Chevrolet Sonic Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 227 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Sonic across 9 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (59). The words owners use most often: “key ignition” (8% of reports).
- 227electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- 35%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Key ignition: mentioned in 18 of 227 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 158 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 227 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 6 an injury.
Chevrolet Sonic electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Sonic | 6 | 60% | 1,800 |
| 2019 Sonic | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2018 Sonic | 6 | 40% | 26,950 |
| 2017 Sonic | 5 | 14% | 6,840 |
| 2016 Sonic | 11 | 23% | 50,500 |
| 2015 Sonic | 34 | 30% | 50,000 |
| 2014 Sonic | 49 | 33% | 50,150 |
| 2013 Sonic | 56 | 26% | 65,000 |
| 2012 Sonic | 59 | 17% | 40,060 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Electrical system:software; equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc.
Model years: 2015, 2016
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.
Model years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
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.
Exterior lighting:brake lights; electrical system
Model years: 2013
Problem: 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 October 2013, GM informed the agency that it was adding model year 2013 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles to this campaign , representing an additional 8,050 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 9,677. On the affected vehicles, the brake lamps may intermittently flash without the brakes being applied and the cruise control may disengage. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: If the brake lamps flash when the vehicle is not slowing, a following driver may not adjust vehicle speed when the vehicle is in fact braking, and the brake lamps are illuminating as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Exterior lighting:turn signal; electrical system
Model years: 2013
Problem: 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 fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the driver is not aware that the turn signal is not functioning and does not have the light repaired, other drivers may not be alerted that the vehicle is turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 2018 Chevrolet Sonic 1.8L has experienced repeated complete battery discharge and electrical failures over approximately two years. The factory infotainment system does not consistently shut down after the ignition is turned off. I must follow a specific shutdown procedure or occasionally remove…
A new EverStart Maxx lead-acid battery (Group Size H5/47, 12V, 650 CCA) was bought at Walmart on 07/14/2026 and installed the same day in a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic. It was installed correctly: correct polarity, both terminals tight and free of corrosion, hold-down secured. The car ran normally for…
Electric My coolant And leaking issues My car door look when keys are inside ignition
Purchased from Carvana. Nine days after purchase came out to a dead battery took it to the authorized dealer and they said the battery was a bad cell battery. Replace the battery. Six days after they replaced the battery it was dead again. This time they had it in the shop for two weeks before they…
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact purchased the vehicle from a dealer in March 2024. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the odometer at 60,000, and the advertisement stated 60,000. The contact recently acquired the Carfax report, which…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Sonics have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 227 owner complaints about electrical system for the Chevrolet Sonic. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Sonic electrical system?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Sonic?
The most frequent phrase is “key ignition”, in 18 of 227 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Sonic problems
- Engine problems (239)
- Power Train problems (231)
- Air Bags problems (126)
See all Chevrolet Sonic problems.