Home › Cars › Chevrolet › Sonic › 2017
2017 Chevrolet Sonic problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
66% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 88% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 5 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 57%).
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 21 of 32 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (66%), and the largest group is filed under engine (19). For comparison, the 2016 scores 46%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2017 compares with other Chevrolet Sonic years
Of the 6 Chevrolet Sonic years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (66%). The worst is the 2012 (70%), the best the 2016 (46%). By volume, the 2017 drew 37 complaints (21 drivetrain), against 48 for the 2016 and 14 for the 2018.
Chevrolet Sonic years to avoid and best years →
2012 Sonic problems · 2013 Sonic problems · 2014 Sonic problems · 2015 Sonic problems · 2016 Sonic problems · 2017
The rest of the picture on the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 21 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Checking one particular 2017 Chevrolet Sonic? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 21 of 32 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (66%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic is engine: 19 of 37 complaints (51%) name it, followed by air bags (6) and electrical system (5). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 66% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 88% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 6 Chevrolet Sonic years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic.
Which Chevrolet Sonic years are better?
Among the Chevrolet Sonic years we track, the 2016 (46%), the 2015 (49%) and the 2013 (50%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (66%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chevrolet-sonic
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.