Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Chevrolet Sonic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that upon turning off the vehicle, the ignition key remained stuck in the ignition switch. Additionally, the contact noticed that the gear shift indicator was indicating that the transmission was in park(P) and in drive(D) simultaneously. The contact stated that upon moving the gear shifter in and out of park(P) several times, and shifting back to park(P), the contact was able to release the key. The contact stated that the failure had recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the gear shifter was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,419.
2013 Chevrolet Sonic 1.8 L , fuel system lean ,mass airflow sensor, in limp mode preventing acceleration, gas tank when added gas....shuts down after start up-fuel system/gasoline; may cause possible fuel leak and could combust, alarm system and locks don't properly function - electric system equipment, insufficient welds...around fuel tank and front of vehicle on bottom by driver's side could also cause combustion, bcm codes that came up were communication, electrical, fuel, windows, and airbags! AutoZone codes were po171 and co561-77,I looked up recalls , several came up for my make and model but weren't specific to my vin# however my vehicle is doing everything pertaining to them! And I looked up if there was any special coverage on it and said there is...before 120k miles or ten years time. And I was never notified of it & never received anything in the mail ...
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the button on the gear shifter would not release while shifting between gears. Due to the failure, the key would remain stuck in the ignition due to the defective gear shifter button. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was given a diagnostic fee; the contact declined to pay for the diagnostic. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed her that the matter would be escalated to a senior manager. The contact had not heard back from the manufacturer. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. The contact stated that the issue has been repaired.
My car is a lemon , brought from Arizona and they sold me a car that has a rusted chassis so if repairs are needed I will have to spend more money to get fixed because things are very fragile because everything is rusted and then I'm lease the car for a price a car isn't worth for .
I was going up hill approaching a parking space in the garage where I work. I went to turn into the parking space and my turbo engine sped up and slammed me into the garage wall. The air bags were deployed. There was a malfunction on this Chevy Sonic. If I had parked on the top floor, I would probably have been killed since it would have crashed down into the street. I my arms and my one leg was burned by the air bags.
I was driving down the highway at approximately 50 MPH. I shifted from 4th to 5th and something didn't feel right, like the transmission didn't engage. I then realized I could not move the shift lever on the transmission out of gear. I attempted to take the next exit but the ramp was only suitable for around 30mph. I tried to keep the engine from stalling as best as I could. As I got around the ramp I pulled to the shoulder and nearly hit a guard rail because the shoulder ended and I barely stopped in time. I called Chevy roadside assistance for a tow vehicle and they dispatched one. While I was waiting I google'd my problem ("Chevy Sonic stuck in gear"). Alas, another person had the same exact issue with the same exact vehicle. …
Power train - transmission failure - I was traveling on the interstate at 70 MPH and all of a sudden my car lost power and went to 5 MPH; the RPM's revved at 3500 yet no power went to the wheels. It was an extremely precarious situation in which I was nearly rammed by several vehicles before I limped off the exit at 5 MPH; still very much in danger. I was able to pull into a safe space and called aaa for a tow. It was a Saturday night so no services were available. This car only has 37,000+ miles on it, has been regularly serviced by the dealer and is out of warranty on the power train. No car should have its transmission go out with such low mileage and regular service. This is a serious situation and a flaw in the transmission system of this car. …
To begin, I have been having a shift flare problem with my automatic transmission. There are no trouble codes in the system. This would happen when I would get off the highway when there was a lot of traffic or when the car was running for a long time. The problem went away when the car was cooled and was parked for several hours. The RPM would spike about 200rmp when accelerating. This would happen from 2nd to 3rd gear. I have changed the fluid and I had to put a little more than half a quart of fluid into it. The transmission is leaking fluid. One thing that I noticed was that the drain plug backed out. I don't know why this happened but it leaked around it. There is another small leak where the engine and transmission meet. This is a very small leak and it only leaks in freezing temperatures. …
The gear shift button gets stuck in depressed position, preventing removal of the key from ignition when in park position and allows the shifter to shift between gears and park positions with little-to-no intervention. Inability disengage button and to remove the key from the ignition also creates inability to securely park the vehicle and turn the vehicle off. This appears to be a common problem are there are plenty of forums online about the topic. Here is a video of someone else having the same problem I'm having: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmuxp0bxtvi this is extremely dangerous and I don't undertand how GM hasn't recalled it. The car becomes literally impossible to park. It happened to me when I got home one night and I almost to leave the key in the ignition overnight because it wouldn't come out, which would had probaly killed the battery. …
The button on the gear shift that activates the shifter and allows it to move regularly gets stuck allowing the car to be put into gear without holding the button. This poses a serious safety hazard due to the fact that there is no safety mechanism preventing the car from accidentally being put into gear and allowing the car to roll while unattended. This issue also prevents the key from being removed while the button is stuck even while in park which poses an additional safety hazard. This issue is very common with this car and needs to be addressed immediately
Transmission complaints in other Sonic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic, 18% of the model year's 217 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Chevrolet Sonic transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Sonic transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 53,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.