Series of issues with my Sonic

[xIROCxZx]

I purchased my 1.8L Automatic Sonic back in January (I have just a little over 7k miles on it) and have loved it up until about a month ago when some bizarre things started happening to it.

I noticed when I would get to a red light the car would shudder. Living in florida I assumed that it may have been the a/c (this is my first I-4 engine car). So the next time I had the a/c off and it still did it.
I am also experiencing this "kick" when downshifting that I have seen others post about on here.

Next the air bag light keeps coming on and off at random times an will stay on for the duration of the drive or it will go off randomly while driving.

The shifting has also started to seem like its getting sporadic. It seems to almost redline every time I go to take off (I don't have a lead foot) I talked to the dealer about this case and they told me thats how the car was designed

And the final and most frightening issue was on my way to college (a 65 min drive) I get to a red light and the car sputters and completely shuts off! This has now happened twice to me.

I am taking the car in this week to have it looked over in hopes we can find a solution.

I've noticed a few other people have had similar issues. But has anyone had their Sonic stall on them?

 

[seanp1]

I don't recall seeing anyone post about one stalling, only one shutting down while he pumed gas. That was likely due to the gas cap being removed. Good luck with getting your issues resolved.

 

[SonicQueen]

When you experience these odd occurances, you should just hit the blue OnStar button and ask the advisor to run a diagnostic on your car. They will advise if there are any codes that have been set and whether service is required immediately. This is a feature included in your 6-month OnStar trial, so use it! I hope your issue is resolved when you see your dealer.

 

[xIROCxZx]

When you experience these odd occurances, you should just hit the blue OnStar button and ask the advisor to run a diagnostic on your car. They will advise if there are any codes that have been set and whether service is required immediately. This is a feature included in your 6-month OnStar trial, so use it! I hope your issue is resolved when you see your dealer.

I would use it if my 6 months wasn't up

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

I purchased my 1.8L Automatic Sonic back in January (I have just a little over 7k miles on it) and have loved it up until about a month ago when some bizarre things started happening to it.

I noticed when I would get to a red light the car would shudder. Living in florida I assumed that it may have been the a/c (this is my first I-4 engine car). So the next time I had the a/c off and it still did it.
I am also experiencing this "kick" when downshifting that I have seen others post about on here.

Next the air bag light keeps coming on and off at random times an will stay on for the duration of the drive or it will go off randomly while driving.

The shifting has also started to seem like its getting sporadic. It seems to almost redline every time I go to take off (I don't have a lead foot) I talked to the dealer about this case and they told me thats how the car was designed

And the final and most frightening issue was on my way to college (a 65 min drive) I get to a red light and the car sputters and completely shuts off! This has now happened twice to me.

I am taking the car in this week to have it looked over in hopes we can find a solution.

I've noticed a few other people have had similar issues. But has anyone had their Sonic stall on them?

I'm sorry to hear about these issues you're having with your Sonic along with everyone else. Hopefully the dealer will be able to shed more light on what's going on. Please keep us posted on what they find.

Vanessa,
Chevrolet Customer Service

 

[xIROCxZx]

Well I brought my Sonic in to the dealership yesterday and they kept it over night. I received a phone call today of the Tech telling me they couldn't recreate any of the problems. But they were able to pin point the air bag light and are getting me a new coil for the steering wheel.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Well I brought my Sonic in to the dealership yesterday and they kept it over night. I received a phone call today of the Tech telling me they couldn't recreate any of the problems. But they were able to pin point the air bag light and are getting me a new coil for the steering wheel.

Thanks for the update. Sorry to hear the dealer wasn't able to recreate this issue you were having. Hopefully your vehicle won't shut off on you again. Maybe you can get a second opinion at another dealer. Keep me posted!

Vanessa,
GM Customer Service

 

[vstilly]

Stalling

Our sonic stalled a few times, they reprogrammed the vehicle after i brought it back two times. it was literally brand new with 1500 miles on it. Ever since thne nothing but problems with this car. I just want to be rid of it. I have nothing good to say about this car.

 

[Eric Smit]

Our sonic stalled a few times, they reprogrammed the vehicle after i brought it back two times. it was literally brand new with 1500 miles on it. Ever since thne nothing but problems with this car. I just want to be rid of it. I have nothing good to say about this car.

Then get rid of it and have a nice day.


-Eric Smit

 

[AndrewGS]

The shuttering and stalling could be transmission related. I'd have the technician take a nice ride with you so he can see what it's doing while you explain it to him.

 

[2FR35H]

Well I brought my Sonic in to the dealership yesterday and they kept it over night. I received a phone call today of the Tech telling me they couldn't recreate any of the problems. But they were able to pin point the air bag light and are getting me a new coil for the steering wheel.

Drive with them show them the problem because im sure it happens more than once of which is why you took it there to begin with. Thats what I did I showed the manger and the Transmission Specialist in the car as I drove. It will happen again.

 

[MicroEngineer]

"Then get rid of it and have a nice day."

-1

 

[hmae37]

Have you had any updates on this? Same issue and then some I am having, I have asked 3 times between 2 dealers for someone to ride with me and it's as if I never even said anything. Then they tell em it's normal, which I find hard to believe since it's gotten progressively worse over time, into a extended start, which is normal for gm cars, which i was told today. I have never driven a gm car that runs that way including the 2 different loaners a 2 rentals I've had, including the same model sonic. It drove like a dream compared to mine. Let me know.

 

[Poopsicle]

Stalling

For an electrifying read, you can browse the thread I started regarding the problems I had with our Sonic stalling:

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t3824/

 

[hmae37]

I did see your thread, I am jealous that you have had so much progress including an offer of the new car. I have no such luck, not even a taste of that stuff called luck. I was hoping after them having my car for the last 12 days they'd be fixing something, but as GM has notified me today they have done nothing. It's all normal, Blah Blah. I am so disappointed and left feeling like GM truly doesn't care about mine or my children's safety(individually, not the general public). After the last stall in the intersection it scared the hell outta me. But since the stall is nothing they can recreate and the idle seems perfectly normal, they have literally done nothing. They can't recreate it, I'm a total loon apparently. They don't take things apart or look at what it may be, hell I had to give them bulletin numbers (in case related) because they couldn't find em. But this is a trusted dealer with GM . I had given a brief summary of my issues to a different dealer recently, he actually started thinking and said it may be something with the timing, which would make sense with all my issues combined. When I had told my local dealer of the thought, it was quickly dismissed. I don't know what else to do.... I love my car but I'd like it to run like the other identical models that dont have these problems, not very trustworthy

 

[hmae37]

Just an update if not seen my other posts:

I got a call this morning from the dealer, which after talking to GM yesterday would be to pick it up. They said that this morning when they started it, it had a noticeable misfire along with a pretty bad shake, and the rattle noise I hear often. Since that was out of GM specs they are having their shop foreman look at it now. I started crying.... Poor guy had to hear my garble. Will keep posted.....
Sorry for the different thread postings, so many different issues that I was being told weren't related.

 

[hmae37]

Well my update is....nothing. I got my car back. They said they cleaned the valves and that fixed it. Not! It still runs/sounds terrible. Actually it's worse. Much worse. I don't doubt I'll be stuck on the side of the road within the next couple of weeks. Not only do I completely not trust the dealer, they lied to GM too. Which makes me trust them less. I've got no options but to wait for it to crap out on me. Sorry to anyone that was lookin for a fix.

 

[Eric Smit]

Go to a different dealer.


-Eric Smit

 

[Poopsicle]

I suggest you contact the General Motors Business Resource Center and file a complaint:
Pat Easely
1-866-790-5600 (x11216)
(no email address available)

Or
General Motors Repurchase Group
Tracy Ehrlinger
1-866-802-6625 (x1108)
tracy.ehrlinger@gmrvdchq.com

 

[2FR35H]

Have you had any updates on this? Same issue and then some I am having, I have asked 3 times between 2 dealers for someone to ride with me and it's as if I never even said anything. Then they tell em it's normal, which I find hard to believe since it's gotten progressively worse over time, into a extended start, which is normal for gm cars, which i was told today. I have never driven a gm car that runs that way including the 2 different loaners a 2 rentals I've had, including the same model sonic. It drove like a dream compared to mine. Let me know.

They say its normal because its not the first time they are hearing about it, these issues you have are known to occur but they need to fix it as no car is supposed to act like this. They fixed mine after I contacted GM by phone. They don't treat you with respect till you tattletale to the big guns(GM) and voice your concern. And they wonder why their service centers are low rated... I've been to a Nissan service center(Family owns a nissan) respectively and just wow a comfy lounge to wait in and they are adamant about providing great service.