2014 Chevrolet Sonic Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic most often write about electrical faults — stalls, no-starts, keys stuck or hot in the ignition — along with air bag warning lights and air bags that did not deploy in crashes. A widely reported gear shifter button that sticks or breaks, and coolant leaks from plastic outlets and reservoirs leading to overheating, also come up repeatedly. Complaints cluster from roughly 30,000 to 90,000 miles, and most describe problems appearing gradually rather than on a brand-new car.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and air bags not deploying in a crash

   • 20 complaints (13%)
   • median 57,306 mi at 4.6 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2024

   Complaints describe the air bag warning light coming on intermittently, sometimes with the passenger seat indicator showing both on and off at once. Some owners were told the clock spring, a connector, or the passenger-side sensor needed replacing, and in some cases the light returned after repair. Others report that air bags did not deploy in collisions, including front-end impacts. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 90,000 miles, and often described as intermittent when it first appears.

   Recall 14V543000

   What to check: Turn the ignition on and watch the air bag light through its self-check; ask whether recall 14V543000 (steering column electrical connection) was performed for this VIN, and whether any clock spring or connector work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall the air bag light comes on and off. When the light is on I call on star and they say its a defect in deploy diagnostic code b0081 and when I take it in the light is off. I dont want to get in an accident and then the air bag not deploy”

   NHTSA complaint #11183797, filed 2019-03, 69,084 miles

   “Takata recall I was involved in an accident where I hit a stationary SUV from the back, I was traveling 30-35 MPH per the police report through a large city intersection. My Sonic was hit hard on the whole front left (driver side) the car was totaled and was reported to have a lot of left frame damage. During this accident my airbags did not deploy. No ambulance was called but I was taken to the va to receive treatment for my back pain from the accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11123103, filed 2018-08, 49,700 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Gear shifter button sticks or breaks; key stuck in ignition

   • 19 complaints (13%)
   • median 65,750 mi at 5.1 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2022

   Owners describe the button on the floor shifter sticking in, cracking, or a broken piece jamming the shifter so it cannot be moved between gears or out of park. When the button stays pressed, the key often will not come out of the ignition and the car may not shut off. Several say the dealer replaced part of the shifter assembly, in some cases after the car had to be towed; others report the repair came at their own expense. Reported across a wide mileage range, mostly between about 15,000 and 120,000 miles, with many in the 50,000-90,000 mile range.

   What to check: Press the shifter button repeatedly and try shifting in and out of park; then park the car and confirm the key releases. Ask whether the shifter assembly or button has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this car used back in october 2017, I've had overheating problems, the dealership fixed twice under an extended warranty the third time I had to fix myself (they said my extended warranty expired). I noticed my key would get stuck in the ignition after putting the gear in park, I discovered the button on my gear shift is cracked and I have to pull it all the way put to remove the key. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11222996, filed 2019-06, 117,000 miles

   “The gear shift button is sticking, which is posing a hazard. The car does not complete the shift or release the key until after the button unsticks. It happened when I tried to park and it happens when I'm shifting between reverse and drive. Its not a one time occurrence.”

   NHTSA complaint #11205910, filed 2019-05, 66,500 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalling, no-start and electrical gremlins

   • 49 complaints (33%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners report the engine cutting out without warning while driving, sometimes with dashboard lights flashing or going dark, and the car then restarting or failing to start. Some describe repeated dead batteries, a clicking no-start condition, or the instrument panel cutting out intermittently. Complaints often note the dealer could not reproduce or diagnose the fault, with ignition switch, battery cable, and alternator replacements tried. Reported from very low mileage up through roughly 90,000 miles, with many in the 40,000-65,000 mile range.

   Recall 16V2570002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for any stored diagnostic codes and service history for battery, ignition switch, and ground or cable repairs. A service bulletin describes diagnosing intermittent no-crank or no-start conditions with the security light on, so ask whether that diagnostic was ever run.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It started earlier when I went into the store. Before I could make it back to the car to turn the car on or even unlock the doors with my keys the car was playing music and the lights where flashing on and off. I actually knew what to do because this has happened before and the car returned back to normal. Late on today I parked my car turned the wheels towards the sidewalk because the car was on a hill going downwards. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10759006, filed 2015-08, 14,326 miles

   “A few years ago my power steering went on. It was still under warranty and I took it to the dealership to get replaced right after the warranty expired the power steering went out again. Currently my AC is broken and I've spent a good bit of money trying to fix it; yet it still doesn't work. Now my car won't start. I've relpalced the battery a couple years ago because my car kept dying. I bought this car bran new and it had caused me nothing but financial issues. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11196751, filed 2019-04, 50,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Coolant leaks, overheating and warped engine

   • 26 complaints (17%)
   • median 67,550 mi at 4.3 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe coolant loss and overheating traced to plastic coolant outlets, a cracked coolant reservoir, a leaking water pump, or a cracked radiator seam. Owners report repeat repairs to the same parts, and in some cases continued coolant loss led to a warped engine. Several say the dealer repaired the same component more than once, and some describe the work as not covered once warranty ended. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 140,000 miles, with several repeat failures noted within months of the first repair.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for crusty residue or cracks around the coolant outlet, reservoir and radiator seams; ask whether the water pump, thermostat housing, or outlet has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I've had several issues with the car. The main one being that my engine has warped and the car is junk now as I can't afford the 5400 to replace it. The coolant kept leaking and after water pump and thermostat repairs did nothing it finally broke down. The shop says the engine is so badly warped they can't even identify where the original problem may have been.”

   NHTSA complaint #11267878, filed 2019-10, 84,000 miles

   “I just purchased my 2014 chevy Sonic lt hatchback a month ago. First the day I bought it I found out I had a reverse light out. The dealer said they would fix it when the license plant cover bracket comes in. The same day I got the car I smelled something burning. I told them about it an they said if it keeps doing it to let them know an my passenger side brakes fell like they are dragging. They said it should come out of it do to sitting for awhile. Well I'm still experiencing it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10789720, filed 2015-11, 32,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Rough running, fuel smell and hard start after refueling

   • 25 complaints (17%)
   • median 11,900 mi at 3.3 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners describe the engine bucking, hesitating, or losing power, sometimes with a check engine light, and some say the car will not restart right after refueling without pumping the gas pedal. Complaints mention a strong fuel smell, fuel leaking onto the ground, and mechanics replacing injectors, mass airflow sensors, or the gas cap without fully resolving it. Some owners note their VIN was not included in the fuel tank strap recall despite a fuel leak. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 96,000 miles, with many around 60,000-90,000 miles.

   Recall 13V464000

   What to check: After refueling, note whether the car starts normally and whether there is a fuel odor; inspect under the rear for fuel tank strap bracket condition and ask whether recall 13V464000 applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Im only getting about 14 to 16 mpg on my car.I went to the dealer and I was told that it was normal.I said that its impossible to get such low mpg when the paperwork says that I should get 25/35.know I spoke to the service manager and he said that its normal to get 14 to 16 mpg.I told him you telling my 2005 altima 3.5 gets better gas mileage a dodge durango gets better gas mileage?? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10643955, filed 2014-10, 5,500 miles

   “On 03/12/2018 my check engine light came on while driving on the access road, while at a stop light my car started buckling , when light turned green hesistation and major loss of power occured. Finally got going and when I got back to work and park it wouldn't start after I went in and came back out. Got it jumped and went to both napa and auto zone both said it was mass airflow sensor. Got the part the from the dealership and replaced it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11079680, filed 2018-03, 62,000 miles

Buying note. A 2014 Sonic is worth a careful inspection: test the shifter button and key release, confirm the air bag light behaves normally and any open recalls were completed, and check the cooling system for leaks or repeat repairs. Ask for a full service history, since many complaints involve the same fault returning after repair.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.