2016 Chevrolet Sonic: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 69 complaints
69
Total Complaints
48,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
11
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

30,008 25th Percentile
48,000 Median Mileage
72,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
9
AIR BAGS
8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
8
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
5
SUSPENSION
3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
3
POWER TRAIN
3
SERVICE BRAKES
2
SEATS
2

Severity Assessment

11
Crashes
2
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SIGNIFICANT RODENT DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT INSULATION CAUSES A MINOR FIRE. *SMD"
"2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SIGNIFICANT RODENT DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT INSULATION CAUSES A MINOR FIRE. *SMD"
"THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE SWAYS AND DRIFTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT MOVES LEFT AND RIGHT IN THE LANE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE. I DON'T FEEL I AM IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICE THIS AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 45 MPH AND ABOVE. I HAD IT INTO THE C..."

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