RecallMyCar

Chevrolet Sonic Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls and 953 owner complaints across 10 model years of the Chevrolet Sonic (2011–2020). The most-complained-about year is 2012.

16
safety recalls, all years
953
owner complaints, all years
2012
year with most recalls
2012
year with most complaints

Pick your Chevrolet Sonic model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2020 Chevrolet Sonic010
2019 Chevrolet Sonic08
2018 Chevrolet Sonic114
2017 Chevrolet Sonic037
2016 Chevrolet Sonic248
2015 Chevrolet Sonic3114
2014 Chevrolet Sonic4150
2013 Chevrolet Sonic6217
2012 Chevrolet Sonic7354
2011 Chevrolet Sonic01

What Chevrolet Sonic owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 953 complaints with NHTSA. The 2012 model year has the most, with 354.

All Chevrolet Sonic recalls (16)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Chevrolet Sonic, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 23V516000 Reported 767 vehicles potentially affected General Motors, LLC

    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.

    Remedy: 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.…

    Model years: 2013

  2. Seats

    NHTSA 18V342000 Reported 71 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. A joint in the driver's seat-back frame may not be properly welded, reducing the strength of the seat-back frame.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat-back, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is…

    Model years: 2018

  3. Software (electrical system) and radio/tape deck/cd etc. (equipment)

    NHTSA 16V422000 Reported 18,780 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such,…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.

    Model years: 2015, 2016

  4. Radio/tape deck/cd etc. (equipment) and software (electrical system)

    NHTSA 16V257000 Reported 317,572 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    Remedy: 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…

    Model years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

  5. Radio/tape deck/cd etc. (equipment)

    NHTSA 15V416000 Reported 45,785 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 20, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured June 18, 2014, to June 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, equipped with the base radio and OnStar, the radio may lock up due to a software issue, causing…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is…

    Model years: 2015

  6. Air bags

    NHTSA 14V543000 Reported 304 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured July 28, 2014, to August 1, 2014. Due to a loss of electrical connection in the steering column, in the event of a severe crash, the driver's frontal air bag deployment may be limited to the first-stage deployment only instead of the…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will test the terminals in the IP harness clock spring coil connector and replace any loose terminals, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet…

    Model years: 2014

  7. Electrical (equipment)

    NHTSA 14V417000 Reported 2,990 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    Remedy: 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…

    Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014

  8. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 14V315000 Reported 21,567 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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.

    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…

    Model years: 2012

  9. Air bags

    NHTSA 14V300000 Reported 31,520 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at…

    Model years: 2012

  10. Mounting (fuel system)

    NHTSA 13V464000 Reported 1,558 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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.

    Remedy: 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…

    Model years: 2013, 2014

  11. Brake lights (exterior lighting) and electrical system

    NHTSA 13V220000 Reported 10,210 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Model years: 2013

  12. Air bags

    NHTSA 13V023000 Reported 4,167 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

    Model years: 2012

  13. Air bags

    NHTSA 12V522000 Reported 2,949 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

    Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

    Model years: 2012

  14. Turn signal (exterior lighting) and electrical system

    NHTSA 12V454000 Reported 4,716 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Model years: 2013

  15. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 12V408000 Reported 44,668 vehicles potentially affected General Motors LLC

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 5, 2011, through February 24, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." The windshield wiper washer hose on these vehicles may separate from the…

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will secure the windshield washer hose to prevent separation, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at…

    Model years: 2012

  16. Pads (service brakes)

    NHTSA 11V599000 Reported 4,296 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS LLC

    General motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 chevrolet sonic vehicles manufactured from june 2, 2011, through november 21, 2011. On some of these vehicles, the front brake inner or outer pad may be missing.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front brakes for a missing inner or outer pad. If a brake pad is missing, dealers will install new inner and outer pads, a new brake caliper, and a new rotor. This…

    Model years: 2012

Other Chevrolet models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.