Transmission shaft malfunction. Doesn't shift out of 1st gear. Transmission does not engage into gear.
2012 Chevrolet Sonic: stuck in gear or won't shift
20 of the 354 complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic describe stuck in gear or won't shift.
- owner complaints
- 20
- of this car's complaints
- 6%
- typical mileage
- 38,000
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 106 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Stuck in gear or won't shift by model year
- 20201
- 20181
- 20141
- 20133
- 201220
What owners say
While driving on the highway late at night, at approximately 60 mph my 2012 Sonic began to lose power and slowed to a dangerously low speed when there was nowhere for me to pull over! I literally had to coast to a spot that I could barely squeeze off the road! Then would not shift into any workable gear but 1st and after that just revved up loudly. Long story short…had to be towed 35 miles home. Then towed to a reputable garage where they concluded the transmission was shot at about 90,000 miles. Would be around $3800. to rebuild. Come to find out these cars are known for this problem! And yet somehow I’m being told by GM that it’s not included in the Turbine Shaft Fracture Recall for that car’s year/make/model!! WHY?! Needless to say….the car will be junked!
My vehicle will not shift out of 1st or 2nd gear. This appears to be part of a recall I just found out about, however my vin # states its not part of the recall.
A few months after this car was purchased, we received the notice regarding recall 14234 for our 2012 Chevy Sonic. However, when we brought it to the dealership, they stated that our vehicle didn't fall under the recall. I told them we were experiencing shaking while shifting and it seemed like the exact same issue. Now about 1 year later with less than 100,000 miles, the car will not shift properly into 3rd gear. The auto repair shop informed us that we need to get a new transmission among many other related repairs. We seem to have the exact same issue as reported in the recall; however, we continue to be informed that our vehicle does not fall under the umbrella of the recall. After doing a number of searches it seems that this is a common story. All these 2012 Chevy Sonics have the same issue yet do not fall under the recall.
Shift Lever (Gear Shifter) started getting stuck in park when I attempted to put it in drive. My vehicle key would also get stuck in the ignition. These two problems put my personal safety at risk because in not being able to shift from park to drive and (or) take my key out of the ignition, I would be left stranded out in public.
Transmission shifts hard and now it will not go in reverse and will not shift out of 1st. Engine revs but car doesn't move
Transmission will not shift into reverse or shift out of 2nd gear
Car will not go into reverse. Car will not shift properly, appears to be stuck in 2nd gear.
Vehicle had difficulty accelerating, was using 6000 rpms but only going 30 MPH, felt like the car was stuck in 2nd gear. Car lost ability to go in reverse.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet sonic. While driving various speeds, the vehicle failed to shift gears when prompted. The contact stated that the vehicle remained stuck in first gear. In addition, the vehicle stalled on more than one occasion. Mike maroone chevrolet south in colorado springs, colorado was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,000.
While driving the car on designated truck route street -speed limit was 45 MPH -the transmission would not up-shift to the third through sixth gears, limiting the vehicle's speed causing a unsafe speed reduction. After finally pulling the car over out of traffic and parking the car it would not go into reverse and all four wheels to locked. Car had to be towed to dealer where they had to replace the entire transmission with only 56,935 miles on the car .
Transmission recall14v315000. My son and wife were driving in freeway traffic when suddenly, the vehicle lost speed and would not shift into third or higher gears. The vehicle speed was limited to about 25-35mph. It was a very frightening experience which could have caused a crash as my son was trying to weave out of high speed freeway traffic. The failure is related to a broken wave plate in the transmission which prevents 3-6 gears from engaging. The symptoms experienced are very similar to a recall gm has on some 2012 sonics where the vehicle has limited speed and won't shift past 3 gear. Research reveals there are hundreds, if not thousands of these transmissions with the wave plates breaking and posing a safety concern.
Service bulletins that may apply
- This service bulletin informs the technician of an alternate lift procedure that has been developed when...
- This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or...
- GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities
- This service bulletin provides information on Driveline Clunk Noise and what is acceptable and what is...
- This bulletin provides information on the harmful effects of water or ethylene glycol in transmission fluid.
- This Warranty Admin service bulletin provides guidelines for Dealers Not Required and for Dealers Required...
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle...
- This service bulletin provides information for automatic transmission Oil Cooler Flush and flow test.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, to June 29, 2012, and equipped with a 6 speed automatic transmission and 1.8L four cylinder engine. In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.
- Risk
- If the transmission turbine shaft fracture occurs during vehicle operation in first or second gear, the vehicle will not upshift to the third through sixth gears, limiting the vehicle's speed. If the fracture occurs during operation in third through sixth gear, the vehicle will coast until it slows enough to downshift to first or second gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission turbine shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is 14234.
Recall number 14V315000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic won't shift
Is stuck in gear or won't shift a common problem on the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?
20 of 354 owner complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic (6%) mention stuck in gear or won't shift. The model year with the most reports is 2012.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?
There is 1 recall and 106 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
Check engine light 41Stalling 32Jerking 15Hesitation 14No deployment 13Loss of power 11Transmission failure 10Misfire 9Wipers 9Grinding brakes 8Overheating 8Fire or smoke 7Airbag light 6Knocking 5Slipping 5
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