2016 Chevrolet Sonic Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sonic years
- More complaints than other years 5th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. That ranks 5th out of 10 Sonic model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (13 complaints, 27%), typically at around 65,000 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 48owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Chevrolet Sonic problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | 27% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 11 | 23% | 50,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 17% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 17% | 25,850 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 10% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 6% | 36,299 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 6% | 78,456 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 6% | 28,624 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 4% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 4% | 28,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 4% | 41,424 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 4% | 116,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 4% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 4% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2% | 116,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 2% | 30,008 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | 10,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Chevrolet Sonic recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:software; equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc.
Problem: 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, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical system:software; equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc.
Problem: 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 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Fix: 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 number for this recall is 17130.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
This car overheated and a head gasket blew. I am on a Facebook forum, and it seems like all of these cars have these problems. The Chevy Sonic ltz turbo 1.4 2016 is known for coolant issues and head gasket failures. My car only had 104,000 miles on it. It should last a lot longer than that, but…
Radio malfunctions. Channels automatically change and touch screen doesn't work all the time. I believe 2015 Sonic has a recall for this issue , but not 2016. It appears to be the same issue.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the driver's side door was stuck, and extra force was needed to open the door. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the power locks functioned as…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The ESC and oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was…
My car lock and unlocks when I did not hit any buttons. The remote start does not work sometimes. The battery loses connection from time to time with a brand new battery.
Other Chevrolet Sonic years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Sonic | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 Sonic | 8 | 0 |
| 2018 Sonic | 15 | 1 |
| 2017 Sonic | 37 | 0 |
| 2016 | 48 | 2 |
| 2015 Sonic | 114 | 3 |
| 2014 Sonic | 150 | 4 |
| 2013 Sonic | 217 | 6 |
| 2012 Sonic | 354 | 7 |
| 2011 Sonic | 1 | 0 |
See all Chevrolet Sonic problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
Embed this 2016 Chevrolet Sonic badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, air bags problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 13 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sonic model years, the 2016 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.