2012 Chevrolet Sonic: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 519 complaints
519
Total Complaints
45,000mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN
Top Issue
48
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

22,839 25th Percentile
45,000 Median Mileage
66,150 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN
151
ENGINE
82
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
56
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
46
AIR BAGS
34
SUSPENSION
19
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
16
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
15
SERVICE BRAKES
14
STEERING
13

Severity Assessment

48
Crashes
7
Fires
36
Injuries
4
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED POORLY AND POSITIONED TO CLOSE TO THE GROUND. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD RUB THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS..."
"I TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS & THE ENGINE DIED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD RAINED AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR & REALLY DID NOT AT THIS TIME ASSOCIATE THE WIPERS & THE ENGINE DYING UNTIL LATER THAT SAME DAY WHEN CONTACTED A FRIEND OF MINE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE DEALER CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM BU..."
"I TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS & THE ENGINE DIED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD RAINED AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR & REALLY DID NOT AT THIS TIME ASSOCIATE THE WIPERS & THE ENGINE DYING UNTIL LATER THAT SAME DAY WHEN CONTACTED A FRIEND OF MINE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE DEALER CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM BU..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28