VEHICLE STALLS WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP, AND/OR AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PUSHED IN. THEN, IT TAKES THREE SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR CAN ATTEMPT TO BE RE-STARTED! VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING LEFT ACROSS A HIGHWAY OR INTO TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS WHAT SEEMS TO BE A 'PROGRAMMED' WAITING PERIOD OF 3 SECONDS BEFORE YOU CAN ATTEMPT TO RE-STARTED. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE (1.4L TURBO …
2012 chevrolet Sonic powertrain problems
moderate 150 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
150
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
THE CLEAN AIR HOSE FROM THE THROTTLE BODY TO THE CLEAN AIR HOSE SPLIT AT THE CONVOLUTES CAUSING AN UNREGULATED AIR / FUEL RATIO AND LACK OF POWER DUE TO THE ENGINE RUNNING LEAN. POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE IF ACCELERATING. MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE 77,791 KILOMETERS (48,230 MILES)
THE CONSOLE GEAR SHIFT HAS A BUTTON THAT MUST BE DEPRESSED TO SHIFT. BUTTON STICKS IN DEPRESSED POSITION. CANNOT REMOVE KEYS IN PARK POSITION. THE BUTTON BROKE I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CONSOLE GEAR SHIFT AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT AND HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VALVE, TRAN…
TRANSMISSION RECALL14V315000. MY SON AND WIFE WERE DRIVING IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHEN SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD OR HIGHER GEARS. THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS LIMITED TO ABOUT 25-35MPH. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH AS MY SON WAS TRYING TO WEAVE OUT OF HIGH SPEED FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THE FAILURE IS RELATED TO A BROKEN WAVE PLATE IN THE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG HESITATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR, AS WELL AS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE JERKED EXCESSIVELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V315000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FA…
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 - 60 MPH, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. The failure nearly caused a collision. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V315000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and Della Chevrolet of Plattsbu…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2012 chevrolet Sonic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 150 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
Some links on this page are affiliate links.