Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2012. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2020.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Sonic | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 Sonic | 8 | 0 |
| 2018 Sonic | 15 | 1 |
| 2017 Sonic | 37 | 0 |
| 2016 Sonic | 48 | 2 |
| 2015 Sonic | 114 | 3 |
| 2014 SonicMost complaints | 150 | 4 |
| 2013 SonicMost complaints | 217 | 6 |
| 2012 SonicMost complaints | 354 | 7 |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Engine239
- Power train231
- Electrical system227
- Unknown or other166
- Air bags126
- Fuel/propulsion system69
- Steering54
- Service brakes39
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 293 Sonic vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 198 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 15 | 6 |
| 2019 | 13 | 7 |
| 2018 | 12 | 7 |
| 2017 | 24 | 17 |
| 2016 | 29 | 20 |
| 2015 | 53 | 36 |
| 2014 | 51 | 37 |
| 2013 | 55 | 36 |
| 2012 | 41 | 32 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 9 model-year variants; 9 of 9 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 12.6 % |
| 2019 | 2019 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 12.6 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 12.6 % |
| 2017 | 2017 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 12.6 % |
| 2016 | 2016 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 12.6 % |
| 2015 | 2015 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 12.6 % |
| 2014 | 2014 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 12.6 % |
| 2013 | 2013 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 12.6 % |
| 2012 | 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 12.6 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 7 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 7.4–7.5 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Sonic · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.4 | 6.3 | 7.4 |
| 2017 | Sonic · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.4 | 6.3 | 7.4 |
| 2016 | Sonic · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.5 | 6.2 | 7.5 |
| 2015 | Sonic · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.5 | 6.2 | 7.5 |
| 2014 | Sonic · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.5 | 6.2 | 7.5 |
| 2013 | Sonic · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.5 | 6.2 | 7.5 |
| 2012 | Sonic · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.5 | 6.2 | 7.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
120 Sonic cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2014 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2013 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 2012 | 47 | 0 | 47 |
| 2011 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
New registrations in Europe
2 new Chevrolet Sonic cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2022 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Spain (2).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | 109 (WLTP) |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
16 campaigns cover the Sonic; the latest 12 are below.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
NHTSA recalls