The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
Transmission and power train recalls
- 2012 2014
In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
In owners' words
After disengaging, engaging, and then disengaging the clutch to place the vehicle in reverse the transmission grinds.
2012 Chevrolet Sonic owner · NHTSA complaint
Transmission shifts hard and now it will not go in reverse and will not shift out of 1st. Engine revs but car doesn't move
2012 Chevrolet Sonic owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Chevrolet Sonic years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Chevrolet Sonic years are 2012, 2013, 2014.
What are common Chevrolet Sonic transmission problems?
Owners most often describe stuck in gear or limp mode, hard or jerky shifting, lost power while driving.
Which Chevrolet Sonic years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Chevrolet Sonic years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2017, 2015, 2014.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Chevrolet Sonic reliability by year. How we count