2012 Chevrolet Sonic: misfire or rough idle

Filed Jan 26, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · TX

After original P0011 engine code dealer bought from replaced VVT actuators, oil control solenoid, VCG, timing belt, water pump, antifreeze, idler and tensioner on 10/27 -11/21. Vehicle ran for one week and all thru Dec 2021 intermittently kept running rough and stalling and throwing P0011 code Camsgaft Position Sensor intake and P0301 cylinder 1 misfire. Smelled burning oil too. Replaced all separate throughout month -Camshaft position sensor intake, changed oil, spark plugs and now the ignition coil. Each time ran one day and code P0011 kept coming back. Running rough, poor gas mileage and stalls. Have extended warranty going back to dealer bought from.

Filed Sep 10, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 47,000 miles · NJ

First issue was electrical issues (bad lights, unfunctioning controls, AC adapter would not give power, outside lightbulbs do not last, headlamp controls fell apart, mirror conrtrols fell off, vent controls fell apart. When electric window control stopps working and hisses and smokes when engine is turned on. I also have been shocked painfully when trying to get the AC adapter to work. Next came repair of the ignition switch.. I could not pass state inspection because my "check engine" light was on. In august 2017, car had engine misfire, which cost me repair on the fuel pump. A few days after that, the battery died and I replaced it. One week later,, it started to smoke under the hood and the car was overheating. Then a few hours later, electric was on and off but power to vechicle stopped.. This ended up being the serp. Main belt. Next came the ignition switch. (novembwr 2017) early 2018.. Ac adapter stopped working again, and it was replaced. A c stopped blowing cold air spring 2018, and within weeks, the window control failing again, I have had heat stroke twice. Window control unit smokes and hisses when I turn on engine. Window also cracked while driving 55mph. Plastic vents cracked outside therm fell off & plastic undercarriage cover ripped b4 aircond, followed by the fan. When I brought car in for airc, I was told I needed new rear brake pads and the radiator fan and compressor.. There is no therm for engine. Fixed only brakes. Car then began to overheat while in traffic. Replaced radiator fan 2 weeks later. . Still need new AC compressor. Window control began to fail again next. First time window conrol failed, battery died same night, and I had to get serp. Belt and new battery. New battery has already had to be jumped 3 times, and seems as though engine misfire is beginning again. Problems going uphill today.. Slow accelleration, unsteady fuel flow.

Filed Jan 8, 2017 · Airbags, Brakes · 40,000 miles · MI · crash · 1 injury

On 1/31/2016 a vehicle pulled out in front of me. The first and biggest issue was the airbag never went off and the seat belt tensioners did not lock the belts either. I went forward and hit my head on the steering wheel rendering me unconscious!!! Almost the whole front end had to be replaced e.g.: grill and front panel, left and right front quarter panels, radiator, both wheel wells, suspension on both sides and everything that goes with those plus a whole lot of other things like the radiator, coolant and washer tanks etc. Etc.... This was a full-frontal wreck and not a single airbag went off!!! Secondly are the ABS and traction control. The roads were a little slick so I had the tc on. When I hit my brakes all they did, have done since I bought the car, and continue to do to this day, is immediately lock up! I had zero control of my car. This car has, by far, the worst ABS system I have ever used. The tc is complete [xxx], too!!! Thirdly, every time I start the car the engine seems to misfire or something! It rattles and shakes the whole car, hard!!! After a few seconds it seems to find it's groove and idles normally. I have brought the car in to the local chevy dealership where I purchased the car to address these problems. All they tell me is they are design and/or manufacturing flaws. They said I can pay to fix these issues with my own money or wait and see if the issues become recalls. Which, according to my research, have not yet. To me, these are some pretty big safety issues the manufacturer should be addressing!!! And why aren't they????? I have photos of the accident, but can't seem to find them anywhere. I'll come back if I find them. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Oct 27, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 111,000 miles · FL

Car started misfiring when accelerating and would jerk and be very rough when idling but no engine light. Full tune up found that open valve cover gasket was damaged and that seals were plastic when they should've been rubber, this caused oil to enter the spark plug wells. Changed gasket and seals but problem persisted. Took to the dealership and was told that ignition switch in cylinder 1 was bad, this corrected the issue but now car has burning smell at times.

Filed May 3, 2016 · Brakes, Engine · 75,000 miles · UT

In 2015, my 2012 chevrolet sonic had to have the fuel purge valve replaced. The car worked for a while after this. However, a few months ago, it started having a rough idle, with the rpms dipping up and down. The problem got worse recently, when the car actually completely died while making a left hand turn, almost causing me to get hit. Now, it is even worse. Now, in addition to the rough idle, traction control randomly engages even when I am not slipping, causing me to lose all power for brief periods of time, while in motion. The traction control is glitching so bad that it even randomly engages when I am completely stopped. This is a huge safety issue, and the dealership that sold me the car wants $113 just to tell me what is causing it, and how much it will cost to actually fix. There are no active recalls on this vehicle, but further research on the model I own, shows other owners having similar issues. Chevrolet has been no help

Filed Oct 19, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 47,740 miles · TX

Beginning from the first month of ownership. Approx. 28,000 mi. At cold start there is a rattle noise like metal on metal. Then will disappear right after. Has been getting worse/ louder. Hard shifts, loss of power. Now as of last night the check engine light is on and the car runs rough. High idle, stalls, knocking noises from engine. Fault code. P0011?

Filed Oct 18, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 51,611 miles · CA

1. Took car in to dealership in aug for check engine light on and coolant is low, car overheats. Car was in shop for almost 2 weeks (p/u sept 5th). They repl. Radiator, thermostat, sept 10 car stalls at major stop light and again at a stop sign. Engine starts making a loud noise and runs rough. Keeps stalling at idle. Take car back to dealer next day sept 11. They have the car for 3 weeks. P/u oct 7th after they repl the engine and some bolts. Sales agent assures me that there will be no more problems its fixed. 5 mins on the fwy at 70mph in fast lane at lunch hour car just turns off almost had a major accident trying to get over four lanes. Stops completely in the middle of slow lane by on-ramp almost was hit twice started the key and it turned on got off fwy and took directly back to dealer who called me three days later and stated that a connector was bad and thats why it turned off and they ordered the part and that should take care of the problem p/u car in three days. Sales agent called back day I was to p/u and said they were still working on it and I told him I want to talk with a supervisor I will not drive the car off lot, come to find out that day on the fwy that it had never been test driven. Contacting business bureau and attorney at this point.

Filed Dec 15, 2012 · Engine · 1,912 miles · GA

This car when sitting at a idle shakes it don't matter if you start it up in the morning or in the day or night. It acts like it has a misfire when driving like all the cylinders aren't working properly. Taken to dealer twice since I bought it new in march 2012. Has a rough idle everyday ,after it warms up and you drive where ever you are going and then sit at a idle it bogs down,shakes the car. And im tired of going through this the dealer says its normal . And that the tech guys say its there number one complaint! Im upside down in it so im stuck unless I can maybe file the lemon law.the dealer told me the first time I went that it was the alternator from sitting overnight. Lol really??? And that the chevy trucks do it too. Come on....and if the car has 3 or less bats showing on the gas area it runs even crappier like its going to break down right in the street. I have the 5 speed, and its a terrible car!

Filed Nov 9, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · MO

Issues began with an intermittent rattle at cold start after car had been sitting about 30mins to an hr, from being driven. No codes showing so went un-repaired, once pinpointed, it was replicated, still no codes, no fix, starting about aug 2012 after my 1st service car began to shake at idle while stopped in d, started getting worse progressively. Vehicle stalled in middle of intersection while trying to shift itself (auto trans) into 3rd, violent jerk to a stop and immediately picked itself up and jerked forward and moved, with my children in the car. Next stall occurred about 3-4 weeks later, idled so rough and low while in d at a stop light, car bogged down and stalled, started itself right back up. Engine power surging began at this point. While braking or on brake while stopped, engine would power surge thrusting car forward, came very close to hitting several cars while pulling into parking spot from these surges. Had taken vehicle in multiple times between 1st occurrence and this point in sept. It was duplicated with multiple symptoms at once, including as given from dealer: hard shaking, misfire, and rattle/knock at cold start. Only code to show was for the misfire, repair: valve cleaning, not fixed. Rattle became a knocking. Idle meanwhile getting rougher. Took back for knocking, surging, rough idle, stalling. No codes, repair: gm tech assist had camshaft actuators replaced , fixed knocking/rattle at cold start only! Idle worse, now loss of engine power intermittently causing vehicle to hardly move, had vehicle back less than 24hrs. Almost had a "t-bone" accident and head on into a pole in same incident due to said loss of power. Asked for replacement (after 7 service repair attempts), request presently in limbo, no offer of replacement thus far! I am severely concerned for my family's safety at this point, clearly defective in itself with no codes showing.