Problem Lookup › Chevrolet › Sonic › 2017
Car problem report
2017 Chevrolet Sonic problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 37owner complaints
- 6crash reports
- 1fire report
- 4injuries reported
37 complaints, against an average of 114 for the other 8 Chevrolet Sonic model years.
Every Chevrolet Sonic model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic?
The components named most often in the 37 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2017 Chevrolet Sonic owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 37 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
What do 2017 Chevrolet Sonic owners report?
12 of the 37 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
Oil cooling system has been replaced. Major leak in AC line needs replacement. Purge solenoid stop functioning and was replaced, now there is an additional major coolant leak
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the engine made an abnormally rough sound, the transmission failed to shift as intended, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact exited the highway and continued to drive at slower speeds. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Zone, where it was diagnosed with turbo charger failure. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not…
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that, while driving at 40 MPH, another vehicle failed to yield at a stop sign. As a result, the contact was unable to stop in time and collided with the driver's side B Pillar center region of the other vehicle. The air bags did deploy, which the contact held responsible for the injuries she sustained. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact reported sustaining injuries to her…
Multiple attempts to fix camshaft/ camshaft position sensor. Causes car to decelerate at high speeds. Shaking while at high speeds
In June of 2023 I was driving my vehicle and suddenly the Traction Control, power steering and check engine light came on. I was able to get the vehicle safely home without the use of the power steering. Once I shut the vehicle off, it would not start again. I got the vehicle to my local dealership and they diagnosed it as one of the main wire harnesses was rubbing against a bolt near the battery, which is a known issue, and caused an electrical short in the system. It caused the ECU and electronic power steering to short out. They replaced the ECU, but have not been able to replace the…
steering wheel will lock up when you turn on car, we took it to Paradise Chevrolet, and they found power steering module has update available however need 12 Volt battery to be a higher CCA to reprogram p/s volt battery testing at 356 CCA recommend replacing battery and reprogramming P/S module. Of course, this was not covered under our Protection Plan and should be covered, I had to pay. $578.37 My car is only six years, and this should not be happing. 11/27/23 vehicle shuts off while driving this has happened three time to us. we cannot drive the car it is not safe. 12/19/23 had it tow to…
Throttle Housing cracked. Lessing the power in the engine.
Purchased this vehicle in February 2022 with 105,000 miles. Oil sticker indicated recent oil change and oil color was light and clear. The day after purchase the check engine light came on. Diagnostic scan indicated bad thermostat assembly and 2 oil sensors needed replacement. Radiator fluid was low. AC didn't cool. Repairs completed almost $900. The check engine light came on again the next day. The check engine and check oil lights/alarms need to be actual gauges. The vehicle overheated 3 times due to low coolant and faulty fan sensor fuse. Where is all the coolant going? A leaky hose was…
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being driven at approximately 30 mph, the driver crashed into a parked vehicle. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a head laceration and right and left knee injuries which required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified. The failure mileage was 120,000.
LIGHTS COME ON AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 12 MILES, THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER BAD , WHEN YOU LET UP ON GAS FOOT IT TAKES VERY LONG TO GET IT GOING SLOW TO BUILD UP POWER.REGULAR ROADWAY, NO HILLS .LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN PARKED A WHILE THEN COME BACK ON AFTER 12 MILES.
EVAP PURGE SOLENOID STUCK OPEN CAUSING CAR TO STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY- STREETS. IF STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR HAD TO SLOW DOWN IT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL IN MID INTERSECTION AND PUT MYSELF AND FAMILY IN DANGER OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. WINDSHIELD WASHER UNIT STOPPED WORKING CAUSING MY WINDSHIELD TO IMPAIR MY VISIBILITY NOT ONCE BUT TWICE NOW. DASH LIGHTS KEEP DIMMING SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE CAR AND SOMETIMES WHILE IM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING IT HARD TO TELL THE SPEED AND FUEL LEVEL BUT DOESNT DO IT ALL THE TIME IT COMES AND GOES.
CHEVY SONIC 42,000 MILES 1 1/2 YEARS OLD HAD TO REPLACE EVAP SOLENOID THAT REGULATES AIR AND FUEL. $513 MOSTLY LABOR GM WILL NOT COVER ANY COST AT ALL. DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. 1ST TIME AND LAST TIME I EVER BUY A CHEVY!!!!!!
2017 Chevrolet Sonic: questions owners ask
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic; the most common categories were engine (19, 51.4%), air bags (6, 16.2%), electrical system (5, 13.5%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 6 complaints mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 4 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic?
Across 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (51.4% of complaints), air bags (16.2% of complaints), electrical system (13.5% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (10.8% of complaints), steering (10.8% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2017 Chevrolet Sonic?
5 of the 37 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic (13.5%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "My engine light is on , so i had it ran for a test which p2076 has came up as 1 of the codes. prior to finding this out my car has cut off on me 3 times just being stropped at a red light." (NHTSA complaint 11383134, December 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2017 Chevrolet Sonic stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
4 of the 37 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic (10.8%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "I have replaced the same part now 4 times. I have multiple receipts. Cause the car the shut off or slow down while on the highway." (NHTSA complaint 11646466, March 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2017 Chevrolet Sonic overheat?
4 of the 37 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic (10.8%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "Oil cooling system has been replaced. Major leak in AC line needs replacement. Purge solenoid stop functioning and was replaced, now there is an additional major coolant leak" (NHTSA complaint 11732795, April 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Sonic
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2017 only.