Every 6 months, another failure. I'm over this pile!

[eggsalad]

I bought my '13 Sonic 1.8/6MT in January '16 with 28k on the clock. I've owned it 15 months and 18,000 miles.

In a little over a year, I've had to replace:

Sway bar end links
Air intake hose
Cruise control switch

And just today, it threw a P0597. Since the coolant level is fine, that means I need a thermostat. At 48k.

This car is a bad joke. I'm going to lose $4-5000 dumping it, and frankly, I don't care. I want a car that can go more than 6 months without a part failing.

 

[Anthony]

Sorry to hear that, man. Sounds like you got a lemon. I've had my 2013 RS since 2013 (I bought it new) and I have 36k on the clock. I've never had a single issue with it and it's very modified.

Good luck on your next purchase.

 

[carsNskis]

Those are really minor issues, so it seems silly to me lose so much money over so little spent in time and money to fix.

But if you think another car will suit you better then best of luck to you

 

[5.0]

Does it really make financial sense to lose $5000 over $200.00 worth of parts? Everything you listed are very minor and cheap repairs. While I'll admit these aren't the highest quality cars, every brand has little quirks and problems. The next car you buy WILL have its own set of issues.

I understand it's frustrating but dumping a car over an intake air hose?

-Toyota is replacing entire frames on their tacomas and tundras for rusting. It's requires complete disassembly and reassembly of the truck.

-Audi's have excessive oil consumption issues.

-BMW's have cracking subframes at a cost of $4500 to fix.

-Hyundai's turbo engine's throw rods at random requiring a new engine.

Pick your poison.

Give me worn out endlinks or an intake hose anyday.

 

[sleepybird09]

^ I agree with what he says.
But woudn't all this be covered under warranty?

 

[TheGreenDragon]

This car is a bad joke. I'm going to lose $4-5000 dumping it, and frankly, I don't care. I want a car that can go more than 6 months without a part failing.

Sorry to hear you'll be leaving us.

I can understand the frustration of a car that constantly requires repair. My previous car was a Ford Explorer where the automatic transmission overdrive synchro kept failing (probably not the correct tech jargon, but *shrug*).

Just make sure you don't buy a Hyundai Veloster for your next car.

 

[Hectic]

You're joking right?

I have owned my 2012 1.8 AT since brand new. Picked it up with 12km on the odometer. In ~88,000km, I can count on one hand the amount of repairs done to the car.

Stock radio replacement (2x due to the aux input failing, which was my fault)
Wiper hose recall
Link replacement recall
Thermostat replacement (stuck open) @ 42,000km
Air Inlet duct replacement @ 53,000km (Which is now a bulletin, and I was reimbursed for the full amount)
Leaking axle and torque converter seal @ 61,000km
Replaced generator @ 61,000km (which was not really needed, but was a little noisy)

(Okay, maybe 2 hands)

And guess what? It cost me nothing due to my warranty.

Total cost, with labour included for everything? Maybe $3000. And I'm estimating high.

Very little work for a 5 year old car. You're complaining over some pretty small things. I don't even complain for what I've had to do.

Parts fail, cars need work done. Just because you spend $20,000 doesn't mean there isn't maintenance involved.

I work in a parts department, you are VERY LUCKY for the small issues you have had.

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Farewell and good luck. Love mine and no issues at all. :banana::banana:

 

[MS93]

I could understand your frustration. I bought my Sonic at 19k and the AC wasn't working. I've had to take it in twice and even then, the AC isn't that great. I've had 15 year old cars with 200k miles with colder AC. Good thing I have a warranty for the next 2 years

 

[Papasonic]

Obviously any repair needed to our vehicles is frustrating, but the repairs the OP described are mostly minor inconveniences, and in today's scheme of potential problems; his seem rather insignificant in comparison. OP, didn't mean to trivialize your issues, but many brands have problems that are much more significant.

 

[MS93]

I would expect issues on an older car but 2013 is still relatively new. If I have to put any money into repairs other than oil changes and tune ups while I'm still paying on the car, that's when it's time to trade it in lol

Sent from my AT7-B using Tapatalk

 

[$ub$onic]

So you expect 0 mechanical problems in the 6 years of paying for a car?

Good luck with that with any make.

One of the major advantages of the sonics are cheap repair costs.




Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

 

[rodslinger]

So you expect 0 mechanical problems in the 6 years of paying for a car?

Good luck with that with any (high end) make.

One of the major advantages of the sonics are cheap repair costs.




Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

I'm glad for the cheap repair costs. But I do expect minimal or near 0 mechanical problems for the first five or six years or 100k of life out of a vehicle other than general maintenance. I like my Sonic but it has been in the shop for warranty repairs more than my Dodge Dakota and my last five Mazda cars COMBINED.

Fuel pump a few days after purchase.
Two or three recalls
Purge valve solenoid
Water pump about 30k miles
Two valve covers
Intake manifold
Turbo
Way too many rattles in the interior....
And now it has the rough idle when stopped due to the transmission TSB. So back it will go for a 3rd gear trans clutch pack update.

I've been pleased with the dealer and they've always made it a one trip experience. But I'm not as convinced GM is producing the quality I hoped for. Starting to feel like my experience with old GM quality. My Regal GS sounds like a can of marbles from dash rattles too.

I gave GM an honest shot but losing confidence. I was looking at all the new stuff when getting the turbo swapped a couple of weeks back. I bet 1/4 of the new Colorado's had the emblems on the tailgate installed crooked... Had actually test drove a diesel version a few months back thinking about an upgrade for the Dakota and the thing threw a CEL pulling out of the lot. The intake tube between the turbo and the air filter wasn't installed all the way and threw a fault. How does that pass QC at the factory?

WTF GM? Get it together.

 

[mitdr774]

edit: Just ignore the cranky old guy.

 

[rodslinger]

If you buy what is almost the entry lever car for a manufacture you are going to have to expect some issues....

Let me guess, you didnt really want a Sonic to begin with, but settled on one just to have transportation?

There is zero expectation for many of these issues today whether you buy a Sonic or an Impala. My 2014 Regal GS had an engine replaced at 25k miles. That isn't an entry level car. Should anyone that buys a Buick Encore (shares Sonic chassis, engine and a LOT of hardware) be tolerant of these issues? These manufacturers share enough underlying hardware and tech between models that all these issues should be few and far between.

I bought the Sonic because I wanted it. It wasn't a penalty purchase based on what I could afford. I like and prefer smaller cars. I like to drive and want to get their without lumbering around in a lethargic SUV that can't go, stop or turn as quickly as I would like. Compared to other compact cars back in late 2013 it seemed to offer a package that would accommodate how I drive. When looking at the Sonic I had hopes GM made some significant strides in their quality. At first I though they did. I was impressed enough initially with the car that I went out and bought a Regal GS for those days you want to drive something nicer or have a little more fun on the back roads.

But not long after getting the GS did these little issues start popping up on the Sonic. Then the rattles started popping up in the Regal too.

Again.... I'm still happy with the car overall and I don't recall sitting on this board complaining about it. I'm just putting up some supporting info for the OP. Some of us may have had compact cars from other makes that didn't have the level of issues we experience in the Sonic. Others may have been in the GM family longer and are just used to it. But they should not have to be used to it. GM isn't making junk. They are making good cars. They just aren't making great cars.

 

[RMinNJ]

I think it's whatever your used to and if you like the car.
My saabs if I look back needed a lot.of repairs...and I would buy one again..how crazy is that.
You could try Honda or toyota..
Why not stick with Mazda if you liked them? I personally would never buy a Mazda because ours, while mechanically problem free rusted like a car built in 1973...there was not one body panel.that wasn't rusting in some area.
I'll take a valve cover over rusted body panels any day of the week.

 

[rodslinger]

I think it's whatever your used to and if you like the car.

Yes. I still like my Sonic and will be keeping it a while. It does what I need it to do and does it very well. BNR helps do it better.

You could try Honda or toyota..

I would still take a few faults over a rebadged Ambien on wheels. I enjoy driving more than being put to sleep while driving.

 

[JKimSonic]

I'm glad for the cheap repair costs. But I do expect minimal or near 0 mechanical problems for the first five or six years or 100k of life out of a vehicle other than general maintenance. I like my Sonic but it has been in the shop for warranty repairs more than my Dodge Dakota and my last five Mazda cars COMBINED.

Fuel pump a few days after purchase.
Two or three recalls
Purge valve solenoid
Water pump about 30k miles
Two valve covers
Intake manifold
Turbo
Way too many rattles in the interior....
And now it has the rough idle when stopped due to the transmission TSB. So back it will go for a 3rd gear trans clutch pack update.

I've been pleased with the dealer and they've always made it a one trip experience. But I'm not as convinced GM is producing the quality I hoped for. Starting to feel like my experience with old GM quality. My Regal GS sounds like a can of marbles from dash rattles too.

I gave GM an honest shot but losing confidence. I was looking at all the new stuff when getting the turbo swapped a couple of weeks back. I bet 1/4 of the new Colorado's had the emblems on the tailgate installed crooked... Had actually test drove a diesel version a few months back thinking about an upgrade for the Dakota and the thing threw a CEL pulling out of the lot. The intake tube between the turbo and the air filter wasn't installed all the way and threw a fault. How does that pass QC at the factory?

WTF GM? Get it together.

What TSB for the transmission? My 2013 has a rough idle at a stop light. I can't figure it out. Got a link?

So you expect 0 mechanical problems in the 6 years of paying for a car?

Good luck with that with any make.

One of the major advantages of the sonics are cheap repair costs.




Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

Not zero. But there's no reason in 2016, GM can't manufacture a car, that doesn't need a water pump at 30k miles, or a thermostat at 50k miles.

For christ sakes, they used plastic stabilizer end links. What!? My sonic is 68k miles on it, and they've had to be replaced 2x already. Cheap car, yes. Cheap parts, yes. I'd rather pay more for reliability.

 

[JKimSonic]

I think it's whatever your used to and if you like the car.
My saabs if I look back needed a lot.of repairs...and I would buy one again..how crazy is that.
You could try Honda or toyota..
Why not stick with Mazda if you liked them? I personally would never buy a Mazda because ours, while mechanically problem free rusted like a car built in 1973...there was not one body panel.that wasn't rusting in some area.
I'll take a valve cover over rusted body panels any day of the week.

Most of the time, cars rust, because no one keeps them clean anymore. Salt and chemicals used in treating roads is terrible for the car. Clean them, keep them clean, and they won't rust.

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Not zero. But there's no reason in 2016, GM can't manufacture a car, that doesn't need a water pump at 30k miles, or a thermostat at 50k miles.
.

At least they got one right. Mine! Hahaha:banana: