Chevrolet Sonic Engine Problems
Owners have filed 239 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Chevrolet Sonic across 9 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (83). The words owners use most often: “water pump” (8% of reports).
- 239engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 20%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Water pump: mentioned in 18 of 239 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Chevrolet Sonic at $1,000, and half of them between $650 and $1,450.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 164 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 239 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 3 an injury.
Chevrolet Sonic engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Sonic | 2 | 20% | — |
| 2019 Sonic | 2 | 25% | — |
| 2018 Sonic | 4 | 27% | 56,500 |
| 2017 Sonic | 19 | 51% | 54,136 |
| 2016 Sonic | 13 | 27% | 65,000 |
| 2015 Sonic | 23 | 20% | 38,500 |
| 2014 Sonic | 38 | 25% | 37,200 |
| 2013 Sonic | 55 | 25% | 74,000 |
| 2012 Sonic | 83 | 23% | 49,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the Chevrolet Sonic. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I purchased a 2012 Chevy Sonic with 65k miles on it from Carvibe LLC earlier this month. When I took it into Firestone for a full inspection, they found that the car has severe rusting to the mechanical parts along with the body of the vehicle - the entire structure of the vehicle is compromised…
Engine Cooling System (Thermostat Housing / Water Outlet) The vehicle suffered a premature structural failure of the factory engine coolant thermostat housing. The component, which is manufactured from a fragile plastic composite, cracked completely open without warning, causing an immediate, rapid…
Oil cooling system has been replaced. Major leak in AC line needs replacement. Purge solenoid stop functioning and was replaced, now there is an additional major coolant leak
Electric My coolant And leaking issues My car door look when keys are inside ignition
It gets hot fast when idle Radiator leaks , leaks coolant burns oil
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Sonics have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 239 owner complaints about engine for the Chevrolet Sonic. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Sonic engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Chevrolet Sonic?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,000 (half paid between $650 and $1,450), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Chevrolet Sonic?
The most frequent phrase is “water pump”, in 18 of 239 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Sonic problems
- Power Train problems (231)
- Electrical System problems (227)
- Air Bags problems (126)
See all Chevrolet Sonic problems.