2013 Chevrolet Sonic Reliability
The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic has 217 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with nearby Sonic model years (2011–2015), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Sonic's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
217
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
24
Complaints citing a crash
4
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Chevrolet Sonic complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 56 | 26% |
| Engine | 55 | 25% |
| Unknown or other | 45 | 21% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 38 | 18% |
| Air bags | 25 | 12% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 13 | 6% |
| Steering | 13 | 6% |
| Stability control | 12 | 6% |
2013 Chevrolet Sonic recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12V454000 | Sep 17, 2012 | Electrical system | 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… |
| 13V220000 | May 24, 2013 | Electrical system | 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… |
| 13V464000 | Sep 26, 2013 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly / mounting | 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. |
| 14V417000 | Jul 2, 2014 | Equipment — electrical | 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… |
| 16V257000 | Apr 28, 2016 | Equipment — electrical / radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 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… |
| 23V516000 | Jul 27, 2023 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | 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. |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Sonic years
Verdicts compare these Sonic model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | Unknown or other | Too few reports |
| 2012 | 354 | 7 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2013 (this page) | 217 | 6 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2014 | 150 | 4 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2015 | 114 | 3 | Electrical system | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2013 Chevrolet Sonic
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Chevrolet Sonic can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Chevrolet Sonic reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
The 2013 Chevrolet Sonic has 217 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with nearby Sonic model years (2011–2015), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Sonic's typical year.
What are the most common 2013 Chevrolet Sonic problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic are electrical system (56), engine (55), unknown or other (45), powertrain / transmission (38). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic, including 12V454000 (electrical system) and 13V220000 (electrical system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 354 complaints and 7 recalls (avoid); the 2014 has 150 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid). The 2013 has 217 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Chevrolet Sonic?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Sonic research
Other Chevrolet Sonic model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Sonic, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.