The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the button on the gear shifter would not release while shifting between gears. Due to the failure, the key would remain stuck in the ignition due to the defective gear shifter button. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was given a diagnostic fee; the contact declined to pay for the diagnostic. The manufacturer was…
2013 chevrolet Sonic powertrain problems
severe 38 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
38
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
MY 2013 CHEVY SONIC DEVELOPED TICKING SOUND SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT AT 60000 MILES. THE TICKING GOT WORSE OVER TIME AND THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I SCANNED THE CODES AND MULTIPLE FOUR CODES WERE FOUND. P0171, P0496, P1101, AND P2270. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT SEEMED TO BE THAT MOST CRUZE, SONIC, AND TRAX VEHICLES ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND WAS …
THE FUEL SYSTEM IS RUNNING WEAK, FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 30000 MILES, ONE OWNER AND FULL MAINTENANCE, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND GO ALL THE TIME AND EVERYTHING WAS CHECKING
THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON GETS STUCK IN DEPRESSED POSITION, PREVENTING REMOVAL OF THE KEY FROM IGNITION WHEN IN PARK POSITION AND ALLOWS THE SHIFTER TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS AND PARK POSITIONS WITH LITTLE-TO-NO INTERVENTION. INABILITY DISENGAGE BUTTON AND TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION ALSO CREATES INABILITY TO SECURELY PARK THE VEHICLE AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM …
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2013 chevrolet Sonic?
It's a meaningful issue. 38 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
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.
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