2016 Chevrolet SONIC

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Chevrolet SONIC has 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: 2016 chevrolet sonic. consumer writes in regards to significant rodent damage to engine compartment insulation causes a minor fire. *smd. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 8 crash reports 5 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

15 complaints

22%

• 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SIGNIFICANT RODENT DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT INSULATION CAUSES A MINOR FIRE. *SMD
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, STALLED, AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFF WYLER DIXIE CHEVROLET (5340 DIXIE HWY, LOUISVILLE, KY 40216, (502) 448-2820) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO
• TAKATA RECALL- THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON I HAVE TAKEN IT TO AUTO SHOP THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY WRONG TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALER THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. BUT MY CAR SHAKES AND STALLS ON ME. IT'S VERY FRASTRATING SPENDING ON THE VECHILE AND ONE CAN FIND WHAT'S GOING ON.

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

“2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SIGNIFICANT RODENT DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT INSULATION CAUSES A MINOR FIRE. *SMD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

11 complaints

16%

• AS I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET, POSSIBLY TWO MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING MY HOME, IS WHEN I'D REALIZED THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. EVERYTIME FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS, THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AS SOON AS THE CAR TURNED ON. IT FINALLY SHUT OFF AFTER I WENT OUT TO SHOP. IT WAS ILLUM
• 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD WIRING. CONSUMER BELIEVES IT CAN BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE SAFETY ISSUE AND REPAIR COST. *AS *TR
• TAKATA RECALL . ONE TIRE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE IN FEBRUARY 2019.. IT WAS DEFECTIVE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE OTHER PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL, THE DRIVER SEAT WASN'T HEATING AND THE INFOTAINMENT C

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

“AS I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET, POSSIBLY TWO MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING MY HOME, IS WHEN I'D REALIZED THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. EVERYTIME FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS, THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AS SOON AS THE CAR TURNED ON. IT FINALLY SHUT OFF AFTER I WENT OUT TO SHOP. IT WAS ILLUM”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

12%

• WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN THE RIGHT LANE IN THE AREA OF MILE MARKER 7 IN SOUTH CAROLINA A PIECE OF FOREIGN DEBUS WAS RAN OVER BY THE CAR IN FROM OF ME. THE LARGE PIECE OF METAL BOUNCED OF THE ROAD AND HIT THE FRONT BUMPER GRILL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER ( 24 INCH PIECE OF METAL
• CARS COMPUTER/PROGRAMMING IS REMOTELY CONTROLLED ,BRAKES TRANMISSION LIGHTS SUSPENSION DO NOTB PERFORM AS INTENDED BY MANUFACTURER.HACKING INVOLVED WHILE DRIVING STATIONARY FREEWAYS/CITY STREETS.
• THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAGS INTERMITTENLY TURNS THE AIR BAG ON FOR AN ADULT SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY WIFE WEIGHS 93 # AND SHOULD ACTIVATE THAT SENSOR BUT DOES NOT DO SO CONSISTENTLY. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS SET FOR 95 # BUT EVEN WHEN MY WIFE HOLDS AN 8# WEIGHT IN HER HAND AND SITS DOWN IT

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

“WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN THE RIGHT LANE IN THE AREA OF MILE MARKER 7 IN SOUTH CAROLINA A PIECE OF FOREIGN DEBUS WAS RAN OVER BY THE CAR IN FROM OF ME. THE LARGE PIECE OF METAL BOUNCED OF THE ROAD AND HIT THE FRONT BUMPER GRILL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER ( 24 INCH PIECE OF METAL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

8 complaints

12%

• FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG INDICATOR SHOWS "OFF" WHEN A NORMAL SIZED ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION I.E DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME.. MOVING IN THE SEAT, CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING SEAT BELT, OPENING AND CLOSING PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT CHANGE THE INDICATION. INDI
• CAR WAS IN MOTION GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. STOPPED AT A REDLIGHT. CONTINUED QHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN BUT NOT FAST AS THE NEXT LIGHT WAS TURNING RED. BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. UPON COLLISION THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT DEPLOY. MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES WITH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A PO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG INDICATOR SHOWS "OFF" WHEN A NORMAL SIZED ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION I.E DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME.. MOVING IN THE SEAT, CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING SEAT BELT, OPENING AND CLOSING PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT CHANGE THE INDICATION. INDI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints

• CARS COMPUTER/PROGRAMMING IS REMOTELY CONTROLLED ,BRAKES TRANMISSION LIGHTS SUSPENSION DO NOTB PERFORM AS INTENDED BY MANUFACTURER.HACKING INVOLVED WHILE DRIVING STATIONARY FREEWAYS/CITY STREETS.
• VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH ACCELERATION AND JERKING WHEN STOPPED IN JULY 2019. TOOK VEHICLE TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS SUGGESTED I REPLACE THE BATTERY AND THE OXYGEN SENSORS. BOTH WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE STILL CONTINUES TO JERK AND NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE. VEHICLE DRIVES SMOOTH SO LONG AS THEIR IS
• CAR HESITATED TO START AFTER GETTING GAS. WHEN IT DOES FINALLY START IT SPUTTERS AND HAVE TO REV MOTOR SOME TO MAKE IT STOP. IDLES HIGH. AFTER GET STARTED AND START TO DRIVE IT IT'S OK, BUT WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT IDLES HIGHER. I HAVE HAD THE PURGE VALVE REPLACED, BUT IT'S STILL DOING IT.

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

“CARS COMPUTER/PROGRAMMING IS REMOTELY CONTROLLED ,BRAKES TRANMISSION LIGHTS SUSPENSION DO NOTB PERFORM AS INTENDED BY MANUFACTURER.HACKING INVOLVED WHILE DRIVING STATIONARY FREEWAYS/CITY STREETS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~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 69 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SIGNIFICANT RODENT DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT INSULATION CAUSES A MINOR FIRE. *SMD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: AS I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET, POSSIBLY TWO MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING MY HOME, IS WHEN I'D REALIZED THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. EVERYTIME FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS, THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AS SOON AS THE CAR TURNED ON. IT FINALLY SHUT OFF AFTER I WENT OUT TO SHOP. IT WAS ILLUM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN THE RIGHT LANE IN THE AREA OF MILE MARKER 7 IN SOUTH CAROLINA A PIECE OF FOREIGN DEBUS WAS RAN OVER BY THE CAR IN FROM OF ME. THE LARGE PIECE OF METAL BOUNCED OF THE ROAD AND HIT THE FRONT BUMPER GRILL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER ( 24 INCH PIECE OF METAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG INDICATOR SHOWS "OFF" WHEN A NORMAL SIZED ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION I.E DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME.. MOVING IN THE SEAT, CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING SEAT BELT, OPENING AND CLOSING PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT CHANGE THE INDICATION. INDI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)