Chevrolet

Sonic (1st)

2012-2020 · Subcompact · 3 engines
Best Engine ⚠️ Caution (3.1)
942 NHTSA Complaints
16 Recalls
17 Fire Reports
91 Crash Reports
📋 Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Optional LDW: Optional
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No
Overall 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (12.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: No LDW: No

Engine Reliability Ratings

Chevrolet Sonic Unidentified Engine

⚠️ Caution (3.1)
105 complaints 17.5 per year
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
32
transmission
29
engine
28
safety systems
12
steering
10

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (32 complaints)
Transmission Issues (29 complaints)
Engine Issues (28 complaints)

LUV

1.4L 4-cyl Turbo
⚠️ Caution (2.4)
196 complaints 21.0 per year Gasoline
4 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
69
electrical
47
transmission
31
other
27
safety systems
24

Known Issues

Engine Issues (69 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (47 complaints)
Transmission Issues (31 complaints)

LUW

1.8L 4-cyl
Avoid (1.3)
636 complaints 79.4 per year Gasoline
12 fire reports 2 fatalities
View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission
169
electrical
167
engine
153
safety systems
87
other
80

Known Issues

Transmission Issues (169 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (167 complaints)
Engine Issues (153 complaints)

Same engine used in

Show 4 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints and aren't included in the main ratings above. Low counts can mean a genuinely clean record, but they can also reflect VIN-decode anomalies in NHTSA data. Treat as informational, not as a confident rating.

L67

3.8L 6-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
2 complaints 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

safety systems
1
electrical
1

Known Issues

Safety Systems Issues (1 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)

LDE

1.6L 4-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

safety systems
1

Known Issues

Safety Systems Issues (1 complaints)

LF3 - Twin turbo, Aluminum, VVT., Twin Turbo

3.6L 6-cyl Turbo
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
1
electrical
1

Known Issues

Engine Issues (1 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

LY8

1.3L 4-cyl
Recommended (5.0)
1 complaint 1.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
1
interior
1
wheels tires
1

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (1 complaints)
Interior Issues (1 complaints)
Wheels & Tires Issues (1 complaints)

Same engine used in

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Chevrolet Sonic regardless of engine variant.

Engine Issues (251 complaints)
engine critical
Electrical System Issues (249 complaints)
electrical critical
Transmission Issues (229 complaints)
transmission critical
Safety Systems Issues (125 complaints)
safety_systems critical
Fuel System Issues (67 complaints)
fuel_system critical

Recalls (16)

23V516000Jul 26, 2023critical
Air Bags

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.

18V342000May 26, 2018serious
Seats

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. A joint in the driver's seat-back frame may not be properly welded, reducing the strength of the seat-back frame.

16V257000Apr 27, 2016cosmetic
Equipment

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."

16V422000Oct 5, 2016serious
Electrical System

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."

15V416000Jun 29, 2015serious
Equipment

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 20, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured June 18, 2014, to June 10, 2015. 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. Because of this, there may be no warning chimes such as the reminder to buckle the seat belt and the key being left in ignition when the driver goes to exit the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 "Occupant Crash Protection", and 114 "Theft Protection."

14V315000Dec 5, 2014serious
Powertrain

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, to June 29, 2012, and equipped with a 6 speed automatic transmission and 1.8L four cylinder engine. In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.

14V543000Sep 8, 2014serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured July 28, 2014, to August 1, 2014. 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 first-stage and second-stage deployments.

14V300000Jun 5, 2014serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

14V417000Feb 6, 2014serious
Equipment

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

13V464000Sep 25, 2013serious
Fuel System

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured August 2, 2013, through August 12, 2013. Due to insufficient welds, the front fuel tank strap bracket may separate from the vehicle.

13V220000May 23, 2013serious
Electrical System

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."

13V023000Jan 23, 2013serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

12V522000Oct 30, 2012serious
Air Bags

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

12V408000Aug 19, 2012serious
Visibility

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 5, 2011, through February 24, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." The windshield wiper washer hose on these vehicles may separate from the washer fluid reservoir. If this occurs, washer fluid will not be available to the windshield.

12V454000Sep 16, 2012serious
Electrical System

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."

11V599000Dec 27, 2011serious
Service Brakes

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE FRONT BRAKE INNER OR OUTER PAD MAY BE MISSING.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic problems?

The 2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic has accumulated 942 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Engine, Electrical System, Transmission. As with any used vehicle, an inspection before buying and a vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Chevrolet Sonic engine is most reliable?

The 2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic was offered with 7 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 1.4L Turbo 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic a good used car?

The 2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic can be a sound used car depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 942 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic have?

The 2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic has 942 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic?

There are 16 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2012-2020 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Chevrolet Sonic?

Before buying a used Chevrolet Sonic, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Engine, Electrical System, Transmission, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Sonic?

The 2020 Chevrolet Sonic received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (12.6% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Optional. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 942 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-05-23.

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