Worst 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 151 | 3 | — | 66,461 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 82 | 2 | 3 | 65,876 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 56 | 3 | 1 | 53,121 mi | |
| Airbags | 34 | 18 | — | 86,707 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 19 | 1 | — | 25,637 mi | |
| Fuel System | 16 | — | — | 39,099 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 15 | 1 | — | 49,283 mi | |
| Brakes | 14 | 5 | — | 98,128 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 13 | 2 | — | 41,709 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 11 | — | — | 40,239 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 9 | 3 | — | 118,213 mi | |
| Body Structure | 9 | 2 | 1 | 41,772 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 6 | 1 | 1 | 32,634 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Column | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~112,157 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, to June 29, 2012, and equipped with a 6 speed automatic transmission and 1.8L four cylinder engine. In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 5, 2011, through February 24, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." The windshield wiper washer hose on these vehicles may separate from the washer fluid reservoir. If this occurs, washer fluid will not be available to the windshield.
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE FRONT BRAKE INNER OR OUTER PAD MAY BE MISSING.
Other Chevrolet Sonic Years
2012 Chevrolet Sonic — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
What are common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?
How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Sonic reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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