2015 versus 2012 Advice?

[gnonne]

I have the opportunity to buy a 2015 1.8L sedan with 33k miles. I had a 2012 1.8L sedan that I traded off a while ago. Question: Have any of the early issues been resolved on the 2015's?

I'm referring to intake tube, thermostat housings, cracked coolant tanks, water pump leaks, poor rear shocks, sway bar links. etc. None of these are terribly expensive items, but there are a lot of them...

I' prefer not to do it all again - but this is a deal...

 

[dannyg]

I think I read on here that the intake tube has been fixed, but to my knowledge the others are the same. I have a 2015 which I bought new in 2/2015 so it’ll be five years old next month. 44K miles. The only issue I’ve encountered is the thermostat housing at 30K miles (replaced under warranty). No problems with tanks, water pump, sway bar links, etc. I can’t comment on the auto tranny since I have a 5sp manual.

Used Sonics are pretty cheap these days, I’d say go for it. How many miles? You’ll want to replace the timing belt at 100K on the 1.8L.

Good luck!

EDIT: Oops, just noticed you say only 33K miles. That’s pretty low for a 2015!

 

[JTee2017]

Ditto. . . intake tube was fixed with a more flexible material so doesn't crack.

Thermostat housing has an extended warranty TSB on it . .. not sure on number of miles. Daughter got hers done at 88,000 miles and well past any factory or even her extended warranty. Dealer was very good about it and also replaced a vacuum tube connected with the T-stat.

Also the purge solenoid usually goes out after awhile but may be covered by a warranty.

Other than that. . . all the other items @gnonne mentioned are still replacement items as needed.

All in all I look at the Sonic replacement items as "wear items". This is a low cost car with some low cost parts the need replacement as they age.
Really, for the most part, about $300 or so of parts spread out over 4 or 5 years so not a big deal. Other cars would have a lot larger bill and not easily replaced like on our Sonics.
And, most if not all of these Sonic parts, are owner replaceable.

So far on our daughters 2014 at 108,000 miles only tires, a rusted exhaust flex tube, purge solenoid and the usual tires, and brakes are due i think.
I told her to buy the sway bar links and have them installed no matter what next time tires are replaced.