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
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...
Overall
★★★★★
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that on several occasions, while coming ... |
| Feb 1, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission shaft malfunction. Doesn't shift out of 1st gear. Transmission does not engage into gea... |
| Jul 5, 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Reviving the p2138 code for throttle/accelerator sensor. Still getting code after replacing 3 accele... |
| Apr 23, 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that when the vehicle was turned on, the... |
| Apr 10, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle lost p... |
| Nov 5, 2024 | ENGINE | I purchased this car 2 years ago and it has caused me absolutely nothing but trouble. We have replac... |
| Jun 1, 2024 | SUSPENSION | The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while a friend was driving approxim... |
| Jan 16, 2024 | ENGINE | Water pump is leaking in front of motor |
| Jan 5, 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | We have had to deal with severe overheating issues and failing parts our entire ownership of this ve... |
| Dec 30, 2023 | POWER TRAIN | While driving on the highway late at night, at approximately 60 mph my 2012 Sonic began to lose powe... |
| Jul 30, 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Purchased 2012 Chevy Sonic for my son so that he can drive around as he is a student driver. Purcha... |
| May 4, 2023 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS | I was driving my 2012 chevrolet sonic on April 26 and was rear ended my seatbelt did not engage and ... |
| Apr 3, 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | On 4/1/2023 my engine light went on. I had my nephews look at it. see pictures below for engine read... |
| Apr 1, 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that vehicle failed to accelerate while ... |
| Mar 15, 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | UNKNOWN |
| Mar 7, 2023 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that after the vehicle was taken to an i... |
| Jan 24, 2023 | POWER TRAIN | 01.24.2023 Purchased Chevy Sonic 2012 three weeks ago (12.27.22) w odometer at 33,688 and manuf. dat... |
| Nov 26, 2022 | POWER TRAIN | THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. YES, IT WAS CONFIRMED ... |
| Sep 27, 2022 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while coming off the freeway at app... |
| Sep 17, 2022 | POWER TRAIN | My vehicle will not shift out of 1st or 2nd gear. This appears to be part of a recall I just found o... |