2014 Chevrolet Sonic Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#4 most-complained of 10 Sonic years
The 2014 Chevrolet Sonic has 150 NHTSA complaints, 4 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 67, ranking it 4th worst of 10 model years with a "Caution" verdict. Electrical System problems lead at 33% of complaints, followed by Engine issues at 27%.
- Complaints
- 150
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 11 / 4
- Injuries / deaths
- 9 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 29
- 26 city / 34 hwy
Top 2014 Chevrolet Sonic problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System49 (33%)
- Engine40 (27%)
- Other36 (24%)
- Airbags24 (16%)
- Transmission & Powertrain20 (13%)
- Fuel System16 (11%)
- Brakes13 (9%)
- Steering13 (9%)
- Structure & Body5 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (3%)
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple frontal and side-impact crashes, sometimes resulting in injuries.
- Owners describe the steering wheel suddenly seizing at low speed, later diagnosed as an alternator problem.
- The gear shifter button has reportedly broken, allowing the vehicle to slip into neutral or reverse unexpectedly while driving or parked.
- Owners report brake pedal application producing no braking response during an emergency stop.
- One owner reported an engine fire that started after the vehicle had been parked overnight.
- A front left suspension failure was reported that caused a tire to deflate after a low-speed maneuver.
2014 Chevrolet Sonic recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V257000Apr 28, 2016Electrical System317,572 vehicles
Electrical system:software
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."
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 14V543000Sep 9, 2014Airbags304 vehicles
Air bags
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured July 28, 2014, to August 1, 2014. Due to a loss of electrical connection in the steering column, in the event of a severe crash, the driver's frontal air bag deployment may be limited to the first-stage deployment only instead of the intended first-stage and second-stage deployments.
Risk: If only the first-stage of the driver's frontal air bag deploys without the additional second-stage, the driver has an increased risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will test the terminals in the IP harness clock spring coil connector and replace any loose terminals, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14537.
- NHTSA 14V417000Jul 2, 2014Other2,990 vehicles
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 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.
Risk: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
Remedy: 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.
2014 Chevrolet Sonic fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 34 MPG
- Combined
- 29 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,250
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2014 compared with other Sonic years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 150 complaints and a Complaint Index of 67 for the 2014 Sonic, giving it a "Caution" verdict compared to other Sonic model years. It ranks 4th worst out of 10 model years tracked.
- What are the most common problems with the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic?
- Electrical System issues make up 33% of complaints, followed by Engine problems at 27% and Airbag issues at 16%, according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2014 Sonic, covering the radio's electrical system, an airbag steering column connection issue, an engine oil pan/block heater cord, and a fuel tank strap bracket weld defect.
- How does the 2014 Sonic compare to other Sonic years?
- The 2014 Sonic's Complaint Index of 67 is lower than the 2012 (100) and 2013 (89) model years, but higher than the 2016 through 2020 model years, which range from 56 down to 11.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic?
- EPA rates the 2014 Sonic at 29 mpg combined (26 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250.