2012 Chevrolet Sonic problems and complaints
Owners have filed 354 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The most-reported areas: Power Train (154), Engine (83), Electrical System (59).
Key takeaways
- 354 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 27 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 18 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 154 | 44% |
| Engine | 83 | 23% |
| Electrical System | 59 | 17% |
| Unknown Or Other | 46 | 13% |
| Air Bags | 34 | 10% |
| Suspension | 19 | 5% |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 | 5% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 16 | 5% |
| Steering | 14 | 4% |
| Structure | 12 | 3% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 11 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Structure,service Brakes,engine - filed 2026-08-20
I purchased a 2012 Chevy Sonic with 65k miles on it from Carvibe LLC earlier this month. When I took it into Firestone for a full inspection, they found that the car has severe rusting to the mechanical parts along with the body of the vehicle - the entire structure of the vehicle is compromised. Someone spray painted ...
Power Train - filed 2026-02-25
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that on several occasions, while coming to a stop, the vehicle unexpectedly remained in second gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that several attempts were needed for the vehicle to shift into another gear. The dealer was not c...
Power Train - filed 2026-02-02
Transmission shaft malfunction. Doesn't shift out of 1st gear. Transmission does not engage into gear.
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More for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.