2012 Sonic shifter button broken/repair

[Stu Pidaso]

So awhile back the shifter button on my 2012 Sonic started sticking (as some of you here have experienced). After getting the transmission repaired under recall and getting my car back, I noticed my button was now broken. After contacting the dealer, they refused to repair the button. I recently got around to fixing it and thought I would share how. I wish I had taken more pictures along the way but hopefully you will be able to understand.

The first picture shows the actual break at the bottom of the button.

Not knowing exactly what I should remove, I popped the top off first. The areas marked show were any clips or attach points are.

The next step I later realized I did not need to remove the up/down shift button, but I have marked the little pin at the hinge point that can easily be pushed out.

Once the pin is out, you can now remove both pieces out the front of the shifter. There is a small spring that assist with the button coming back out but I have no pic of it. You should be able to easily see it though.

I then took the two pieces and super glued them together. Knowing that super glue would not actually hold long term, I fill ed the back with resin. You can probably use epoxy but since we make replica props we had some Smooth-On 300 readily available.

Before reassembling the shifter, I took a razor and trimmed around where the button goes so there would no longer be a rub/stick.

Ever since this it has moved soooo easy.

Hopefully this info will help anyone needing to fix their shifter button.

 

[Diana]

That's EXACTLY what happened to my button!

I purchased my 1 yr old 2013 Sonic HB LTZ from Hertz Rent-to-Buy and from the 1st day noticed the base of the shift knob was jagged. I thought it was a bad mold and needed to be filed down - it was sharp enough to shred your fingers while shifting. It wasn't until I couldn't shift out of gear that I realized it was a real problem. The button had sporadically been difficult to push in, but it would eventually work. Using a mirror I saw the same break as your photo at the bottom of the button, which had moved into a position where the button couldn't be depressed.

Last night, while backing out of a driveway, the whole button popped out. A friend got it back in so I could get home, but now I have to figure out how to fix it. I will try to repair it first, but is it a part I can purchase? So far I can't seem to find the part. :sadbanana:

 

[droiTURK182]

It's a little off topic but can anybody give me the link or info about the transmission recall that Stu Pidaso mentioned on his first post?

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

 

[Stu Pidaso]

I will try to repair it first, but is it a part I can purchase? So far I can't seem to find the part. :sadbanana:

Supposedly this is it.

 

[AdorableKaren]

Supposedly this is it.

Yes, this is the right pn. The dealership wanted to charge me to replace the whole shifter but I showed them this pn and they said I was right and I only need the button. I would rather pay $10 for only the button then $350 to replace the whole shifter.

 

[proneto911]

I was having this problem up until 5 min ago. Took the shifter apart. found what was rubbing on the button. A thin piece of material at the back of the button housing took a razor and cut 1mm into it and removed it and works like butter. Interesting enough didn't break any tabs or scratch anything like I thought I was going to do lol.

I see people going to extremes cutting chunks thinking that was overkill when all you have to do it look at the button itself and see what was rubbing and cut little bits off till it's smooth. But that's my experience.

UPDATE: went back to sticking have a feeling it's the metal pin at the bottom. It was partially out and put it in and worked like a charm. So think it's the pin moving.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

I was having this problem up until 5 min ago. Took the shifter apart. found what was rubbing on the button. A thin piece of material at the back of the button housing took a razor and cut 1mm into it and removed it and works like butter. Interesting enough didn't break any tabs or scratch anything like I thought I was going to do lol.

I see people going to extremes cutting chunks thinking that was overkill when all you have to do it look at the button itself and see what was rubbing and cut little bits off till it's smooth. But that's my experience.

UPDATE: went back to sticking have a feeling it's the metal pin at the bottom. It was partially out and put it in and worked like a charm. So think it's the pin moving.

Hi Proneto911,

Glad to hear that you were able to find the culprit. If you should need any assistance in the future and your dealership is needed, let us know. We would be happy to assist in the best way possible!

Patsy G
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[acthegiant]

Note to Patsy G - Customer Care

My 2012 Sonic has 30k miles on it but is older than 36 months - what can you do for me, and the other folks here that have the same issue with sticking/breaking shifter button on our cars? This is an obvious safety issue and I don't feel i should have to go to NHSTA to complain to get action from Chevrolet on what is an obvious defective part.

Can you help me and the others here on the Forum?

Tell me the magic words to say to my dealership to have the issue addressed without my having to carry the cost/inconvenience of the problem...