repaired · 2026 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2013 Chevrolet SonicProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 217 owner complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-516 the manufacturer reports only 37% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 8, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic has problems
217 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
56Electrical system5 crash/fire/injury
55Engine5 crash/fire/injury
38Power train2 crash/fire/injury
25Air bags17 crash/fire/injury
13Steering
13Fuel/propulsion system
12Electronic stability control (ESC)
11Service brakes
8Suspension
4512 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 56 | 5 |
| Engine | 55 | 5 |
| Power train | 38 | 2 |
| Air bags | 25 | 17 |
| Steering | 13 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 13 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 12 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 2 |
| Suspension | 8 | 1 |
| 12 other systems | 45 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2013 Chevrolet Sonic recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Electrical system: software
Risk. Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Equipment: electrical
Risk. Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
repaired · 2015 Q1
Tank assembly: mounting
Risk. If the front fuel tank strap bracket separates, the increased load may lead to the failure of the other tank support.
Show 2 more recalls
repaired · 2015 Q1
Electrical system
Risk. If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake…
no report yet
Electrical system
Risk. If the driver is not aware that the turn signal is not functioning and does not have the light repaired, other drivers may not be alerted that the vehicle is…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
63kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 43 electrical system complaints. 91% were reported before 100,000 miles.
9under 30k miles39under 100k miles4100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other Sonic year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sonic median. How we score
'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Chevrolet Sonic safety ratings
2013 Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (12.6% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What Sonic owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Was driving in heavy rain when car suddenly cut power and decelerated showed code 84 and the CEL came back with P2138. It is a known issue that rain gets up into the connector and causes a malfunction.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the rear windshield suddenly imploded, causing glass shards to be propelled inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that it sounded as if a shotgun had been fired. As a result of the…
My Odometer miles was erased about 9 months ago and I cannot retrieve it. A Chevy dealership associate looked at it this week (October 31, 2022) and manually could not recover the miles. A GM parts online website suggested it could be a speed sensor (blown fuse) or dash cluster. To diagnose the…
Own a 2013 Sonic?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.