Chevrolet Sonic reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 953 complaints about the Chevrolet Sonic with NHTSA since 2011, most often about engine and transmission and drivetrain. Chevrolet has filed 12 warranty extensions and 11 service campaigns for it, and there are 16 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Chevrolet Sonic? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Sonic a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2011 on.
- Owner complaints
- 953
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 12
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Service campaigns
- 11
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Safety recalls
- 16
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Sonic with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 10 | Electrical system (60%) | 0 | 5 |
| 2019 | 8 | Other or unspecified (38%) | 0 | 4 |
| 2018 | 14 | Electrical system (36%) | 1 | 6 |
| 2017 | 37 | Engine (51%) | 0 | 4 |
| 2016 | 48 | Engine (27%) | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 114 | Electrical system (30%) | 3 | 7 |
| 2014 | 150 | Electrical system (33%) | 4 | 11 |
| 2013 | 217 | Electrical system (26%) | 6 | 11 |
| 2012 | 354 | Transmission and drivetrain (44%) | 7 | 7 |
| 2011 | 1 | Other or unspecified (100%) | 0 | 2 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Sonic model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Chevrolet
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Chevrolet filed with NHTSA for the Sonic, in its own words. A warranty extension means Chevrolet pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionMay 2024· Body and structure· model years 2017–2020
This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
- Warranty extensionFeb 2024· Engine and cooling· model years 2017–2018
Special Coverage - Certain vehicles equipped with a 1.4L engine may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail.
- Warranty extensionJun 2023· Engine and cooling· model years 2020
Special Coverage. Certain 2019 model year Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine (RPO LFY), and certain 2020 model year Buick Encore and Chevrolet Sonic / Trax vehicles equipped with a 1.4L engine (RPO LUV), may have a condition that could…
- Warranty extensionJul 2020· Electrical system· model years 2012–2014
Special Coverage - Certain 2014 model year Buick Encore, 2011 - 2014 model year Chevrolet Cruze, 2012 - 2014 model year Chevrolet Sonic, and 2014 model year Chevrolet TRAX vehicles, equipped with a 1.4L Engine (RPO LUJ or LUV), may have a condition where cracks can develop in…
- Warranty extensionJul 2019· Engine and cooling· model years 2015
N192210230 - Special Coverage - Some 2015-2016 Chevrolet Cruze and 2015 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles equipped with a 1.4L engine may have a condition where cracks can develop in the diaphragm of the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) pressure regulator valve.
- Warranty extensionMar 2017· Equipment and accessories· model years 2012–2014
16139 - Special Coverage. On certain vehicles, a P0171 Fuel System Lean or P0101 Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Performance diagnostic trouble code may set as a result of a cracked air cleaner outlet duct.
- Warranty extensionSep 2016· Electrical system· model years 2013
25160 01 - Special Coverage. The vehicle may hesitate and go into reduced engine power mode; i.e.
- Warranty extensionAug 2016· Equipment and accessories· model years 2013
25160 - Special Coverage. Special Coverage bulletin 25160, released on August 5, 2016 is being temporarily suspended.
- Warranty extensionAug 2016· Engine· model years 2013
25160 - Special Coverage. Some vehicles, may have a condition in which the vehicle may hesitate and go into reduced engine power mode; i.e. driver information center message ?ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED,? malfunction indicator lamp, and reduced acceleration while driving.
- Warranty extensionJan 2015· Engine· model years 2012–2014
14371B - special coverage (labor code revised). Some 2011-2014 Model year chevrolet cruze vehicles and some 2012-2014 Chevrolet sonic vehicles with the 1.4L engine may have an engine coolant leak from the water pump.
- Warranty extensionJan 2015· Engine· model years 2011–2014
14371A - special coverage (revised warranty information). Some vehicles with the 1.4L engine may have an engine coolant leak from the water pump.
- Warranty extensionNov 2014· Body and structure· model years 2014
14425 - special coverage. On some vehicles, certain hood clinch joints may have been manufactured out of specification.
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2020
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2020
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2011–2020
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles.
- Service campaignAug 2024· Other or unspecified· model years 2017–2018
Special Coverage - certain vehicles may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail.
- Service campaignJun 2017· Electrical system· model years 2015
15086A - Customer Satisfaction Program. On certain passenger cars and light duty trucks, equipped with Gen 10 OnStar®, the embedded phone flash memory chip may become corrupted, causing the OnStar® system to become inoperative.
- Service campaignMar 2016· Electrical system· model years 2012–2016
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignAug 2015· Electrical system· model years 2012–2015
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignApr 2015· Electrical system· model years 2014
14676A - customer satisfaction program (revised service procedure).
- Service campaignApr 2015· Electrical system· model years 2015
14395A - customer satisfaction program (revised labor time). On some 2015 Model year buick encore, lacrosse, regal, and verano; cadillac ats, cts, elr, escalade, srx and xts; chevrolet colorado, corvette, cruze, equinox, impala, malibu, silverado, sonic, spark, ss, suburban,…
- Service campaignMar 2015· Equipment and accessories· model years 2013–2015
14733 - customer satisfaction program. Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the park-brake cable retainer clip may be missing.
- Service campaignOct 2014· Body and structure· model years 2014
14676 - customer satisfaction program. Certain 2014 Model year buick verano and chevrolet sonic vehicles may have a condition in which out of specification underhood clinch joints were replaced with rivets at the time of manufacture.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Sonic model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Engine239 (25%)
- Transmission and drivetrain230 (24%)
- Electrical system226 (24%)
- Other or unspecified166 (17%)
- Airbags125 (13%)
- Fuel and propulsion68 (7%)
- Steering38 (4%)
- Stability control23 (2%)
Safety recalls
16 recalls cover at least one Sonic model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.
A joint in the driver's seat-back frame may not be properly welded, reducing the strength of the seat-back frame.
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.
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.
In the affected vehicles, equipped with the base radio and OnStar, the radio may lock up due to a software issue, causing the display to go blank and all audio functions to cease.
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 intended…
In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.
In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.
The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Due to insufficient welds, the front fuel tank strap bracket may separate from the vehicle.
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.
The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
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.
These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
And 1 more recall on NHTSA.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- EA21002Engineering analysis· opened Sep 2021, still open· Airbags· model years 2012–2013
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
- RQ13002Recall query· opened May 2013, closed Jul 2014· Airbags· model years 2012
Air Bag Non-deployment
Led to recall 13V023000.
NHTSA's own page for the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2011 on: 953 owner complaints, 12 warranty extensions and 11 service campaigns Chevrolet filed, and 16 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2012 (354), 2013 (217), 2014 (150). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Sonic?
Across every model year since 2011, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name engine (25%), transmission and drivetrain (24%), electrical system (24%). Chevrolet has filed 12 warranty extensions covering the Sonic, listed on this page.
Which Sonic model years have the most complaints?
2012 (354), 2013 (217), 2014 (150). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Sonic with each other rather than with other models.
Has Chevrolet extended the warranty on the Sonic?
Yes: body and structure (model years 2017–2020); engine and cooling (model years 2017–2018); engine and cooling (model years 2020), and 9 more. A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Sonic?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 16 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.