2013 Chevrolet Sonic: recalls and complaints

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All updates to the register

• 23V51600027 Jul 2023Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
• 16V25700028 Apr 2016Electrical System / Software
• 14V4170002 Jul 2014Equipment / Electrical
• 13V46400026 Sep 2013Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly / Mounting
• 13V22000024 May 2013Exterior Lighting / Brake Lights
• 12V45400017 Sep 2012Exterior Lighting / Turn Signal

1. 23V516000Received 27 Jul 2023. 767 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232413120.

   Report filed by General Motors, LLC. Manufacturer campaign number N232413120. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 23 Oct 2023.

2. 16V257000Received 28 Apr 2016. 317,572 units.

   Electrical System / Software

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

   Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 17130. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 26 May 2016.

3. 14V417000Received 2 Jul 2014. 2,990 units.

   Equipment / Electrical

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

   Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 14257. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 29 Aug 2014.

4. 13V464000Received 26 Sep 2013. 1,558 units.

   Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly / Mounting

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured August 2, 2013, through August 12, 2013. Due to insufficient welds, the front fuel tank strap bracket may separate from the vehicle.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   If the front fuel tank strap bracket separates, the increased load may lead to the failure of the other tank support. As a result, the fuel tank may come loose from the vehicle causing a fuel leak. A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front fuel tank strap bracket, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 7, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13296.

   Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 13296. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 7 Nov 2013.

5. 13V220000Received 24 May 2013. 10,210 units.

   Exterior Lighting / Brake Lights

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   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 lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.

   Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 13158. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 Jun 2013.

6. 12V454000Received 17 Sep 2012. 4,716 units.

   Exterior Lighting / Turn Signal

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 29, 2012, through August 29, 2012. When a turn signal lamp fails to operate, the Body Control Module (BCM) in these vehicles does not detect this condition and will not indicate the condition to the driver. Thus, These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   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 turning, increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the BCM and the vehicle's key fobs, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 3, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

   Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 12209. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 2 Oct 2012.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

• 2013 Chevrolet Sonic
• All 2013 vehicles

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 22.

Complaints that report a crash

24

Complaints that report a fire

4

Injuries in the complaints

20

Deaths in the complaints

0

Date of the newest complaint

8 Jan 2026

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

1. 20110
2. 20127
3. 20136
4. 20144
5. 20153
6. 20162
7. 20170
8. 20181
9. 20190
10. 20200

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

• Chevrolet Sonic: all model years
• Chevrolet: 178 model lines

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• NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
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• NHTSA page of the 2013 Chevrolet SonicThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic?

337,813 units in 6 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.

How many recall campaigns does the Chevrolet Sonic have for all model years?

NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for the Chevrolet Sonic, model years 2011 to 2020. 6 of them name the 2013 model year.

Which component do the complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic name most often?

Electrical System: 57 of 322 component mentions, or 177 per 1,000. For all 2013 vehicles the figure is 124.7 per 1,000.

Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic open?

1 investigation has no closing date in the NHTSA file, of 1 that name this model year.