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Chevrolet Sonic: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Sonic problems by model year, from 953 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2012 (70%, 223 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (66%, 21 drivetrain complaints) and 2013 (50%, 94 drivetrain complaints). 6 of the 6 Chevrolet Sonic years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 2 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Chevrolet Sonic year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2016 (46%).
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (223 of 460 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Sonic year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Sonic | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 |
| 2012 Sonic | very high | 70% | 223 | 354 | 1/6 | 7 |
| 2013 Sonic | high | 50% | 94 | 217 | 3/6 | 6 |
| 2014 Sonic | high | 50% | 62 | 150 | 4/6 | 4 |
| 2015 Sonic | high | 49% | 42 | 114 | 5/6 | 3 |
| 2016 Sonic | high | 46% | 18 | 48 | 6/6 | 2 |
| 2017 Sonic | very high | 66% | 21 | 37 | 2/6 | 0 |
| 2018 Sonic | too few to score | – | 5 | 14 | – | 1 |
| 2019 Sonic | too few to score | – | 5 | 8 | – | 0 |
| 2020 Sonic | too few to score | – | 5 | 10 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Sonic years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Sonic transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Chevrolet Sonic involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 15 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2013 | 13V464000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting | 2013–2014 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V315000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2012 |
13 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2011 | 11V599000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads | 2012 |
| Aug 2012 | 12V408000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer | 2012 |
| Sep 2012 | 12V454000 | electrical system | 2013 |
| Oct 2012 | 12V522000 | air bags | 2012 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V023000 | air bags | 2012 |
| May 2013 | 13V220000 | electrical system | 2013 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V300000 | air bags | 2012 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V417000 | equipment: electrical | 2012–2014 |
| Sep 2014 | 14V543000 | air bags | 2014 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V416000 | equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V257000 | equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 2013–2016 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V422000 | electrical system: software | 2015–2016 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V516000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2013 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Sonic
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Sonic
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Sonic?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Sonic years are the 2012 (70% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2017 (66% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2013 (50% of relevant complaints, high). 6 of 6 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Sonic?
No Chevrolet Sonic year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2016 (46%).
Does the Chevrolet Sonic have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 6 scored years, 460 of 788 relevant NHTSA complaints (58%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Is the Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 6 of 6 Chevrolet Sonic years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 58% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Sonic?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Chevrolet Sonic years we track, out of 15 in total: 13V464000 (Sep 2013, 2013–2014), 14V315000 (Jun 2014, 2012). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.