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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.
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.
- Every owner quote, 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 them, 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.
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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.
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.
Should I buy a 2017 Chevrolet Sonic?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Chevrolet Sonic has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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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.