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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2012 Chevrolet Sonic

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 354 safety complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic with the US government. Of those, 27 describe a crash, 5 mention a fire, 18 people were injured and 1 death is recorded. 7 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 154 complaints, 44% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 46,100 miles, the median across the 282 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers February 2012 to August 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

354 complaints on file

354

Complaints

27

Describe a crash

5

Mention fire

18

People injured

1

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
POWER TRAIN 154 · 44%
ENGINE 83 · 23%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 59 · 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 46 · 13%
AIR BAGS 34 · 10%
SUSPENSION 19 · 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 16 · 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 16 · 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 15 · 4%
STEERING 14 · 4%
STRUCTURE 12 · 3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 11 · 3%
0 65 131

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 354.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 60.

64 48 32 16
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2012 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2012 Chevrolet SONIC, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4 DR FWD 5 DR FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 12.6% 12.6%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

7 on file

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

14V417000 · July 2, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

General Motors LLC · up to 2,990 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

14V315000 · June 12, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
If the transmission turbine shaft fracture occurs during vehicle operation in first or second gear, the vehicle will not upshift to the third through sixth gears, limiting the vehicle's speed. If the fracture occurs during operation in third through sixth gear, the vehicle will coast until it slows enough to downshift to first or second gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission turbine shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14234.

General Motors LLC · up to 21,567 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

14V300000 · June 6, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.

General Motors LLC · up to 31,520 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

13V023000 · January 24, 2013

The defect
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.
The risk
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

General Motors LLC · up to 4,167 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

12V522000 · October 31, 2012

The defect
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.
The risk
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
The remedy
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

General Motors LLC · up to 2,949 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

12V408000 · August 20, 2012

The defect
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.
The risk
A lack of washer fluid could impede the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will secure the windshield washer hose to prevent separation, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

General Motors LLC · up to 44,668 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

11V599000 · December 28, 2011

The defect
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.
The risk
A MISSING PAD COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKES FOR A MISSING INNER OR OUTER PAD. IF A BRAKE PAD IS MISSING, DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW INNER AND OUTER PADS, A NEW BRAKE CALIPER, AND A NEW ROTOR. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 14, 2012

GENERAL MOTORS LLC · up to 4,296 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

2 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Air Bag Non-deployment

RQ13002

Closed recall query · opened May 31, 2013 · closed July 9, 2014 · led to recall 13V023000

the air bags

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 death · 1 injured · crash · towed · 85,560 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 35 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONDITION WENT FROM RAIN TO SNOW AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISHTAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALL TERRAIN TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER HUSBAND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG AND THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM, A FRACTURED HIP, A FRACTURED PELVIS, AND INTERNAL BLEEDING. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND DIED FROM HIS INJURIES. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A MILD

NHTSA complaint 11048271, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 60,000 miles

MY WIFE AND I W'ER HIT BY A PERSON THAT RAN A RED LIGHT THE CAR WAS TOTTLED OUT WITH MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL WHEN THE SIDE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT DIDNT CAUSING MY WHOLE SIDE AND HEAD SMASHING INTO THE SIDE DRIVER DOOR

NHTSA complaint 10968412. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

1 injured · fire · 400 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS CAUSING DISCOMFORT TO THE CONTACT'S NOSE, EYES, CLOTHES AND TASTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR WOULD BE COME UNCOMFORTABLE AFTER BEING IN THE VEHICLE FOR A MINIMUM OF 45 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES WHO CONFIRMED THE SMELL BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE SENT TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,100.

NHTSA complaint 10458294. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 40,000 miles

ON 1/31/2016 A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE FIRST AND BIGGEST ISSUE WAS THE AIRBAG NEVER WENT OFF AND THE SEAT BELT TENSIONERS DID NOT LOCK THE BELTS EITHER. I WENT FORWARD AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL RENDERING ME UNCONSCIOUS!!! ALMOST THE WHOLE FRONT END HAD TO BE REPLACED E.G.: GRILL AND FRONT PANEL, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANELS, RADIATOR, BOTH WHEEL WELLS, SUSPENSION ON BOTH SIDES AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH THOSE PLUS A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS LIKE THE RADIATOR, COOLANT AND WASHER TANKS ETC. ETC.... THIS WAS A FULL-FRONTAL WRECK AND NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG WENT OFF!!! SECONDLY ARE THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. THE ROADS WERE A LITTLE SLICK SO I HAD THE TC ON.

NHTSA complaint 10943705, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
I purchased a 2012 Chevy Sonic with 65k miles on it from Carvibe LLC earlier this month. When I took it into Firestone for a full inspection, they found that the car has severe rusting to the mechanical parts along with the body of the vehicle - the entire structure of the vehicle is compromised. Someone spray painted the rust black but Firestone was still able to see the covered up rust. Firestone has deemed the vehicle unsafe to drive.

NHTSA complaint 11758358. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

77,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that on several occasions, while coming to a stop, the vehicle unexpectedly remained in second gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that several attempts were needed for the vehicle to shift into another gear. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

NHTSA complaint 11720417. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Transmission shaft malfunction. Doesn't shift out of 1st gear. Transmission does not engage into gear.

NHTSA complaint 11715161. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Reviving the p2138 code for throttle/accelerator sensor. Still getting code after replacing 3 accelerator peddles. Possible manufacture issue with wiring that water gets into connectors shorting out that system

NHTSA complaint 11671614. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
UNKNOWN

NHTSA complaint 11658643. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

159,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that when the vehicle was turned on, the brakes, ABS, traction control, and braking system warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle took longer than normal to slow down. The contact stated that while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The vehicle taken to a dealer where it was it diagnosed and determined that the brake booster pump assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

NHTSA complaint 11656528. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Sonic

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 14 1 —
2017 37 0 —
2016 48 2 —
2015 114 3 1
2014 150 4 —
2013 217 6 —

Other 2012 Chevrolet models

Malibu 907 Cruze 865 Equinox 685 Traverse 354 Impala 258 Volt 245 Silverado 1500 216 Tahoe 178

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst