2013 Chevrolet Sonic Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

55Engine complaints

25.3%Of all 217 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE55 · 25.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55 · 25.3%

Unspecified / other45 · 20.7%

POWER TRAIN38 · 17.5%

AIR BAGS25 · 11.5%

Share of the 217 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic overview page.

What owners report

“ACCELERATION IS BAD, AND INCONSISTEN. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS THE SHIFTER BUTTON GETS STUCK EVERYTIME NEVER FAILS. THAT'S A REAL SAFETY ISSUE CONSIDERING I ACCIDENTLY…”NHTSA complaint 11006138 — filed 07/18/2017

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10935951 — filed 12/17/2016

“WHILE DRIVING MY CAR FOR THE PAST YEAR NOW I HAVE NOTICED MY RPM GAUGE STICKING AND REVVING ON ITS OWN. IT IS STARTING TO…”NHTSA complaint 10894186 — filed 08/08/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic: 55 of 217 complaints on file (25.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic have in total?

217 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 24 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 20 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.