Model year guide

2013 Chevrolet Sonic

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 905 on record.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2013 Chevrolet Sonic at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints217
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Combined30 mpg
Typical price$8,510

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic recalls 6

Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc. NHTSA Campaign #16V257000 · 28/04/2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply …

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

Equipment:electrical NHTSA Campaign #14V417000 · 02/07/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heate…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1…

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #13V220000 · 24/05/2013

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala; and 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Originally, in May 2013, GM recalled 1,627 model year 2013 Cadillac ATS and model year 2013 Cadillac XTS; and model year 2014 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. In October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet S…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module. The recall began on June 13, 2013. Owner's may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339. GM's recall number is 13158.

Electrical System NHTSA Campaign #12V454000 · 17/09/2012

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 29, 2012, through August 29, 2012. When a turn signal lamp fails to operate, the Body Control Module (BCM) in these vehicles does not detect this condition and will not indicate the condition to the driver. Thus, These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflecti…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the BCM and the vehicle's key fobs, free of charge. The safety recall began on October 3, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting NHTSA Campaign #13V464000 · 26/09/2013

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured August 2, 2013, through August 12, 2013. Due to insufficient welds, the front fuel tank strap bracket may separate from the vehicle.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front fuel tank strap bracket, and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 7, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13296.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #23V516000 · 27/07/2023

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet custome…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 217 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic MPG & running costs

Combined30 mpg
City26 mpg
Highway36 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,063

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic worth?

Low
$7,100
Typical price
$8,510
High
$10,000

From 901 comparable 2013 Chevrolet Sonic listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$10,315
Fuel only$10,315
Per mile$0.14

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic trims & engines on record

Trims
LT · LTZ · LS · RS
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl · 1.4L 4-cyl

2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles on record

Other Chevrolet Sonic model years

2013 Chevrolet Sonic — frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic?

Based on 217 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, air bags, electrical system.

What is the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic at about 30 mpg combined (26 city / 36 highway).

How much is a 2013 Chevrolet Sonic worth?

Comparable 2013 Chevrolet Sonic listings run roughly $7,100–$10,000, typically around $8,510 (from 901 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.