2012 Chevrolet SONIC

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet SONIC has 519 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet sonic ls. the contact stated that while sitting on an incline, the hill holder was engaged yet the vehicle rolled away in reverse. on a separate occasion while driving 45 mph, the brakes started to squeal after being depressed. the vehicle was taken to the deale. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 31 crash reports 23 injuries

519

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

154 complaints

30%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING ON AN INCLINE, THE HILL HOLDER WAS ENGAGED YET THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAL AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALE
• WHEN I AM DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND AM BEHIND A CAR THAT IS TURNING I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I GIVE IT GAS AT AROUND 2K RPM. THE CAR HAS SOME HESITATION LIKE IT CANT FIND A GEAR TO BE IN. IT HAS DONE IT SEANCE ABOUT 100 MILES. HAS 7000 MILES ON IT NOW. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION TRYING TO F
• I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW WITH 3 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER 2011. WHEN I HIT AROUND 7500 MILES I NOTICED THE CAR WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL WOULD DRIFT BACKWARDS - WHEN I GOT TO 7800 MILES THE WHENEVER I WAS IN TRAFFIC TRAVELING AROUND 5-13 MPH I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT ON IT'S OWN THE RPM'S WOU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING ON AN INCLINE, THE HILL HOLDER WAS ENGAGED YET THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAL AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

86 complaints

17%

• 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
• FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY SAID IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH EMISSION. CALLED DEALER, THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT WAS A FAULTY EVAP SOLENOID. DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID ON 3-22-2012. WHILE THERE, THEY ALSO TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE
• WHEN I AM DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND AM BEHIND A CAR THAT IS TURNING I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I GIVE IT GAS AT AROUND 2K RPM. THE CAR HAS SOME HESITATION LIKE IT CANT FIND A GEAR TO BE IN. IT HAS DONE IT SEANCE ABOUT 100 MILES. HAS 7000 MILES ON IT NOW. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION TRYING TO F

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

59 complaints

11%

• I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW WITH 3 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER 2011. WHEN I HIT AROUND 7500 MILES I NOTICED THE CAR WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL WOULD DRIFT BACKWARDS - WHEN I GOT TO 7800 MILES THE WHENEVER I WAS IN TRAFFIC TRAVELING AROUND 5-13 MPH I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT ON IT'S OWN THE RPM'S WOU
• STALLS EASILY AND FREQUENTLY WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP AND IS THEN DIFFICULT TO RESTART, OR I MUST WAIT ABOUT 5 SECONDS BEFORE I CAN ATTEMPT A RESTART. UNEVEN IDLE MOST OF THE TIME. DEALER BLAMES ME FOR THE STALLING (SAYS I'M NOT USED TO THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT MANY ARE COMPLAINING ON THE
• RADIO RANDOMLY TURNS ON WHEN CAR IS SHUT OFF. LAST NIGHT IT TURNED ON 13 TIMES. IT ACTIVATES THE FULL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR. WON'T SHUT OFF UNLESS CAR IS STARTED AND XM RADIO IS TUNED TO FM AND SHUT OFF. THEN IF YOUR LUCKY IT MAY STAY OFF. I HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP IN VERMO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW WITH 3 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER 2011. WHEN I HIT AROUND 7500 MILES I NOTICED THE CAR WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL WOULD DRIFT BACKWARDS - WHEN I GOT TO 7800 MILES THE WHENEVER I WAS IN TRAFFIC TRAVELING AROUND 5-13 MPH I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT ON IT'S OWN THE RPM'S WOU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

51 complaints

10%

• I HAVE A 2012 CHEVY SONIC LT AUTOMATIC WITH THE 1.8 LITER. THE CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AROUND 45,000 MILES AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME.THE CAR ON COLD START UPS HAS A GRINDING SOUND. THIS GRINDING MOST OF THE TIME ONLY HAPPENS ON COLD START UPS BUT DOES AT TIMES HAPPENS ON WARM START UPS. THI
• ON OR AROUND DECEMBER, 2014, THE SHIFT COVER WOULD NOT ATTACH PERMANENTLY. ON OR AROUND MARCH 10, 2014, THE ELECTRICAL ACCESS PLUG DID NOT OPERATE. ON OR AROUND MARCH 6, 2014, MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING AROUND 45MPH, AND WE HIT AN ELK. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
• 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE METAL GRINDING NOISES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. *SMD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I HAVE A 2012 CHEVY SONIC LT AUTOMATIC WITH THE 1.8 LITER. THE CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AROUND 45,000 MILES AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME.THE CAR ON COLD START UPS HAS A GRINDING SOUND. THIS GRINDING MOST OF THE TIME ONLY HAPPENS ON COLD START UPS BUT DOES AT TIMES HAPPENS ON WARM START UPS. THI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

34 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WOULD NOT IDENTIFY THAT A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER OBSTRUCTED THE FIELD OF VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ASSIST
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A TRAILER TWICE AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, THE HOOD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE KNEE, LEFT SHOULDER AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE WHENEVER MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSE BY A DEFECTIVE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE O

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 18 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WOULD NOT IDENTIFY THAT A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER OBSTRUCTED THE FIELD OF VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ASSIST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 519 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING ON AN INCLINE, THE HILL HOLDER WAS ENGAGED YET THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAL AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW WITH 3 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER 2011. WHEN I HIT AROUND 7500 MILES I NOTICED THE CAR WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL WOULD DRIFT BACKWARDS - WHEN I GOT TO 7800 MILES THE WHENEVER I WAS IN TRAFFIC TRAVELING AROUND 5-13 MPH I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT ON IT'S OWN THE RPM'S WOU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I HAVE A 2012 CHEVY SONIC LT AUTOMATIC WITH THE 1.8 LITER. THE CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AROUND 45,000 MILES AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME.THE CAR ON COLD START UPS HAS A GRINDING SOUND. THIS GRINDING MOST OF THE TIME ONLY HAPPENS ON COLD START UPS BUT DOES AT TIMES HAPPENS ON WARM START UPS. THI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)