This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Chevrolet Sonic steering problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 13 steering complaints filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Chevrolet Sonic in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides a procedure inspecting for excess grease or Sealant on the Exterior of the steering gear due to seeing grease or sealant on certain locations on the gear.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 Sonic steering complaints center on three major problem areas. First, the electric power steering is hypersensitive at highway speeds—minor wheel input causes the car to swerve, and it won't hold a straight line even with alignment and new tires confirmed good. Second, power steering cuts out intermittently or locks completely, making the wheel hard or impossible to turn; one owner's car was held at a dealership for three months and declared unsafe. Third, the ignition switch is dangerously loose—the key shifts easily when bumped (reaching for wipers, leg contact) and shuts off the engine mid-drive, sometimes while turning onto a freeway. This matches a Camaro recall (19E-064 / GM N192223230) but was never applied to the Sonic.
Supporting failures include automatic brake application during certain turns (reported under warranty but never fixed), warning lights that illuminate without audible chimes (low tire pressure, overheating), steering wheel controls that all stop working after an electrical event, and a check-engine light triggered by a faulty computer that recurs despite repeated dealer service. The radiator and A/C compressor replacements don't address the root electrical and steering issues. Owners report these problems on Sonic owner forums and lemon-law sites, suggesting systemic rather than isolated defects.
Same Chevrolet Sonic steering reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Electric Power Steering—Hyperresponsive at Highway Speed
Steering is extremely sensitive; even slight wheel input causes the car to swerve left or right. Vehicle will not stay in a straight line on highways. Alignment and tires have checked good. Issue appears widespread among Sonic owners and is attributed to the switch from hydraulic to electric power steering systems.
When: Highway speeds; less severe at normal speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Steering oversensitive to small inputs; Car wanders left or right involuntarily; Cannot maintain straight-line path at highway speed; Appears intoxicated due to steering corrections
Repairs/costs cited: Alignment checked and confirmed good; new tires installed—did not resolve issue
Power Steering Intermittent Loss / Hard Steering
Power steering either fails completely, making the wheel very hard to turn, or cuts out momentarily during operation. One owner reported steering locked while reversing out of driveway with engine on; dealership held car for 3 months, declaring it unsafe. Another reports intermittent hard steering on left turns.
When: Intermittent; one instance while reversing; occurred multiple times over one week
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes very hard to turn; Power steering cuts out momentarily then returns; Steering locked completely while engine running
Repairs/costs cited: One car held by dealership for 3 months; declared unsafe; unable to repair
Key Fob / Ignition Switch—Unintended Engine Shutdown and Key Sticking
Ignition key can be easily moved or knocked into the off position by arm contact (e.g., reaching for wipers) or leg bumping the fob, killing the engine without warning. One owner reports this matches NHTSA recall 19E-064 / GM recall N192223230, which was issued for Camaro but not for Sonic despite using the same ignition. Key also sticks in ignition when in park, refusing to come out even after wiggling.
When: While driving on freeway during wide turn; while reaching for wipers; multiple incidents in one day; at engine shutdown
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off unintentionally when key bumped; Key can be knocked to off position by hand or leg contact; Key stuck in ignition, unable to remove; Steering column locked during unintended engine shutdown
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA recall 19E-064 / GM recall N192223230 issued for Camaro only; not applied to Sonic despite identical ignition system. Class-action lawsuit exists for Camaro but not Sonic.
Automatic Brake Application During Turns
Vehicle applies brakes automatically when turning certain corners, even though driver is not braking. Issue was reported to dealer multiple times while under warranty in 2014 but was never resolved. Owner filed complaints with GM for record purposes.
When: 2014; when turning certain corners
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes engage automatically during turns; Occurs on specific corners, not all turns
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to resolve despite multiple service visits
Warning Light / Chime Failure—Low Tire Pressure and Overheating
Low tire pressure indicator illuminates but no audible warning chime sounds, leaving driver unaware of the condition. One owner's tire lost pressure on the interstate, vehicle ran off road due to inability to control it. Similarly, overheating warning light comes on but no chime alerts the driver; only noticed when car began shaking and steaming.
When: During highway driving; during extended or stop-and-go driving
Symptoms owners cite: Low tire pressure light comes on with no chime; Overheating light comes on with no chime; Driver unaware of critical conditions until vehicle behavior becomes dangerous
Steering Wheel Controls / Horn Failure After Electrical Event
All lights on dashboard went off; from that point on, nothing on the steering wheel works. Horn does not function. Cruise control does not function. Passenger airbag warning light remains illuminated. Vehicle has been to shop 3 times without resolution.
When: Following sudden dashboard light failure
Symptoms owners cite: Horn non-functional; Cruise control non-functional; All steering wheel controls inoperative; Passenger airbag warning light stays on
Repairs/costs cited: Service visits: 3; issue remains unresolved
Faulty Vehicle Computer—Check Engine Light Recurrence
Check engine light comes on approximately one month after purchase and returns repeatedly despite multiple dealer service attempts. Owner reports the issue is computer-related, not engine-related, and causes faulty sensor readings and inability to detect actual vehicle problems. Required to address annually for vehicle inspection.
When: Approximately one month after purchase; recurring annually
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Recurs after dealer service; Faulty sensor readings
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealer visits; issue unresolved
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Key sticks in the ignition, unable to remove when in park position. I work a dangerous job in bad areas and cannot depend on the key being released from the switch after parking. Whatch puts me in a awkward situation in regards to safety.
Takata recall, my car has been hit in the front end 3 times and the last time was a hard hit, none of the times have I had an airbag come out.
Had steering trouble with your 2013 Chevrolet Sonic?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 30,000 and 71,000 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 71,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Chevrolet/Sonic.
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.