Owners have filed 171 complaints
about the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic with NHTSA between 2015 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 9 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 54
Against the median year of the Chevrolet Sonic. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
19.9% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 75
44% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2015 compares with every other Chevrolet Sonic
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
1210.6%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
1412.4%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
119.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
3531.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
2118.6%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
98.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
76.2%
150,000+ miles
43.5%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2015peak 8May 2026
Recalls on the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 201705130,330 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Certain vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. The headlamp high-beam lens is not marked with the bulb type, contrary to the requirements of the standard. Correction: An manufacturing change has been undertaken to prevent this non-compliance condition from continuing. No corrective recall action is required as the non-compliance condition is deemed to be non-safety related.
Recall 20162921,882 units in Canada
Electrical
Certain vehicles equipped with a "Bring Your Own Media" (BYOM) radio may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Protection and CMVSS 208 - Occupant Protection in Frontal Impacts. The radio software may fail to provide an audible warning/reminder chime that meets the requirements of the standard when the key is left in the ignition and the driver door is opened, or when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt. This can sometimes occur when the driver turns the ignition off with the headlamp or hazard warning flashers on and then restarts the vehicle while the radio is going through the “sleep” sequence. The loss of an audible warning when a key is left in the ignition may increase the risk of vehicle theft, and may fail to alert the driver that he or she is unbelted, increasing the risk of injury to the driver in a crash. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the radio with corrected operating software. Note: This recall involves vehicles that were previously repaired under recall 2016-191 that now require re-inspection and repair.
Recall 201619129,849 units in Canada
Electrical
Certain vehicles equipped with a "Bring Your Own Media" (BYOM) radio may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Protection. The radio software may fail to provide an audible warning/reminder chime that meets the requirements of the standard if the ignition key is left in the off position and the driver delays opening the driver’s door for more than 10 minutes, or opens and closes the door several times. The loss of an audible warning when a key is left in the ignition may increase the risk of vehicle theft. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the radio with corrected operating software.
Recall 20152794,592 units in Canada
Electrical
Certain vehicles may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Protection, and CMVSS 208 - Occupant Crash Protection. The radio may become inoperative, causing a no-chime condition and disabling the audible warning if the key is in the ignition and the driver’s door is opened, or if a front outboard seat belt is not buckled. A loss of the seat belt audible warning may increase the likelihood of a front outboard occupant being unbelted, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Similarly, the loss of an audible warning when a key is left in the ignition may increase the risk of vehicle theft. Correction: Dealers are to program the radio with updated software.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Waterford, PACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
Passenger side front airbags did not deploy during a front end vehicle crash. All other airbags in vehicle did deploy. Injury did occur due to this.
NHTSA complaint #11519192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marana, AZ4 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The driver, and front passenger interior door handles the metallic chrome coating starts to lose its adhesive. When opening the door from the inside it cuts your hands if you don't notice it. Both door handles started to have the same issue within the same year. My children, my wife and myself all have been cut from the same problem. I tried to remove the parts that caused the injury due to us not being home and still required to use the door handles. I didn't want further injury to occur to my family.
NHTSA complaint #11495754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marion, IACrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HAS BEEN HACKED
NHTSA complaint #11391117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,000 milesScio, ORCrash
AIR BAGS
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH WHEN SHE SAW A DEER IN THE ROAD - SHE SWERVED AND BRAKED HITTING THE DEER IN THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT AREA ABOVE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE AND BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND HOLD HER IN PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #11245012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,000 milesScio, ORCrash
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH WHEN SHE SAW A DEER IN THE ROAD - SHE SWERVED AND BRAKED HITTING THE DEER IN THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT AREA ABOVE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE AND BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND HOLD HER IN PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #11245012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,000 milesScio, ORCrash
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH WHEN SHE SAW A DEER IN THE ROAD - SHE SWERVED AND BRAKED HITTING THE DEER IN THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT AREA ABOVE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE AND BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND HOLD HER IN PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #11245012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Leavenworth, KS
AIR BAGS
Passenger seat airbag shows that it is still off even when there is someone in the Passenger seat
NHTSA complaint #11739750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact purchased the vehicle from a dealer in March 2024. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the odometer at 60,000, and the advertisement stated 60,000. The contact recently acquired the Carfax report, which indicated that in April 2015, the odometer reading was 15,073 miles. The Carfax report indicated that the odometer reading was reported in April 2024 at 60,700 miles. The dealer was made aware of the discrepancy but provided no assistance.
NHTSA complaint #11690289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
WHEELS
my recall is already completed, why on the your website still showing incompleted?
NHTSA complaint #11672416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
my recall is already completed, why on the your website still showing incompleted?
NHTSA complaint #11672416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
my recall is already completed, why on the your website still showing incompleted?
NHTSA complaint #11672416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesWilbraham, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the catalytic converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 115,000.
NHTSA complaint #11640293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maybrook, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have had this vehicle for three years now and no matter of the repairs I had done to it by machanics the check engind light continue to turn on and the vehicle has shut down on the road and I can't find out what the solution is. I am afraid to drive it.Also the mylink radio which has all the vehicle settings in it has malfunctioned. I cannot get to reset veichle settings. Vehicle will not turn over on the first key turn. The engine turns over on the third or forth turn and when it dose there is a loud ratteling noise.
NHTSA complaint #11622159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maybrook, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I have had this vehicle for three years now and no matter of the repairs I had done to it by machanics the check engind light continue to turn on and the vehicle has shut down on the road and I can't find out what the solution is. I am afraid to drive it.Also the mylink radio which has all the vehicle settings in it has malfunctioned. I cannot get to reset veichle settings. Vehicle will not turn over on the first key turn. The engine turns over on the third or forth turn and when it dose there is a loud ratteling noise.
NHTSA complaint #11622159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maybrook, NY
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I have had this vehicle for three years now and no matter of the repairs I had done to it by machanics the check engind light continue to turn on and the vehicle has shut down on the road and I can't find out what the solution is. I am afraid to drive it.Also the mylink radio which has all the vehicle settings in it has malfunctioned. I cannot get to reset veichle settings. Vehicle will not turn over on the first key turn. The engine turns over on the third or forth turn and when it dose there is a loud ratteling noise.
NHTSA complaint #11622159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chapel Hill, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Right Hand Steering Wheel Controls Inoperative, Outside Ambient Temperature Reading on Radio Display Inoperative, inoperative rear vision camera gridlines, and Onstar Menu Screen is Not Showing When Pressing Onstar Button. Inoperable radio steering wheel control buttons increase driver distraction risk in reaching for the radio display. Absence of rear camera gridlines reduce driver guidance in reverse. Onstar menu not starting in case of need. Reported in existing GM Technical Service Bulletin 16-NA-347. [XXX] ) Related to completed Key Chime recall completed prior to October 10, 2016. Current vehicle codes were reviewed by Hendrick Chevrolet Buick GMC Southpoint, and no existing error codes related to the issue were presented. No warning lamps on, messages on radio display, or other symptoms. Errors all presented simultaneously with no warning. Appeared first June 2024. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11620044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stockton, CA
POWER TRAIN
Code U0101 is set. Unable to communicate with TCM. Troubleshooted and found TCM is bad. Removed necessary components for tcm replacement. Removed the tcm/valve body assembly and replaced. Replaced necessary gaskets and reinstalled necessary components. Set transmission fluid level to specifications per procedure. Dealer advised they stock 3 TCM at all times due to many failures and demands of TCM.
NHTSA complaint #11616544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weatheeford, TX
ENGINE
Stalls when reduced speed. CEL constant. Codes indicate Emission promlem. Cleared by replacing intake valve. CEL came back on.
NHTSA complaint #11609919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weatheeford, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Stalls when reduced speed. CEL constant. Codes indicate Emission promlem. Cleared by replacing intake valve. CEL came back on.
NHTSA complaint #11609919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scranton, PA
AIR BAGS
The air bags deployed while the vehicle was in motion. No Collision or impact occurred.
NHTSA complaint #11598544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 117,000 milesMuskogee, OK
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The traction control and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 117,000.
NHTSA complaint #11578281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesShiloh, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated the audible indicators for the driver's seat belt and the "Key Left in Ignition' was inoperable. The contactor also stated that the radio powered on independently, causing the driver to be startled due to the loud volume. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer, but not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V422000 (Electrical System, Equipment), 16V257000 (Equipment, Electrical System) or 15V416000 (Equipment). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11563279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesShiloh, OH
EQUIPMENT
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated the audible indicators for the driver's seat belt and the "Key Left in Ignition' was inoperable. The contactor also stated that the radio powered on independently, causing the driver to be startled due to the loud volume. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer, but not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V422000 (Electrical System, Equipment), 16V257000 (Equipment, Electrical System) or 15V416000 (Equipment). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11563279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bowling Green, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
First sign of problem - Sept. 2021. Driving on highway at about 35 mph. Simultaneously, engine quit running, door locks unlocked and all dash lights came. In a matter of less than a second the doors relocked, forward momentum of vehicle caused transmission to kick start the engine and jolt forward rather violently. Then the dash lights went off and the vehicle resumed normal operation. This continued to happen with increasing frequency. I took the vehicle to the local Chevy dealer to set up an appointment for service. When I explained the problem to the representative, he told me that the battery was the likely cause. I went to an auto parts store and had the battery checked. It did, indeed, have a bad cell. I replaced the battery and the car operated fine for several months but the problem began to recur, infrequently at first but continued to worsen. I discovered later that the same problem also happened when when the car was sitting idling. The difference was that without the forward momentum of the car, the engine did not restart and required being shifted into neutral and started with the key. Also, when driving at a speed of less than about 30 mph, the forward motion was not enough to kick start the engine and shifting into neutral and using the key to restart was necessary while coasting in traffic. Final symptom, the above has happened only now the dash lights go out and the vehicle does not respond at all. After several minutes and several attempts the lights come back on and the vehicle runs. The car had 55,563 miles on it when I bought it and in just over 3 years, I have put 6,237 miles on it and it now sits because I am afraid to drive it. I have had the vehicle back at the dealer twice since having the new battery installed. They simply tell me that they cannot recreate to get a code and therefore cannot help.
NHTSA complaint #11545878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aurora, IL
AIR BAGS
Air bag light on. There are 4 codes in the SDM, due to an internal fault in the sensing diagnostic module. The dealership states that it has to be replaced and will cost close to $1100 to have repaired and to clear all of the codes.
NHTSA complaint #11528703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aurora, IN
POWER TRAIN
We have a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic Lt that we bought from car country in Aurora Indiana the transmission has gone the dealer told that the had been serviced but it never was so now we can't drive the car and its just sitting in the our driveway we reported it to car country about the transmission and they totally ignored us about it and refusing to help
NHTSA complaint #11525910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Diego, CA
ENGINE
My cars coolant is leaking and the source is unknown. My car has overheated twice and my mechanic has been unable to find what needs to be repaired. The coolant has need to to be filled twice within a 6 month period. Now my car is having other issues with the catalyst system that lead me to believe the coolant leak might be affecting these other parts. My catalytic converter was already replaced and the same code has popped up 4 months later.
NHTSA complaint #11525327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Diego, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My cars coolant is leaking and the source is unknown. My car has overheated twice and my mechanic has been unable to find what needs to be repaired. The coolant has need to to be filled twice within a 6 month period. Now my car is having other issues with the catalyst system that lead me to believe the coolant leak might be affecting these other parts. My catalytic converter was already replaced and the same code has popped up 4 months later.
NHTSA complaint #11525327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waterford, PACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
Passenger side front airbags did not deploy during a front end vehicle crash. All other airbags in vehicle did deploy. Injury did occur due to this.
NHTSA complaint #11519192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,000 milesStockbridge, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned on with the transmission in park(P), the doors would erroneously lock. On several occasions after parking and turning the vehicle off, moments later the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who checked the battery but found no failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 39,000.
NHTSA complaint #11501197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,000 milesStockbridge, GA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned on with the transmission in park(P), the doors would erroneously lock. On several occasions after parking and turning the vehicle off, moments later the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who checked the battery but found no failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 39,000.
NHTSA complaint #11501197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.