2013 Chevrolet Sonic: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2013 / chevrolet / sonic
known issues6 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-07)
complaints217 on file (2013-02-25 → 2026-01-08)
recalls6
investigations1
fars95 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Gear shifter button and ignition key stickingPOWER TRAIN31 complaints2015-01 → 2025-03sonic-2013-shifter-key-stuck
  • 11651135 The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that upon turning off the vehicle, the ignition key remained stuck in the ignition switch
  • 10808093 THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON GETS STUCK IN DEPRESSED POSITION, PREVENTING REMOVAL OF THE KEY FROM IGNITION WHEN IN PARK POSITION AND ALLOWS THE SHIFTER TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS AND PARK POSITIONS WITH LITTLE-TO-NO INTERVENTION
  • 10893884 WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, THE BUTTON MECHANISM WILL NOT RELEASE ONCE THE LEVER IS IN THE DESIRED GEAR, MAKING THE SHIFT ITSELF PRONE TO SLIDING BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT GEARS AND PUTTING THE DRIVER AT RISK FOR ACCIDENTS
Water pump and thermostat coolant leaksENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING15 complaints2015-02 → 2026-01sonic-2013-coolant-leak-overheat
  • 11585004 The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that there was fluid leaking from underneath the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated
  • 11165623 I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR COOLING SYSTEM (RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, ENGINE BLOCK COOLANT INTAKE, COOLANT EXPANSION TANK, ENGINE/TURBO COOLANT PIPING) RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AMOUNTING TO OVER THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS
  • 11062970 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT 3 TIMES AND IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN
Air intake hose cracking with rough idleENGINE9 complaints2015-05 → 2023-10sonic-2013-air-intake-hose-crack
  • 10885167 GM PART NUMBER 95027313 OUTLET DUCT CONNECTING THE AIR BOX TO THE THROTTLE BODY HAS SHREDDED IN 30,000 MILES OF USE
  • 10924376 ROUGH IDLE AT STOP AND SLUGGISH PROPULSION WHILE DRIVING TO WHERE IT CAN BECOME DANGEROUS WHILE MERGING ONTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC AND BUSY CITY STREETS
  • 10714279 ON MY WAY TO WORK NOTICED THE CAR LACKING SOME POWER WHEN ACCELERATING TO GET ON HIGHWAY
Electrical malfunctions in radio and instrument panelELECTRICAL SYSTEM12 complaints2014-09 → 2022-11sonic-2013-electrical-malfunction
  • 11423818 At around 45,600 miles the Odometer and Trip Meter on my 2013 Sonic stopped displaying numbers and instead shows just 3 dashes
  • 10895093 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO AND THE AUDIBLE TURN INDICATOR FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ACTIVATED
  • 10640144 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DOING 55 MPH THE CAR JUST SUDDENLY TURNED ITSELF OFF WITH NO WARNING
Air bag non-deployment in crashAIR BAGS14 complaints2014-06 → 2025-04sonic-2013-airbag-non-deployment
  • 11553681 Car accident November 3, 2023. A dear ran in front car while traveling 55mps. As the impact took place causing front and of the car to be smashed Air bags in the car did not deployed
  • 10914440 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE ROAD TO GET IN A TURNING LANE, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE
  • 10627194 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY
Passenger seat air bag occupant sensor failureAIR BAGS7 complaints2015-02 → 2019-06sonic-2013-passenger-airbag-sensor
  • 11174858 THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR GOES OUT. IF SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT, AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN NECESSARY
  • 10702533 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED
  • 10689914 THE CAR HAS A DETECTION SYSTEM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SHOULD DETECT IF ANYONE IS IN THAT SEAT. WHEN PASSENGER IS DETECTED, THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS SHOULD BE ACTIVATED

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
2172013-02-252026-01-08244ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:56; ENGINE:55; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:45; POWER TRAIN:38; AIR BAGS:25

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
16V25700028/04/2016EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.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 driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.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 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.
14V41700002/07/2014EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICALGeneral 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 August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.
13V22000024/05/2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEMGeneral 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 year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.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 recall number is 13158.
12V45400017/09/2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEMGeneral 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 condition and will not indicate the condition to the driver. Thus, These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."If the driver is not aware that the turn signal is not functioning and does not have the light repaired, other drivers may not be alerted that the vehicle is turning, increasing the risk of a crash.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 1-866-694-6546.
13V46400026/09/2013FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTINGGeneral 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.If the front fuel tank strap bracket separates, the increased load may lead to the failure of the other tank support. As a result, the fuel tank may come loose from the vehicle causing a fuel leak. A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.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 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13296.
23V51600027/07/2023AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEGeneral 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.An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.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 October 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232413120.

Investigations all years →

action_numberstatussubjectcomponentsopenedclosedrecall_campaignsummary
EA21002openDesiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE2021-09-17··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, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202495legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2013/chevrolet/sonic
@misc{wrenchpro_2013_chevrolet_sonic_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2013 Chevrolet Sonic},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2013/chevrolet/sonic}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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