMES IT TURNS ON AND THEN TURNS OFF MIDWAY THROUGH A TRIP, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, WITH NO EXPLANATION. IT WORKS SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES DOES NOT FOR NO RHYME OR REASON. *TR

Incident May 30, 2020

MY CAR STARTING KILLING ON ME I HAD TO LEAVE IT AND GET A RIDE HOME A COUPLE OFF TIMES THE LAST TIME I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WERE THEY FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME WITH A LOCK OUT DEVICE ON IT THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 1-29 I GOT FIRED BECAUSE OF NO TRANSPORTION

Incident Jan 2, 2020

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS INCONSISTENT. WITH ANY PASSENGER SEATED THE "ON" LIGHT DOES NOT STAY ON. IT WILL SOMETIMES COME ON TEMPORARILY THEN OFF AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER OR NOT THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS SIMILAR CONCERNS FROM OTHERS ON LINE AND EVEN ON THIS SITE.

Incident Oct 1, 2019

I PURCHASED MY CAR ABOUT A YEAR A HALF AGO AND IT HAS BEEN GIVING ME NON STOP ENGINE AND LEAK ISSUES. I HAVE A 2015 CHEVY SONIC TURBO AND SO FAR I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC 8 TIMES TO FIX COOLANT LEAKS, FIX MY FUEL THERMOSTAT AS WELL AS REPLACE A HEAD GASKET AFTER HAVING IT BLOW.

Incident Jan 16, 2020

THE PASSENGER SIDE (OCCUPANT SENSOR) AIR BAG SWITCH IS INCONSISTENT. IT WILL NOT ALWAYS TURN ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. SOMETIMES IT DOES SOMETIMES IS DOES NOT.

Incident Dec 19, 2019

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE ACCORDING TO OUR MECHANIC. WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE CAR TURNED ON AND STATIONARY, SOMETIMES, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DOES NOT TURN ON AS IF IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A PERSON THERE. IF THE CAR IS THEN PUT INTO DRIVE, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM STILL REMAINS OFF. OTHER TIMES, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL TURN ON AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRIVE AND THEN TURN OFF RANDOMLY DURING THE DRIVE WHILE SOMEONE IS STILL SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN OBVIOUS ISSUE AS THE AIRBAG MAY NOT ACTIVATE IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THERE IS INDEED SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

Incident May 1, 2019