Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
PI071504/01/201210044234Gm: engine rattle/knock noise, loose or broken front crankshaft pulley bolt and/or flywheel bolts. *js05/23/2012
PIC5574A05/01/201210043915Gm:a customer may experience a no crank or no start. the dealer my fin multiple communication codes in history or they may be unable to communicate with certain modules. *js05/01/2012
PI-0324-C04/17/201210043647Gmc/chevrolet/buick: transmission pump needs inspecting due to engine cranking but fails to start, has no forward, no reverse, transmission leaks, hard shift and no cranking. *pe04/17/2012
PIP-499012/01/201110043320Buick/chevrolet/gmc/pontiac/saturn: some model year vehicles may experience service engine soon (ses) lamp illuminated. issue may be caused by the control solenoid/module assembly or may have damaged or poor terminals for under hood fuse03/13/2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - TURBO-CHARGER
PI-085111/01/201210050279Chevrolet: the oil feed pipe needs checking and replaced. if restricted, and turbocharger assembly should be removed and replaced, and the ecm should be verified for latest calibration to allow turbocharge to cool, to reduce likelihood o01/28/2013
PIP502305/01/201210044388Gm: mil due to dtc p0299- turbocharger underboost dtc- inspect for turbocharger waste pivot pin wear. this may be the result of a worn wastegate actuator pivot pin (3), allowing the wastegate to open when it should be closed. *js06/18/2012
PI067502/01/201210044048Gm: information for no trouble found (ntf) turbochargers returned to warranty part center (wpc). *js05/08/2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - OTHER FUEL TYPES - TURBO-CHARGER
PI-085111/01/201210050279Chevrolet: the oil feed pipe needs checking and replaced. if restricted, and turbocharger assembly should be removed and replaced, and the ecm should be verified for latest calibration to allow turbocharge to cool, to reduce likelihood o01/28/2013

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE
03/15/20125000
 Idles dramatically while the car is at a stop, and the engine stalls very frequently, regardless of temperature or weather conditions. on start-up, or while stopped with the engine running, the idle will become rough and very between 200-3,000 rpm. also at times, while stopped, the idle will increase from normal, smooth idle up to about 3,000 rpm for approximately one second, then drop back down to 750 rpm (normal idle speed) without touching the accelerator. the automatic shifting from 1st to 3rd gear completely skips around. the car shifts are hard to the point, once you come to a stop it feels like the transmission is going to fall out.
12/18/201290001
 As i was driving down a intersection my car was going 50 miles an hour, then it just shut off. it's a 5 speed and it shut off and then started back up.the car was in 5 th gear at the time it was very scary im glad there was no one directly behind me. i've had problems with this car since day 1 there is other problems with it. but the dealers say its normal. they dont know why it did this. but this car is unsafe and to me its a lemon. i'm tired of feeling like a idiot this car has issues. *tr
12/18/20129000
 As i was driving down a intersection my car was goingh 50 miles an hour,then it just shut off.its a 5 speed and it shut off and then started back up.the car was in 5 th gear at the time it was very scary im glad there was no one directly behind me.ive had problems with this car since day 1 there is other problems with it.but the dealers say its normal.they dont know why it did this.but this car is unsafe and to me its a lemon.im tired of feeling like a idiot this car has issues.
05/21/2012200
 Idles roughly, idle increases dramatically while the car is at a stop, and the engine stalls very frequently, regardless of temperature or weather conditions. on start-up, or while stopped with the engine running, the idle will become rough and vary between 200-3,000 rpm, but not stall. also at times, while stopped, the idle will increase from normal, smooth idle up to about 3,000 rpm for approximately one second, then drop back down to 750 rpm (normal idle speed) without touching the accelerator. the engine will also stall at parking lot speeds when i push in the clutch to shift from 2nd to 1st gear. the car also often stalls when pulling out from a stop. a re-start cannot be attempted for approximately 3 seconds. turn the key, nothing happens. i've owned this vehicle (1.4l turbo engine with 6 spd manual transmission) since 05/21/2012, and over 8,000 miles later, it still idles roughly and stalls every time i drive it. the dealerships say, cannot reproduce. operating to specifications.
05/21/2012200
 Vehicle stalls when pulling out from a stop, and/or at low speeds when the clutch is pushed in. then, it takes three seconds before the car can attempt to be re-started! very dangerous when turning left across a highway or into traffic, especially since there is what seems to be a 'programmed' waiting period of 3 seconds before you can attempt to re-started. i've owned this vehicle (1.4l turbo engine with 6 spd manual transmission) since 05/21/2012, and over 8,000 miles later, it still stalls every time i drive it. the dealerships say, cannot reproduce. operating to specifications.
05/21/2012200
 Idles roughly, idle increases dramatically while the car is at a stop, and the engine stalls very frequently, regardless of temperature or weather conditions. on start-up, or while stopped with the engine running, the idle will become rough and vary between 200-3,000 rpm, but not stall. also at times, while stopped, the idle will increase from normal, smooth idle up to about 3,000 rpm for approximately one second, then drop back down to 750 rpm (normal idle speed) without touching the accelerator. the engine will also stall at parking lot speeds when i push in the clutch to shift from 2nd to 1st gear. the car also often stalls when pulling out from a stop. a re-start cannot be attempted for approximately 3 seconds. turn the key, nothing happens. i've owned this vehicle (1.4l turbo engine with 6 spd manual transmission) since 05/21/2012, and over 8,000 miles later, it still idles roughly and stalls every time i drive it. the dealerships say, cannot reproduce. operating to specifications.
05/21/2012200
 Vehicle stalls when pulling out from a stop, and/or at low speeds when the clutch is pushed in. then, it takes three seconds before the car can attempt to be re-started! very dangerous when turning left across a highway or into traffic, especially since there is what seems to be a 'programmed' waiting period of 3 seconds before you can attempt to re-started. i've owned this vehicle (1.4l turbo engine with 6 spd manual transmission) since 05/21/2012, and over 8,000 miles later, it still stalls every time i drive it. the dealerships say, cannot reproduce. operating to specifications.
05/21/2012200
 Idles roughly, idle increases dramatically while the car is at a stop, and the engine stalls very frequently, regardless of temperature or weather conditions. on start-up, or while stopped with the engine running, the idle will become rough and vary between 200-3,000 rpm, but not stall. also at times, while stopped, the idle will increase from normal, smooth idle up to about 3,000 rpm for approximately one second, then drop back down to 750 rpm (normal idle speed) without touching the accelerator. the engine will also stall at parking lot speeds when i push in the clutch to shift from 2nd to 1st gear. the car also often stalls when pulling out from a stop. a re-start cannot be attempted for approximately 3 seconds. turn the key, nothing happens. i've owned this vehicle (1.4l turbo engine with 6 spd manual transmission) since 05/21/2012, and over 8,000 miles later, it still idles roughly and stalls every time i drive it. the dealerships say, cannot reproduce. operating to specifications.
05/21/2012200
 Vehicle stalls when pulling out from a stop, and/or at low speeds when the clutch is pushed in. then, it takes three seconds before the car can attempt to be re-started! very dangerous when turning left across a highway or into traffic, especially since there is what seems to be a 'programmed' waiting period of 3 seconds before you can attempt to re-started. i've owned this vehicle (1.4l turbo engine with 6 spd manual transmission) since 05/21/2012, and over 8,000 miles later, it still stalls every time i drive it. the dealerships say, cannot reproduce. operating to specifications.
04/28/201219122
 This car when sitting at a idle shakes it don't matter if you start it up in the morning or in the day or night. it acts like it has a misfire when driving like all the cylinders aren't working properly. taken to dealer twice since i bought it new in march 2012. has a rough idle everyday ,after it warms up and you drive where ever you are going and then sit at a idle it bogs down,shakes the car. and im tired of going through this the dealer says its normal . and that the tech guys say its there number one complaint! im upside down in it so im stuck unless i can maybe file the lemon law.the dealer told me the first time i went that it was the alternator from sitting overnight. lol really??? and that the chevy trucks do it too. come on....and if the car has 3 or less bats showing on the gas area it runs even crappier like its going to break down right in the street. i have the 5 speed, and its a terrible car! *tr
04/28/20121912
 This car when sitting at a idle shakes it dodnt matter if you start it up in the morning or in the day or night.it acts like it has a misfire when driving like all the cylinders arnt working properly. taken to dealer ywice since i bought it new in march 2012.has a rough idle everyday ,after it warms up and you drive where ever you are going and then sit at a idle it bogs down,shakes the car.and im tired of going through this the dealer says its normal .and that the tech guys say its there number one complaint! im upside down in it so im stuck unless i can maybe file the lemon law.the dealer told me the first time i went that it was the alternator from sitting overnight. lol really??? and that the chevy trucks do it too. come on....and if the car has 3 or less bats showing on the gas area it runs even crappier like its going to break down right in the street.i have the 5 speed, and its a terrible car!
11/21/20121661
 November 26,2012 we financed a 2012 chevy sonic on november 17th. it only had 5 miles on it. sweet. right??? nope by wed november 21st the engine light came on and the car was over heating. it was spilling out coolant fluid everywhere. since it was the holidays i has to wait till friday after thanksgiving to get it towed to the dealership where i purchased it. it is monday november 26th and it is still in the shop. the service tech said they fixed what they thought was the problem, but it didn't fix the problem. so now they say it's something else now. what a drag! they gave me a loaner on monday and reassured me that there would be no cost to me, and everything would be covered under warranty. well of course i just got the darn thing.. i'm really disappointed because this is the fourth car i bought from this dealership. well tomorrow is tuesday november 27th let's see what happens. i should fight for a different new car!!!!! *tr
11/21/2012166
 November 26,2012 we financed a 2012 chevy sonic on november 17th. it only had 5 miles on it. sweet. right??? nope by wed november 21st the engine light came on and the car was over heating. it was spilling out coolant fluid everywhere. since it was the holidays i has to wait till friday after thanksgiving to get it towed to the dealership where i purchased it. it is monday november 26th and it is still in the shop. the service tech said they fixed what they thought was the problem, but it didn't fix the problem. so now they say it's something else now. what a drag! they gave me a loaner on monday and reasured me that there would be no cost to me, and everthing would be covered under warrenty. well of course i just got the darn thing.. i'm really disappointed because this is the fourth car i bought from this dealership. well tommorrow is tuesday november 27th let's see what happens. i should fight for a different new car!!!!!
02/22/20121
 Issues began with an intermittent rattle at cold start after car had been sitting about 30mins to an hr, from being driven. no codes showing so went un-repaired, once pinpointed, it was replicated, still no codes, no fix, starting about aug 2012 after my 1st service car began to shake at idle while stopped in d, started getting worse progressively. vehicle stalled in middle of intersection while trying to shift itself (auto trans) into 3rd, violent jerk to a stop and immediately picked itself up and jerked forward and moved, with my children in the car. next stall occurred about 3-4 weeks later, idled so rough and low while in d at a stop light, car bogged down and stalled, started itself right back up. engine power surging began at this point. while braking or on brake while stopped, engine would power surge thrusting car forward, came very close to hitting several cars while pulling into parking spot from these surges. had taken vehicle in multiple times between 1st occurrence and this point in sept. it was duplicated with multiple symptoms at once, including as given from dealer: hard shaking, misfire, and rattle/knock at cold start. only code to show was for the misfire, repair: valve cleaning, not fixed. rattle became a knocking. idle meanwhile getting rougher. took back for knocking, surging, rough idle, stalling. no codes, repair: gm tech assist had camshaft actuators replaced , fixed knocking/rattle at cold start only! idle worse, now loss of engine power intermittently causing vehicle to hardly move, had vehicle back less than 24hrs. almost had a t-bone accident and head on into a pole in same incident due to said loss of power. asked for replacement (after 7 service repair attempts), request presently in limbo, no offer of replacement thus far! i am severely concerned for my family's safety at this point, clearly defective in itself with no codes showing. *tr
02/22/2012
 Issues began with an intermittent rattle at cold start after car had been sitting about 30mins to an hr, from being driven. no codes showing so went un-repaired, once pinpointed, it was replicated, still no codes, no fix, starting about aug 2012 after my 1st service car began to shake at idle while stopped in d, started getting worse progressively. vehicle stalled in middle of intersection while trying to shift itself (auto trans) into 3rd, violent jerk to a stop and immediately picked itself up and jerked forward and moved, with my children in the car. next stall occurred about 3-4 weeks later, idled so rough and low while in d at a stop light, car bogged down and stalled, started itself right back up. engine power surging began at this point. while braking or on brake while stopped, engine would power surge thrusting car forward, came very close to hitting several cars while pulling into parking spot from these surges. had taken vehicle in multiple times between 1st occurrence and this point in sept. it was duplicated with multiple symptoms at once, including as given from dealer: hard shaking, misfire, and rattle/knock at cold start. only code to show was for the misfire, repair: valve cleaning, not fixed. rattle became a knocking. idle meanwhile getting rougher. took back for knocking, surging, rough idle, stalling. no codes, repair: gm tech assist had camshaft actuators replaced , fixed knocking/rattle at cold start only! idle worse, now loss of engine power intermittently causing vehicle to hardly move, had vehicle back less than 24hrs. almost had a t-bone accident and head on into a pole in same incident due to said loss of power. asked for replacement (after 7 service repair attempts), request presently in limbo, no offer of replacement thus far! i am severely concerned for my family's safety at this point, clearly defective in itself with no codes showing
09/05/20121
 Multiple reports of daewoo sonics (and cruzes, also sourced from daewoo though assembled in the united states) equipped with the 1.4l turbocharged engine stalling out and/or accelerating poorly in warm/hot conditions when using 87 octane fuel. these vehicles are unsafe in warm weather when owners use regular, unleaded gasoline, even though the manufacturer does not prohibit low octane fuel from being used. (premium fuel is recommended but not required, and the demographic groups that will purchase these cars likely will not wish to spend additional money for premium fuel for economical, subcompact automobiles.) nhtsa needs to investigate these examples of government motors once again endangering the general public. *tr
09/05/2012
 Multiple reports of daewoo sonics (and cruzes, also sourced from daewoo though assembled in the united states) equipped with the 1.4l turbocharged engine stalling out and/or accelerating poorly in warm/hot conditions when using 87 octane fuel. these vehicles are unsafe in warm weather when owners use regular, unleaded gasoline, even though the manufacturer does not prohibit low octane fuel from being used. (premium fuel is recommended but not required, and the demographic groups that will purchase these cars likely will not wish to spend additional money for premium fuel for economical, subcompact automobiles.) nhtsa needs to investigate these examples of government motors once again endangering the general public.
08/04/201230701
 Stalls easily and frequently when pulling out from a stop and is then difficult to restart, or i must wait about 5 seconds before i can attempt a restart. uneven idle most of the time. dealer blames me for the stalling (says i'm not used to the manual transmission, but many are complaining on the online forum www.sonicownersforum.com) most importantly, yesterday (08/04/2012), the fully warmed 1.4l turbo engine in my sonic rev'd to from idle (750 rpm) to exactly 3,000 rpm then back down to 750 rpm (while 6 spd manual in neutral, clutch fully depressed, right foot firmly on the brake and not touching the accelerator pedal. i had stopped at the end of a driveway and was waiting on traffic so that i could pull out. my right foot never moved from the brake pedal and was in no way touching the accelerator pedal. the idle speed increased to 3,000 rpm all on it's own and back down to idle, much to my shock and amazement. thankfully, i was fully stopped. at only 3,070 miles and not yet 3 months of ownership, my new 2012 sonic is beginning to have a mind of it's own. *tr
08/04/20123070
 Stalls easily and frequently when pulling out from a stop and is then difficult to restart, or i must wait about 5 seconds before i can attempt a restart. uneven idle most of the time. dealer blames me for the stalling (says i'm not used to the manual transmission, but many are complaining on the online forum www.sonicownersforum.com) most importantly, yesterday (08/04/2012), the fully warmed 1.4l turbo engine in my sonic rev'd to from idle (750 rpm) to exactly 3,000 rpm then back down to 750 rpm (while 6 spd manual in neutral, clutch fully depressed, right foot firmly on the brake and not touching the accelerator pedal. i had stopped at the end of a driveway and was waiting on traffic so that i could pull out. my right foot never moved from the brake pedal and was in no way touching the accelerator pedal. the idle speed increased to 3,000 rpm all on it's own and back down to idle, much to my shock and amazement. thankfully, i was fully stopped. at only 3,070 miles and not yet 3 months of ownership, my new 2012 sonic is beginning to have a mind of it's own.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12/01/2011
 When i am driving on city streets and am behinde a car that is turning i have to slow down. when i give it gas at around 2k rpm. the car has some hesatation like it cant find a gear to be in. it has dune it sence about 100 miles. has 7000 miles on it now. was told it was the transmision trying to find its shift points as you break it in at 1000 miles.(berger chevy) also when in gerage and start car it sounds fine. but once i put it in rev. i hear lost lot pings coming from the enegin area. started after deer crash. took to berger chevy where car was bought. they found nothing but just body damage. hood, front end, and passage side all replace. with 600 miles on car
03/18/20122500
 First problem was the check engine light came on. called onstar and they said it had something to do with emission. called dealer, they checked it out and said it was a faulty evap solonoid. dealer replaced solonoid on 3-22-2012. while there, they also told me there was a recall on the drivers side airbag. i never recieved any notice about a recall. said they fixed that too. problem # 2- today 4-15, 2012, when i apply the brakes, its making what seems like a rubbing sound !! called onstar again, but they couldnt tell me anything. i will be taking this piece of crap car back to the dealers !! this car is only 4 months old with 2800 miles on it. !!
02/04/2012100
 I turned on windshield wipers & the engine died. this was the first time it had rained after i bought the car & really did not at this time associate the wipers & the engine dying until later that same day when contacted a friend of mine to drive the car. the dealer contacted gm about the problem but they don't seem to be very concerned about the problem. the dealer replaced the wiper motor but that did not solve the problem. it is a long story & i'm very concerned for the saftey of myself & others. it died the other day in traffic when it started to rain & i turned on the wipers and almost was hit by a truck. please contact me, it would be easier for him to explain in person about the problem.