2015 Chevrolet SONIC

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Chevrolet SONIC has 171 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2015 chevrolet sonic. the contact stated that while the driver was driving at 50 mph, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle and the vehicle engulfed in flames. the driver sustained fatal injuries and died on the scene. a police report was filed. the fire departmen. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 16 crash reports 19 injuries

171

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

34 complaints

20%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AND DIED ON THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMEN
• CAR WAS RUNNING WHILE LISTENING TO RADIO. ONCE IT WAS CUT OFF, I COULD NOT LOCK THE CAR OR CUT IT ON AGAIN. IT COMPLETELY DIED.
• KEY GETS WARM ON SHORT DRIVE AND HOT ON DRIVES OVER 90 MINUTES COMBINED CITY AND HIGHWAY. WHEN I STOP THE CAR AND TAKE THE KEY OUT, THE METAL SHAFT THAT GOES INTO THE IGNITION IS HOT

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AND DIED ON THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMEN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

27 complaints

16%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE W
• MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING STRAIGHT IN A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC LT AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER OF A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA MADE A LEFT HAND TURN CAUSING A COLLISION. SIMPLY PUT WE T BONED THE OTHER VEHICLE. 2015 CHEVY SONICS ARE EQUIPPED WITH WEIGHT SENSING RESTRAINT SYSTEMS. I WAS TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 10 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

26 complaints

15%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE PRODUCED AN ABNORMAL MOLD ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FILTER NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE
• TAKATA RECALL. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MAY,NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD AND THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT KEEPS DYING. IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ABOUT 8 TIMES NOW AND HAD TO GET TOWED TO THE CHEVY GARAGE.NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN PLUGED IN TO THE CAR. IT IS BRAND NEW. I DONT FEEL SAFE IN IT I DONT TRUST IT
• THE SHIFTING GEAR GETS STUCK, AND IT CANNOT BE MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. TO MOVE THE GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND HAVE TO USE A LOT OF STRENGTH TO MAKE THE GEAR CHANGE. BUT SOMETIMES IT GETS SO STUCK I HAVE TO WAIT TO MAKE THE CHANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS TURN OFF I HAVE TO WAIT 2-3 MINUTES TO REMOVE THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE PRODUCED AN ABNORMAL MOLD ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FILTER NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

26 complaints

15%

• THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE - THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAS WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY
• CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND THE RADIATOR IS RUSTED/CORRODED. THIS KIND OF CORROSION SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. I KEPT SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SO I STARTED MONITORING THE COOLANT LEVELS. I WAS ADDING MORE THAN A GALLON OF COOLANT EACH MONTH
• VEHICLE DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN MOTION HOWEVER MOTION IS TRIGGERING THE ENGINE TO STAY ON OR AT TIMES DISAPPEAR FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. CONSTANT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING CODE IS P0011. I HAVE BEEN TO GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIPS AS THEY REFUSE ME TO GO OUTSIDE THEIR DEALERS FOR REPAIRS; RESULTS POS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE - THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAS WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

12 complaints

• 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC HATCHBACK LTZ- FUEL FILLER TUBE LEAKING AT TANK CONNECTION, CAUSING GAS TO SPILL OUT ON GROUND. COULD BE A POTENTIAL A FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZZARD. DISCOVERED WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. RAN AN ODBII CODE CHECK INDICATING A P0442 ERROR "EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK-SMALL". OBSERVE
• JUNE 2015 THE DEALER SWITCHED CARS WHEN WE REFUSED THE OPTIONS AT THE CLOSING OF THE DEAL TO A BASE/STANDARD CAR. A WEEK OR SO AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR A TIRE POPPED AS WE DROVE DOWN THE STREET. IT IS VERY LOUD IN THE MORNING. A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKING SOUND. NEXT WE HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS,OIL/FLUID
• LIGHT COME ON CHECK ENGINE AND THE ROAD SLIPPING SIGN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2015 CHEVROLET SONIC HATCHBACK LTZ- FUEL FILLER TUBE LEAKING AT TANK CONNECTION, CAUSING GAS TO SPILL OUT ON GROUND. COULD BE A POTENTIAL A FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZZARD. DISCOVERED WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. RAN AN ODBII CODE CHECK INDICATING A P0442 ERROR "EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK-SMALL". OBSERVE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 171 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AND DIED ON THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMEN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE PRODUCED AN ABNORMAL MOLD ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FILTER NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE - THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAS WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)