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Chevrolet Sonic Recalls by Year

NHTSA's files hold 16 recall campaigns for the Chevrolet Sonic, across 6 model years from 2012 to 2018. The 2012 has the most (7); the fewest among years with a recall is 2018 (1).

Chevrolet Sonic years to avoid by our method: 2012 (3.7× the median year).

Model years
6

2012–2018, with a recall

Recall campaigns
16
Most recalls
2012

7 recalls

Owner complaints
954

all model years, NHTSA

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Owners have filed 954 complaints with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Sonic across 10 model years; the most, 354, concern the 2012.

Owners marked a crash on 91 of the Chevrolet Sonic complaints (10%) and a fire on 18.

Across all Chevrolet Sonic model years, owners name the engine most often (at least 239 complaints), then the electrical system (227).

NHTSA received the most complaints about the Chevrolet Sonic in 2016: 117, across all model years.

The component recalled most often on the Chevrolet Sonic is equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc., in 5 model-year listings.

The newest Chevrolet Sonic recall, 23V516000, was reported on July 27, 2023 and concerns the air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module.

NHTSA's recall file lists no recall for the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic, model year owners have filed complaints about.

Chevrolet Sonic years to avoid

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic stands out most: 166 complaints between 2011 and 2015, 44% of them naming the power train.

The 2012 also carries 7 recalls, against a median of 3.5 for the ranked Chevrolet Sonic years.

The best-measured Chevrolet Sonic years are 2017 (0.4×), 2016 (0.5×) and 2015 (1.0×).

The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method

Recalls and complaints by model year

NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the Chevrolet Sonic, by model year
YearRecallsComplaintsFirst yearsvs median year
20200105not ranked
2019081not ranked
20181159not ranked
201703720
0.4×
201624825
0.5×
2015311450
1.0×
2014415054
1.0×
20136217102
1.9×
2012avoid7354166
3.7×

First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Chevrolet Sonic years without a link have no recall page on this site.

What gets recalled most on the Chevrolet Sonic

  • EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.5
  • AIR BAGS4
  • EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL3
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE2
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING2
  • VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
  • SEATS1
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1

Chevrolet Sonic model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.

Every Chevrolet Sonic recall campaign (16)

NHTSA recall campaigns covering the Chevrolet Sonic, newest first
CampaignComponentYearsRisk namedVehicles
23V516000July 27, 2023air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2013injury and death767
18V342000May 27, 2018seats2018crash and injury71
16V422000June 10, 2016electrical system: software2015–2016crash and injury18,780
16V257000April 28, 2016equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc.2013–2016—317,572
15V416000June 30, 2015equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc.2015crash and injury45,785
14V543000September 9, 2014air bags2014crash and injury304
14V417000July 2, 2014equipment: electrical2012–2014injury2,990
14V315000June 12, 2014power train: automatic transmission2012crash21,567
14V300000June 6, 2014air bags2012crash and injury31,520
13V464000September 26, 2013fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting2013–2014fire1,558
13V220000May 24, 2013electrical system2013crash10,210
13V023000January 24, 2013air bags2012crash and injury4,167
12V522000October 31, 2012air bags2012crash and injury2,949
12V454000September 17, 2012electrical system2013crash4,716
12V408000August 20, 2012visibility: windshield wiper/washer2012crash44,668
11V599000December 28, 2011service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads2012crash4,296

Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Chevrolet Sonic. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.

Check your VIN on NHTSACall NHTSA 1-888-327-4236

Newest record on this page: October 14, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted

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