Chevrolet Sonic Problems by Year
NHTSA has 953 owner complaints and 16 safety recalls on file for the Chevrolet Sonic, across 10 model years (2011–2020). The 2012 model year has the most complaints (354). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
Chevrolet Sonic years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sonic year: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2012 Sonic: 354 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2013 Sonic: 217 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2014 Sonic: 150 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2011 Sonic: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2019 Sonic: 8 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2020 Sonic: 10 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet Sonic problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 239 | 9 | 6 |
| Power Train problems | 231 | 7 | 6 |
| Electrical System problems | 226 | 9 | 9 |
| Air Bags problems | 126 | 8 | 63 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 69 | 9 | 1 |
| Steering | 54 | 8 | 9 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 39 | 6 | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 39 | 6 | 12 |
| Suspension | 34 | 6 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 32 | 6 | 5 |
| Structure | 28 | 6 | 6 |
| Visibility/wiper | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 19 | 6 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 18 | 6 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 13 | 6 | 2 |
| Wheels | 13 | 6 | 3 |
| Seats | 12 | 7 | 0 |
| Visibility | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Tires | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Chevrolet Sonic problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2013: electrical system (56) · engine (55)
- 2012: power train (154) · engine (83) · electrical system (59)
All Chevrolet Sonic model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Sonic | 10 | 0 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2019 Sonic | 8 | 0 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | |
| 2018 Sonic | 14 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 Sonic | 37 | 0 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 Sonic | 48 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2015 Sonic | 114 | 3 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 Sonic | 150 | 4 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Sonic | 217 | 6 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Sonic | 354 | 7 | 5★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 Sonic | 1 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Sonic years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2012 (354), 2013 (217), 2014 (150), 2015 (114) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sonic year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Sonic?
Engine, with 239 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Sonic have?
16 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.