Model year
2012 Chevrolet Sonic
NHTSA lists 7 recalls and 354 complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are POWER TRAIN (151), ENGINE (83), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (56). NHTSA lists 2 investigations, including 1 investigation with no close date in the file. NHTSA rated 2 variants 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 28–32 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,100–$2,400, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2012 354 complaints
- 2013 217 complaints
- 2014 150 complaints
- 2015 114 complaints
- 2016 48 complaints
- 2017 37 complaints
- 2018 15 complaints
- 2019 8 complaints
- 2020 10 complaints
Recalls
14V417000 · Jul 2, 2014
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
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…
14V315000 · Jun 12, 2014
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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…
14V300000 · Jun 6, 2014
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,…
13V023000 · Jan 24, 2013
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.
12V522000 · Oct 31, 2012
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.
12V408000 · Aug 20, 2012
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
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…
11V599000 · Dec 28, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
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.
Complaints
354 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 27, fire flag on 5, injury field 18, deaths field 1. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| RQ13002 | Air Bag Non-deployment · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS | May 31, 2013 | Jul 9, 2014 |
| EA21002 | Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Sep 17, 2021 | No close date in the file |
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.126 | NHTSA photo |
| 5 DR FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.126 | — |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonic 5 · 1.8L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 | 34 | 28 | — | — | $2,400 |
| Sonic 5 · 1.8L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 | 34 | 29 | — | — | $2,300 |
| Sonic · 1.8L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 | 34 | 28 | — | — | $2,400 |
| Sonic · 1.8L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 | 34 | 29 | — | — | $2,300 |
| Sonic 5 · 1.4L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 28 | 38 | 32 | — | — | $2,100 |
| Sonic · 1.4L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 28 | 38 | 32 | — | — | $2,100 |
| Sonic · 1.4L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 27 | 36 | 30 | — | — | $2,250 |
| Sonic 5 · 1.4L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 27 | 36 | 30 | — | — | $2,250 |
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Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2012 Chevrolet Sonic at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.