Junk!

[Ffor]

I'm a chevy man! Have been all my life! With that said these cars are junk! I have had to replace way too much stuff. Replaced -
Turbo
Water pump
Head- head gasket
Coolant reservoir
Water outlet
Sway bar end links have been clanging around for awhile
Pass window will not role up
Now the electric fan is out
What the h$ll is next!

 

[Natesriv]

I'm thinking you bought a 2012?

 

[Puzz]

I'm a chevy man! Have been all my life! With that said these cars are junk! I have had to replace way too much stuff. Replaced -
Turbo
Water pump
Head- head gasket
Coolant reservoir
Water outlet
Sway bar end links have been clanging around for awhile
Pass window will not role up
Now the electric fan is out
What the h$ll is next!

I hear ya man.. Sorry for everything you've been through.. I hope mine doesn't do all of that. I've always purchased new cars my whole life and have never had this amount of problems with any of them until this one came along.. There's absolutely NO excuse!

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

I'm laughing here. The car isn't junk, just built cheaply for people who need a cheap economical daily driver that will be replaced in the next 3 years. A lot of the issues are remedied easily. 65k on my 2012 and I've had only had to replace the valve cover, sway-bar end-links and my turbo. The turbo was my fault, but only because I actually raced the vehicle with a lot of consecutive boosted launches.

 

[Sailurman]

I'm a chevy man! Have been all my life! With that said these cars are junk! I have had to replace way too much stuff. Replaced -
Turbo
Water pump
Head- head gasket
Coolant reservoir
Water outlet
Sway bar end links have been clanging around for awhile
Pass window will not role up
Now the electric fan is out
What the h$ll is next!

So tell us the history of the problems, besides the fact that you purchased used in 2015. opcorn:

 

[Sailurman]

So tell us the history of the problems, besides the fact that you purchased used in 2015. opcorn:

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/new-member-introductions/18739-hello-chattanooga-tennessee.html#post325078

 

[Puzz]

I'm laughing here. The car isn't junk, just built cheaply for people who need a cheap economical daily driver that will be replaced in the next 3 years. A lot of the issues are remedied easily. 65k on my 2012 and I've had only had to replace the valve cover, sway-bar end-links and my turbo. The turbo was my fault, but only because I actually raced the vehicle with a lot of consecutive boosted launches.

Sorry man.. When I purchased this car, I wasn't thinking cheaply slapped together econo box.. Certainly not at the $20,000 price tag I payed for it.. For this price, I sure as hell expect better! My old 2010 base model Kia Soul was plain as day and never once went to the dealership for anything other than oil changes. 5 years of ownership perfection. I've only had this car for a year and it's already been to the dealership 3 times, 2 in which it was towed there... Pathetic..

 

[carsNskis]

Look on the bright side, you've handled all the issues that are known for the 2012 and the rest of your experience should be trouble free.

How much did the repairs cost out of pocket?

[emoji593][emoji809][emoji472]

 

[Ffor]

It's a 2013 ltz i bought used in july of 15, only 25000 miles. Bought for fuel economy. I drive a long way to work. Only mods it had were exhaust and lowered. Well taken care of ,very clean. Water pump when out around 60000 to 70000, Turbo at 99700. Blew the head gasket warped the head, and cracked the coolant tank and water outlet at the sametime 111047 miles. Electric fan at 113300. The car is not abused! Just driven right at 200 a day. (Hwy) Yes thats a lot of miles, but compared to my other vehicles not a third of the miles and 3 times the trouble!

 

[Ffor]

Out of pocket around $850. And still have to fix the pass window and the end links.

 

[Ffor]

Build date 3/13

 

[Ffor]

I'm laughing here. The car isn't junk, just built cheaply for people who need a cheap economical daily driver that will be replaced in the next 3 years. A lot of the issues are remedied easily. 65k on my 2012 and I've had only had to replace the valve cover, sway-bar end-links and my turbo. The turbo was my fault, but only because I actually raced the vehicle with a lot of consecutive boosted launches.

At 65k thats alot!

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

At 65k thats alot!

Valve cover is PCV related. Common issue
Sway bar endlinks only replaced once and they were replaced with Moog parts. 45k on the moog ones and they still hold strong, even after jumping a deer at 70mph on the hwy.
Waterpump hasn't been replaced even though it has the special warranty still. Which says a lot because they tend to fail relatively quickly between 2012-2013

The head gasket, Coolant reservoir, Water outlet have never needed service or replacing since I've had the car new in 2012.
Turbo replaced because of racing the car. Which the only part that really needed replacing was the exhaust manifold. Turbo's will last between 90k-120k miles before replacing becomes required anyways with "normal" driving habits. I know this because even a turbo from a Golf R will only last 120k before it needs to be "rebuilt".
Head gasket shouldn't blow unless you over heated the car, which clearly is what happened.

Mines been through hell and back and it still runs like a champ after basically torture testing it for the last 5 years. I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

Sorry man.. When I purchased this car, I wasn't thinking cheaply slapped together econo box.. Certainly not at the $20,000 price tag I payed for it.. For this price, I sure as hell expect better! My old 2010 base model Kia Soul was plain as day and never once went to the dealership for anything other than oil changes. 5 years of ownership perfection. I've only had this car for a year and it's already been to the dealership 3 times, 2 in which it was towed there... Pathetic..

Number of dealership visits for these issues I've had. None because the endlinks and valve cover replacement were maintenance items anyways. Even the turbo replacement didn't even need me to go to the dealership and that only costed me a trip to the boneyard and 300 dollars out of pocket. I also don't have warranty because It's modded. Yet just to maintain this car over 5 years, I've only spent 1k on maintenance and repairs. Is it pathetic now?

 

[Ffor]

Water pump went Out and the car did get hot, had it replaced. Few months later light came on, head gasket gone. The light comes on when it is HOT. Gasket was probably damaged when the pump went out, and over time it gave out.

 

[Ffor]

$1000 and only 65k I wouldn't call that good.

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

$1000 and only 65k I wouldn't call that good.

Nah dude. Compared to the other vehicles I drive and maintain, that's actually pretty cheap. It's like owning a Honda civic or a Toyota corolla for how cheap it is to keep this car running.

Here's the breakdown:

Moog end links to replace the OEM garbage: $50 - Still going strong. Replaced at around 20k. Will last the rest of the car's foreseeable life.
Valve cover: $60 - was done at 62k. Expecting to do this again to maintain the PCV system.
Roughly 10 oil changes around 5000-7500 miles each interval: $500 - Pretty standard actually. especially since it's full synthetic and at around 50 bucks for 4qts and a filter. Depending on oil brand.
Replacement turbo: $300 out of pocket from junkyard - had 3,000 miles on it when I bought it. Replaced at around 50k because of a cracked wastegate port from overheating the turbo.

Cheap car to own With cheap parts to be found everywhere. All that needs to be said.opcorn:

 

[Ffor]

I guess my other cars have spoiled me. My wife's car has 344k, it's a 98 and may have spent a $1000 on it. My truck has 425k its a 96, I have done some work to it but not untill well into the 100k mile mark and nothing major to the engine to this day. I don't count oil in that $ amount thats general maintenance that has to be done.

 

[Puzz]

Valve cover is PCV related. Common issue
Sway bar endlinks only replaced once and they were replaced with Moog parts. 45k on the moog ones and they still hold strong, even after jumping a deer at 70mph on the hwy.
Waterpump hasn't been replaced even though it has the special warranty still. Which says a lot because they tend to fail relatively quickly between 2012-2013

The head gasket, Coolant reservoir, Water outlet have never needed service or replacing since I've had the car new in 2012.
Turbo replaced because of racing the car. Which the only part that really needed replacing was the exhaust manifold. Turbo's will last between 90k-120k miles before replacing becomes required anyways with "normal" driving habits. I know this because even a turbo from a Golf R will only last 120k before it needs to be "rebuilt".
Head gasket shouldn't blow unless you over heated the car, which clearly is what happened.

Mines been through hell and back and it still runs like a champ after basically torture testing it for the last 5 years. I would buy another one in a heartbeat.



Number of dealership visits for these issues I've had. None because the endlinks and valve cover replacement were maintenance items anyways. Even the turbo replacement didn't even need me to go to the dealership and that only costed me a trip to the boneyard and 300 dollars out of pocket. I also don't have warranty because It's modded. Yet just to maintain this car over 5 years, I've only spent 1k on maintenance and repairs. Is it pathetic now?

Hey, if you want to rag out your car go right ahead. A brand new babied, non-abused car shouldn't be having ANY problems at all, so yeah, it's still pathetic.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Hey, if you want to rag out your car go right ahead. A brand new babied, non-abused car shouldn't be having ANY problems at all, so yeah, it's still pathetic.

I would agree. This car is supposed to be a competitor in the small car market, but it isn't a very good one. I've gone through a litany of parts on my Sonic, more than it should be at 55k (now). It's reasonable to expect that you shouldn't have major problems in such a short time. I too maintain my car. It's used 44 miles a day round trip for commuting. Just this morning, I smelled coolant and I popped the hood at work, looks like a leaking coolant surge tank.....new one on order, will change that this week when it arrives.

Head gasket and head at 35k, new shifter assembly, RF window motor, two thermostats, brake pedal position sensor, worn out floor mats at 5k miles, three sets of stabilizer bar links up to now, and the list goes on. Things have had to be replaced on this car that have never gone bad on any car I've owned or still own (and they are much older).

The upside is that GM has covered everything, but only after I fought them and made them give me an extended warranty on the whole car until 2021. I do the oil changes and upkeep myself. However, a car should be reliable and even with a warranty, when it's out of service, it's a paperweight and not much use. The tow truck driver joked me last time, "I knew your address when it came over dispatch. I've towed this car at least once before....."

In the 1980s, GM and Daewoo partnered on the Pontiac Lemans among other projects and things didn't go so hot there...., it seems that history is repeating itself.....

 

[Sailurman]

I would agree. This car is supposed to be a competitor in the small car market, but it isn't a very good one. I've gone through a litany of parts on my Sonic, more than it should be at 55k (now). It's reasonable to expect that you shouldn't have major problems in such a short time. I too maintain my car. It's used 44 miles a day round trip for commuting. Just this morning, I smelled coolant and I popped the hood at work, looks like a leaking coolant surge tank.....new one on order, will change that this week when it arrives.

Head gasket and head at 35k, new shifter assembly, RF window motor, two thermostats, brake pedal position sensor, worn out floor mats at 5k miles, three sets of stabilizer bar links up to now, and the list goes on. Things have had to be replaced on this car that have never gone bad on any car I've owned or still own (and they are much older).

The upside is that GM has covered everything, but only after I fought them and made them give me an extended warranty on the whole car until 2021. I do the oil changes and upkeep myself. However, a car should be reliable and even with a warranty, when it's out of service, it's a paperweight and not much use. The tow truck driver joked me last time, "I knew your address when it came over dispatch. I've towed this car at least once before....."

In the 1980s, GM and Daewoo partnered on the Pontiac Lemans among other projects and things didn't go so hot there...., it seems that history is repeating itself.....

Let's see, 2013 LT 1.4 Auto. 55k miles........ let's see....... wait..... ummmm...... oh yeah, that's it, water pump dribbling at 15k. Not even enough to see, just a coolant smell on occasion and the dealer had it in and out same day. Mine is not a paperweight. And all service is provided by my dealer's service department which Rocks!