Automatic shift button stuck

[Sonicmom1]

My daughters 2012 Sonic shift button has been sticking for the past couple of years. Some how she could use her car fine by not pushing the button all the way in. I would always need a coin to pry the button back out so I could put the car in park and remove the key. Now there is actually a crack on the bottom of the button. I know when she had her car serviced I asked about it and it would cost $400 to have it replaced.

I couldn't believe there was not a recall after seeing all the complaints on the internet, and especially after seeing how the shifter can easily come out of park and shift gears. I was mad at myself for not having her car fixed sooner. I did call GM to report the problem and she was trying to be helpful and let me know the nearest dealership...that was not helpful. The issue is at least recorded and I hope everyone calls to complain. I was not aware of a kit designed to fix the issue until now (GM knob kit 42423234) costing about $14. I can't imagine how many issues everyone is having if there is a kit available and a few YouTube videos on how to fix the issue with the kit.

My question is should I go to the dealership to have it fixed $400? I did read somewhere that the dealership will replace the shifter and perhaps have the same issue. Should I replace it with the $14 kit which sounds like everyone is having good results? I want my daughter to be safe at whatever cost. We all know what the college student would choose. GM did tell me safety is their priority.....I won't comment.

 

[RMinNJ]

14$ kit I'd probably less risk of breaking other stuff in the car.
I sprayed some silicone in mine and it's been ok so far.

 

[Papasonic]

I had the same issue with the wife's 2012 Sonic. At the time I wasn't aware of the repair kit, so I disassembled the button assembly, noticed it had broken in two pieces, glued the parts back together and reassembled it. It worked fine. Recently we traded that vehicle for a new Malibu. I intended to purchase and install the button kit if we had kept the vehicle. If you are handy at fixing things, this is a simple repair. It depends on your skills and abilities if you should attempt this repair yourself. I estimate that if you had the parts in hand, it would take less than 10 minutes to disassemble and reassemble with new parts, if you took your time.

 

[SourKandi]

My 2013 had same. All the plastic buttons just seemed to disintegrate. We made a wooden one for interim that pushes down. Wasn’t aware of a $14 fix.

Next to go will be the coolant overflow tank. Ours just split all the way across the bottom and puked coolant everywhere. That’s about $35 and I searched for aftermarket since oem broke in 4 years.

 

[RMinNJ]

I ordered the button kit. The button was sticking and I was spraying silicone in there
about once a week.

Taking off the top and side off the shifter I can see my button is broken/cracked near the pin...i'm going to leave the top of the shifter off so if I have to
I can shift by pressing the mechanism inside down with a screwdriver. If i hold the button just right it works.

 

[RMinNJ]

LOL I ordered the coolant tank too. If I put my hand on the bottom of the plastic coolant tank there is coolant again..must be a pin hole crack..right in the middle of the bottom.

Too much plastic!

 

[Papasonic]

Too much plastic!

Yes, Chinese plastic; it looks good but durability and longevity is not on their radar. How cheap can we make it and get away with it seems to be the norm.

The shifter button is especially fragile; reminds me of materials used to make inexpensive toys; definitely not suitable for automotive applications.

 

[AdorableKaren]

My plastic shift button broke and I had it replaced at a Chevy dealership. They told me I would have to pay $400 to replace everything but I read all the sof threads about the $14 part. I showed them the part number, they looked it up. Only had to pay $14 for part. So the $400 fix and the $14 fix are the same. The dealership you went to either knows this or doesn't. Show them the sof threads and part number for $14.

 

[Papasonic]

Isn't the replacement part black plastic vs a chrome clad button? The composition of the plastic material may have been changed/improved for this application. The OEM/chrome button is very brittle, and where the mounting pivot pin holes are located; very close to the edge of the button, makes it all the more prone to fracture.

 

[92dakota]

not the kit I got .. just recently , still chrome but the button is 2 piece with the part that goes in , worst part is looking under my vin # it shows the entire shifter assembly needs to be replaced .. stupid leather wrapped shifter... but ordered the one for my parents 2015 , same part same everything chrome and all 20 bucks cnd ... works great

 

[RMinNJ]

Yep.. i didnt feel like waiting and picked up the part at the dealer today. New part is black plastic... it may be made better. Install was super easy. Of course, now i have a second one coming in the mail...

 

[Decastro45]

I just had this problem today in my wife’s 2014 Sonic, but before buying the kit I decided to look inside and nothing was broken just some yellow gum like around the inside of the button, I cleaned up with a napkin soak in Wd 40 and then sprayed some on where the button makes contact with base and it worked, now it’s fixed, procedure of taking it apart is easy.