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Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1. Home
  2. >Chevrolet
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  4. >2012

2012 Chevrolet sonic Safety Report

Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA

The 2012 Chevrolet sonic has 7 recalls, 353 complaints, and a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.

7

Recalls

353

Complaints

★★★★★

Safety Rating

Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026

Recalls

14V417000

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, ...

14V315000

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 ...

14V300000

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 ve...

11V599000

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 ...

12V408000

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...

12V522000

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...

13V023000

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...

Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

Front Crash

★★★★★

Side Crash

★★★★★

Rollover

★★★★★

Rating for: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD

Top Complaint Categories

POWER TRAIN
106
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
27
ENGINE
24
AIR BAGS
20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
17
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
9
SUSPENSION
8

Problems by Component

Powertrain150Electrical45Other35Engine31Airbags25Suspension15Steering14Brakes9Visibility8Structure8Speed Control6

Explore More

All Chevrolet ModelsCompare sonicVehicles with Zero RecallsView All Makes

All Complaints

Date ↓ComponentSummary
Feb 25, 2026POWER TRAINThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that on several occasions, while coming ...
Feb 1, 2026POWER TRAINTransmission shaft malfunction. Doesn't shift out of 1st gear. Transmission does not engage into gea...
Jul 5, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEMReviving the p2138 code for throttle/accelerator sensor. Still getting code after replacing 3 accele...
Apr 23, 2025SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that when the vehicle was turned on, the...
Apr 10, 2025POWER TRAINThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle lost p...
Nov 5, 2024ENGINEI purchased this car 2 years ago and it has caused me absolutely nothing but trouble. We have replac...
Jun 1, 2024SUSPENSIONThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while a friend was driving approxim...
Jan 16, 2024ENGINEWater pump is leaking in front of motor
Jan 5, 2024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMWe have had to deal with severe overheating issues and failing parts our entire ownership of this ve...
Dec 30, 2023POWER TRAINWhile driving on the highway late at night, at approximately 60 mph my 2012 Sonic began to lose powe...
Jul 30, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEMPurchased 2012 Chevy Sonic for my son so that he can drive around as he is a student driver. Purcha...
May 4, 2023AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSI was driving my 2012 chevrolet sonic on April 26 and was rear ended my seatbelt did not engage and ...
Apr 3, 2023UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEOn 4/1/2023 my engine light went on. I had my nephews look at it. see pictures below for engine read...
Apr 1, 2023VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINEThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that vehicle failed to accelerate while ...
Mar 15, 2023VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEUNKNOWN
Mar 7, 2023ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that after the vehicle was taken to an i...
Jan 24, 2023POWER TRAIN01.24.2023 Purchased Chevy Sonic 2012 three weeks ago (12.27.22) w odometer at 33,688 and manuf. dat...
Nov 26, 2022POWER TRAINTHE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. YES, IT WAS CONFIRMED ...
Sep 27, 2022POWER TRAINThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while coming off the freeway at app...
Sep 17, 2022POWER TRAINMy vehicle will not shift out of 1st or 2nd gear. This appears to be part of a recall I just found o...