Chevrolet Sonic recalls and safety
16 recalls · crash ratings 2012-2020 · 953 owner complaints
16
recalls
16
recalls
The Chevrolet Sonic has 16 recalls covering 511,920 vehicles as reported; model year 2014 is covered by the most (7). The 2020 Chevrolet Sonic earned 5 of 5 stars overall in crash tests (best version). Owners filed 17 safety complaints in the 12 months to Sep 2026; engine is named most over all years.
Updated Oct 11, 2026 · recalls to Oct 6, 2026
Recalls
16
Most for 2014: 7
Units affected
512K
As reported
Overall stars
5 of 5
Model year 2020
Complaints, 12 mo
17
-34.6% vs 12 months before
Do-not-drive
0
None
By model year
Which model years are covered by the most recalls, and which get the most complaints
Recalls by model year
How many recalls cover each model year. Hover a year for the count.
Crash test star ratings
18 rated versions, model years 2012 to 2020
Overall stars by model year
The best and lowest overall rating of the versions tested each year (5 is best).
| Year | Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4 DR · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2020 | 5 HB · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2019 | 4 DR · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2019 | 5 HB · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2018 | 4 DR · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2018 | 5 HB · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2017 | 4 DR · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2017 | 5 HB · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2016 | 4 DR · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2016 | 5 HB · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2015 | 4 DR · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2015 | 5 HB · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2014 | 4 DR · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2014 | 5 HB · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2013 | 4 DR · FWD | 12.6% risk | |||
| 2013 | 5 HB · FWD | 12.6% risk |
The 16 newest of 18 rated versions. Download the CSV for all of them, with the safety features.
5 stars is the best. Ratings before model year 2011 used older tests.
Owner complaints
Safety complaints about the Chevrolet Sonic, by the month they were received
Complaints per month
17 in the 12 months to Sep 2026.
Components named most
- Engine239
- Power train231
- Electrical system226
- Unknown or other166
- Air bags126
- Fuel/propulsion system69
- Steering54
- Complaints
- 953
- Crashes reported
- 91
- Fires reported
- 18
- People injured
- 76
Counts only, as reported by owners and not verified.
Parts recalled
Recalls of the Chevrolet Sonic by component
- Air bags5 · 40K units
- Electrical system2 · 336K units
- Equipment2 · 49K units
- Exterior lighting2 · 15K units
- Fuel system, gasoline1 · 1,558 units
- Power train1 · 22K units
- Seats1 · 71 units
- Service brakes, hydraulic1 · 4,296 units
Chevrolet Sonic recalls
Newest first
Related pages
Questions and answers
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic recalled?
Yes: 1 recall covers the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic. Check the recall pages below for what is wrong and the free fix; a dealer can tell if a single vehicle still needs the repair.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Sonic have?
16 recalls cover the Chevrolet Sonic, for 511,920 vehicles as reported. The most common problem is air bags (5 recalls).
What is the safety rating of the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic?
5 of 5 stars overall (4 DR): frontal crash 5, side crash 5 and rollover 4 stars, with a 12.6% chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
What do owners complain about most on the Chevrolet Sonic?
Engine: named in 239 of the 953 safety complaints about the Chevrolet Sonic, then power train (231). One complaint can name several components.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data, updated daily. Models are written as published, so a few versions of one model can be listed under slightly different names.