2019 Chevrolet Sonic problems
The Chevrolet Aveo (/əˈveɪ.oʊ/ ə-VAY-oh) is a five-passenger, front-drive subcompact car (B-segment) marketed by General Motors (GM) since 2002 over two generations. Originally developed by South Korean manufacturer Daewoo Motors and marketed as the Daewoo Kalos, the takeover of Daewoo by GM to form GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GMDAT) resulted in the car's marketing in 120 countries under seven brands (Chevrolet, Daewoo, ZAZ, Holden, Pontiac, Ravon and Suzuki) — prominently as the Aveo.
The second-generation Aveo, developed by GM Korea (formerly GMDAT), was introduced in 2011 and was also marketed as the Chevrolet Sonic in markets including the Americas, Japan, Middle East, South Africa and several Southeast Asian markets. Production of the second-generation model ended in October 2020.
Since 2017, GM marketed the Chinese market Chevrolet Sail sedan in Mexico and other Central American countries as the Aveo. Developed by GM PATAC in China and produced by joint venture SAIC-GM, it was positioned below the more advanced Sonic. In 2023, GM imported a new version to Mexico in a sedan and hatchback form, developed and manufactured by another Chinese joint venture, SAIC-GM-Wuling.
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Common 2019 Chevrolet Sonic problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic, several common problems have been reported:
- Transmission Issues:
- The 2012-2015 models are prone to transmission problems, particularly with automatic transmissions. Symptoms include hesitant shifting, especially around 30,000 miles. In severe cases, a new transmission may be required.
- A recall for 2014 vehicles was issued due to a turbine shaft fracture, affecting the car's ability to operate properly. This issue typically arises after 70,000 miles and necessitates a new transmission.
- Stalling Problems:
- Some 2014 Sonics have been reported to stall while on the road, leading to a complete loss of power. This issue may be caused by various factors such as a broken alternator, battery corrosion, dead battery, or faulty spark plugs.
- Radiator Leaks:
- Radiator leaks in the Chevrolet Sonic can result from issues with the water pump, thermostat, hoses, or coolant system. Detecting a radiator leak is crucial as it can cause the engine to overheat, potentially leading to severe damage like a cracked head or bad head gasket.
- Key Fob Battery Weakness:
- Weak batteries in the key fob can prevent the push-to-start system from activating, causing inconvenience for the driver.
- CVT Transmission Concerns:
- Some owners have expressed dissatisfaction with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), warning that it may fail between 80,000 to 100,000 miles. Recommendations favor the 6-speed manual or automatic transmission options over the CVT.
- General Maintenance:
- The 2019 Chevrolet Sonic requires regular maintenance, including brake pad replacements, oil changes, and suspension ball joint replacements, as indicated by the service and maintenance costs provided.
These common problems highlight the importance of regular maintenance and prompt attention to any signs of trouble to ensure the longevity and reliability of the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic.
What is the most common problem with the Chevy Sonic?
Radiator Leaking
Chevy Sonic radiator leaks can result from a bad water pump, thermostat, hoses, or coolant. If the radiator is leaking, your engine will run hot or overheat. Overheating can result in severe long-term damage, including a cracked head or bad head gasket.
How many miles will a 2019 Chevy Sonic last?
Typically, you will find that Chevy Sonics last around 150,000-200,000 miles. Maintenance and repairs are critical to provide your vehicle with the best shot at living a long life. Not every Sonic will make it that far - much of its life depends on what you do to keep it safe.
Are Chevy Sonics expensive to repair?
The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Chevrolet Sonic is $536, compared to an average of $456 for subcompact cars and $652 for all vehicle models.
Are Chevrolet Sonics reliable?
According to repairpal.com, the Chevrolet Sonic has an average reliability rating of four out of five. Compared to 21 subcompact cars, it is ranked 14th overall. It's about the middle of the pack in terms of overall reliability. According to withclutch.com, the Chevrolet Sonic has a reliability rating of about 45.3.
Is the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
The 2019 Chevrolet Sonic ranks near the top of our used subcompact car class. It offers a spacious cabin, athletic handling, and an excellent reliability rating. However, a lack of basic standard features, an underpowered engine, and so-so fuel economy ratings hold the Sonic back.
What is the most common problem with the Chevy Sonic?
Radiator Leaking
Chevy Sonic radiator leaks can result from a bad water pump, thermostat, hoses, or coolant. If the radiator is leaking, your engine will run hot or overheat. Overheating can result in severe long-term damage, including a cracked head or bad head gasket.
Are Chevy Sonics expensive to repair?
The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Chevrolet Sonic is $536, compared to an average of $456 for subcompact cars and $652 for all vehicle models.
How many miles will a 2019 Chevy Sonic last?
Typically, you will find that Chevy Sonics last around 150,000-200,000 miles. Maintenance and repairs are critical to provide your vehicle with the best shot at living a long life. Not every Sonic will make it that far - much of its life depends on what you do to keep it safe.
2019 Chevrolet Sonic car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Chevrolet Sonic problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Unknown or other problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Engine problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2019 Chevrolet Sonic vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2019 Chevrolet Sonic complaints
The NHTSA has received 7 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-25
- VIN: 1G1JD5SBXK4
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while pulling into the garage, the high engine temp warning light illuminated, and the engine was overheating. The contact immediately turned off the vehicle. The contact stated there was coolant underneath the front of the vehicle. The contact had learned that the water pump failure was common for the vehicle and believed that the water pump had failed. The contact was able to identify an extended warranty for the failure. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure when it was confirmed that the VIN was not covered under warranty or recall. The manufacturer had referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,400.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-24
- VIN: 1G1JD5SB6K4
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated the RPMs rose abnormally high. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an AutoZone where it was scanned and diagnosed that the turbo charger had failed and needed to be replaced. The diagnostic scan retrieved DTC code: P0299. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,600.
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-22
- VIN: 1G1JD5SB1K4
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: There is no temperature indicator and the car overheats. This caused the hose to the coolant to leak. I had the housing unit replaced but then the car still ran hot. I had the get the whole thermostat replaced. No forum could assist with the replacement of the 2019 as if this year model doesn’t exist and the part needed doesn’t fit properly making my car inoperable.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-01-01
- VIN: 1G1JB5SB3K4
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Cooling Issues with 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-01-01
- VIN: 1G1JB5SB3K4
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: cooling ISSUES - the WATER PUMPLE , cooling TANK . the WHOLE COOLING . my CARE HAS BEEN SHOP 5 TIMES AT JBA for cooling system
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-01-01
- VIN: 1G1JB5SB3K4
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: the CAR WAS BOUGHT IN May 24 of 2019. Since the car has been in the shop 4 times at JBA in Glen Burnie MD were I bought car From . Car been in Shop at JBA 01/29/2020 -Coolant Leaking , Was back in Shop 07/25/2022 - Water Pump Leaking , Car was Leaking Coolant, Back in shop October 2023 - For Over heating , Cooling System, Here we are January of 2024 car going back in shop at JBA or Cooling Issues
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-07-09
- VIN: 1G1JD5SB0K4
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: VEHICLE IS MAKING A LOUD 'HOWLING' NOISE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO FIX TO IT.
Negative 2019 Chevrolet Sonic car reviews
Positive 2019 Chevrolet Sonic car reviews
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Great looking car! I love the sporty look. It's beautiful. The get up and go is fantastic and the mileage is great. The entertainment center is awesome, although I do wish it had a CD player. The sound is amazing! There are lots of other perks with satellite, Siri, Bluetooth, GPS, and OnStar. However, I do have some issues with comfort. The seats are a bit small and hard on my mid-size butt. I think the sport suspension causes a rougher ride. After an hour and a half, my outer thighs felt a bit sore. Also, I feel every shift of gears. I've been told it's because of the small turbocharged motor and that you will feel the pep. All in all, I'm happy with the car, but next time I will definitely choose a more comfortable ride with bigger butt room, lol.
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I'm so glad to hear that you've had such a positive experience with your Sonic Premier! It sounds like it has some great features, like the 1.4 ltr turbo and the Apple/Google Car Play. It's great to hear that the stereo is surprisingly good at this price point, and that the car feels solid in your hands at the wheel. It's also impressive that the brakes still feel very good after 55K. It's wonderful that you gave an American car made by Americans a chance, and that you haven't had any regrets. Thank you for sharing your experience!
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I recently purchased the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic LT (Auto) RS Hatchback and added the Convenience & Drivers Confidence Packages to match the goodies of the Premier Trim. The Hatchback only comes in 2 trims, the LT & Premier, and there is a slight difference between the two. The LT has an amazingly quiet cabin, which is equal to the highest trim of a $70k+ luxury vehicle. The Premier has a more lowered suspension, which results in a less quiet cabin. The automatic can also be driven in manual mode without the annoying clutch pedal! The Performance is amazingly sporty for both engines as they both easily pounce from a stop. When applying the brakes, it also comes to a smooth stop and when applied quickly, it's very fast too! If you're looking for a car that caters to the highest safety standards, quality, and convenience of a luxury car, and at the same time not only looks sporty but actually is sporty with the attitude to show inside and out, this is a car worth test driving with the optional packages I have chosen. I call it my mini Lambo because it sits and pampers you like one yet it's silent but deadly. It takes Unleaded gas and I get 30-35 MPG with mixed driving, now If you drive it sporty and have fun you will get about 24- 28 mpg which is still amazing. This car has muscled its way into the sports car scene and has been officially recognized. It is the only car so far to get a 5-star rating, the highest across all ratings for the Institute of Highway Safety Standards for such a small car. Everything in the car from the smallest button to the engine, inside and out is amazingly built and solid. You can tell that Chevrolet takes pride in every part of the car even to the smallest stitch. Take a test drive with the optional packages I have chosen and you will see that Chevrolet has built this amazingly rare gem to prove you don't have to spend a fortune to be pampered.I really hope that this model will continue for years to come. I know there are many mixed reviews about this car, with some people nit-picking at it. However, I would recommend going to test drive it yourself.
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The Chevy Sonic I purchased is a four-door Kinetic Blue Sedan and it looks really cool. I've already received compliments on it. It drives well and I love the Bluetooth features. Additionally, it's great on gas.
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I have a 2019 Chevrolet Sonic and I absolutely love it! It has all the space I need and rides very smoothly. It's actually my first new car and I couldn't be happier with it. I purchased it from Hare Chevrolet and had a wonderful experience with fantastic service from my salesperson, Corbin Richards. Kudos to him! From Brenda Price.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2019 Chevrolet Sonic problems:
Going to look at a 2019 Chevy Sonic LT, issues or anything to look ...
Aug 7, 2023 ... They're not bad. I have done water outlet myself twice in 100k but I've heard of people doing it more in the same number of miles. Water pump ...
2019 Chevrolet Sonic Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 ...
Roll Up - The Sonic and Common Issues | Sonic Owners Forum
Feb 6, 2018 ... -Intake Piping: The 1.8l suffers from dry rot cracks in the intake piping as the rubber becomes brittle over time. This can cause the vehicle to ...
2019 Chevrolet Sonic Repair: Service and Maintenance Cost
Get 2019 Chevrolet Sonic repair and maintenance costs, common problems, recalls, and more. Find certified Chevrolet mechanics near you.
Other years of Chevrolet Sonic
Are you having problems with your 2019 Chevrolet Sonic?
Ryleigh Gerhold 2025-08-11
I purchased my 2017 Sonic in June 2017 and have been the only owner. Unfortunately, I have experienced some issues with the car. The engine light has come on and the car has cut off on me a few times while at red lights, stop signs, or in traffic. I have taken it to the dealer four times, all within 30 days or less, for the same issue. The most recent visit was on 07/3/2019, where they told me that the diagnosis machine showed no problem, so they did not do anything. However, the car is still jerking at every stop, the engine light is back on, and it cut off on me and my baby while driving on the parkway. I am currently pursuing legal action against Chevy under the Lemon Law. Despite my negative experience, I hope that others have better luck with Chevy. Thank you for your understanding.
Edison Wintheiser 2025-07-01
I've owned my Sonic for about three years now and overall, it's been a decent car. The seats are comfortable and the dash has a modern look. The infotainment center is equipped with speakers that are lacking in depth, but they get the job done. The ride is smooth and the struts and shocks are well-built. The brakes are more than adequate, even when driving more aggressively. I appreciate the safety features, especially the full surround airbags that provide a sense of security for me and my passengers. However, there have been some issues. The rear brake drums locked up while driving in icy conditions and the driver side weather strip pulled away while on the freeway, causing minor body damage. The pump to my windshield wiper nozzles completely failed and the fuses controlling my radiator fan failed, causing my vehicle to overheat. As a smaller displacement engine, it runs hotter than larger counterparts, so the fan not engaging caused the engine to overheat, which could have led to engine failure. I've also had several coil packs replaced, as they stopped working in rapid succession. All of this has happened within 40,000 miles of owning the car. While I can't say for sure, it's possible that I purchased a lemon. Despite its issues, when it runs well, it drives like a dream. However, I would recommend considering other vehicle options.
Forrest Kautzer 2024-07-22
Having owned a 2018 Chevy Sonic hatchback, I can confidently say that there were some issues that I encountered. These included a weak cooling system, repeated engine overheating due to radiator fan failure, thermostat housing melting, coolant leaking, seat heating failure, repeated theft mode activation causing the car to not start without a clear cause, sudden battery failure, and the car not detecting the remote key without a known reason. However, despite these challenges, I believe that the Chevy Sonic is still a reliable car that can serve its purpose well.
Lamont Lubowitz 2024-07-02
We purchased this car in September 2018 and have driven it for about 100,400 kilometres since then. Unfortunately, we have experienced some issues with the engine light coming on, which we had checked out and were told it was due to an O2 sensor and the type of fuel we were using. We tried using premium fuel, which helped for a bit, but the light came back on again. We changed the oil in December, which also helped for a while, but the light came back on again. We took it in for repairs in February 2021 and had the O2 sensor and spark plugs replaced, which seemed to fix the issue temporarily. However, the light came back on again shortly after and we experienced some other problems with the car. We took it to another shop and had the oil changed and spark plugs replaced again, which seemed to help. We are now replacing the purge solenoid valve on our own to ensure the issue is fully resolved. While we have had some difficulties with this car, we are still hopeful that it will serve us well in the future. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work through these issues.
Andy Waters 2024-05-29
The Sonic Turbo Premier has been a fun temporary replacement for my ten year old BMW X3 while it's in the shop for age-related repairs and maintenance. Although it may not be as powerful as my Bimmer, it still has some positive qualities. The exterior styling is simple and inoffensive, and the cabin is roomy and equipped with modern gadgets and buttons. However, I did find the legroom to be cramped, especially for taller individuals like myself. Additionally, the visibility is not great due to the short stubby hood and large headrests. Overall, while the Sonic may not be my first choice for a long-term vehicle, it has served its purpose well as a temporary replacement.As you touch the visually decent plastic trim, you may realize that it is not the softer, richer material it masquerades as, but basic hard plastic straight from a Yugo. However, let's talk about the performance of this car. I mostly drove it in town with speed limits around 45 miles per hour. At first, I thought I was going way too fast until I checked the speedometer and realized that I was actually chugging along about five miles below the speed limit! The car feels a bit strained and bothered when driven at speeds greater than 35 - 40 mph. Still, this is not yet the most fun you can have with the Sonic Turbo. Go find an empty stretch of road without speed bumps (like the access road to my work's parking lot) and floor it. I did just that, going about 30 mph I floored the accelerator and ... absolutely NOTHING happened for at least a second, then the little beast huffed and puffed and lurched forward at the breakneck speed of 40 mph, I almost died laughing. Unfortunately, this lack of performance is less laughable when you have to pull out into heavy, fast-moving traffic. Just be cautious and wait for any acceleration to kick in.