2012 Chevrolet Sonic: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle	2012 / chevrolet / sonic
known issues	5 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-19)
complaints	354 on file (2012-02-09 → 2026-08-20)
recalls	7
investigations	2
fars	99 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Transmission failure to shift or engage gearPOWER TRAIN63 complaints2015-11 → 2026-02sonic-2012-transmission-failure

11715161 Transmission shaft malfunction. Doesn't shift out of 1st gear. Transmission does not engage into gear
10930307 MY SON AND WIFE WERE DRIVING IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC WHEN SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD OR HIGHER GEARS. THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS LIMITED TO ABOUT 25-35MPH
10992707 THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER IN DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE THEN DECELERATED TO 30 MPH, JERKED BACK AND FORTH WITH A LOUD UNKNOWN NOISE, AND THEN WENT INTO IDLE MODE

Automatic shift lever button stickingPOWER TRAIN28 complaints2015-10 → 2019-10sonic-2012-shift-button-stuck

11196762 AUTOMATIC SHIFTER RELEASE BUTTON STICKING YOU CAN NOT GET THE CAR TO GO INTO PARK TO SHUT OFF CAR ALSO IT STAYS DEPRESSED CAUSING YOU TO BE ABLE TO EASLY HIT THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTERAL OR REVERSE WHILE DRIVING
10870723 AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT BUTTON STICKS. SHIFT LEVER CAN MOVE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL TO REVERSE TO PARK WITHOUT LOCKING AS THE BUTTON IS STUCK DEPRESSED. KEYS CANNOT BE REMOVED WHEN CAR IS IN PARK. STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. MULTIPLE TIMES
10897961 SHIFTER BUTTON IS STICKING (WILL NOT RELEASE) WHICH PREVENTS REMOVAL OF THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. ALSO, COULD ALLOW THE THE VEHICLE TO BE SHIFTED INTO OTHER GEARS (PARK, REVERSE, ETC) WHILE IN MOTION

Engine cooling system coolant leakENGINE14 complaints2015-10 → 2024-11sonic-2012-cooling-system-leak

11566713 Water pump is leaking in front of motor
11083798 COOLANT LEAK FROM WATER PUMP, APPLICABLE HOSES AND SURGE TANK. REPLACED WATER PUMP, SURGE TANK AND HOSE IN 2016. NEED TO REPLACE WATER PUMP, HOSES AND SURGE TANK AGAIN IN 2018. THERE IS ALSO AN ENGINE OIL LEAK YET TO BE IDENTIFIED. 1.8 L ENGINE
10863100 THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND A BEEPING NOISE STARTED. ALSO, THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE

Electrical system self-crank and stallELECTRICAL SYSTEM14 complaints2015-10 → 2023-08sonic-2012-electrical-stall-crank

11121567 WITH THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION THE CAR TRIES TO CRANK ITSELF BUT WON'T ACTUALLY START OR STAY RUNNING. MY LIGHTS, RADIO ETC HAVE TURNED THEMSELVES ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON
11024695 THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES IN THE MORNING, THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO CRANK ON ITS OWN
10808660 CAR WILL START BY ITSELF AFTER KEY IS PARTIALLY INSERTED INTO IGNITION AND CAR WILL TRY TO START OVER AND OVER IF LEFT IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF. TOOK TO DEALER THEY BLAMED ON AFTERMARKET RADIO. HOWEVER, I AM PRETTY SURE HAS DONE ALMOST FROM THE POINT PURCHASE

Airbag deployment failure during crashAIR BAGS10 complaints2017-01 → 2023-05sonic-2012-airbag-non-deployment

10947808 MY 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY TO ME BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
11066611 ME AND THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME WERE AT A COMPLETE STOP AS WAS EVERYONE ELSE, WHEN I WAS REAR ENDED PRETTY FORCEFULLY AND TO THE POINT THAT AFTER SLAMMING HARDER ON MY BREAKS, MY VEHICLE WAS STILL SHOVED INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME
11182314 THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY AND PULLED FORWARD AT THAN 2 TO 3 MPH AND HIT AN OBJECT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN VEHICLE WAS STILL AND CONSUMER WAS INJURED

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
354	2012-02-09	2026-08-20	27	5	POWER TRAIN:154; ENGINE:83; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:59; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:46; AIR BAGS:34

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
14V417000	02/07/2014	EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL	General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.	Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.	GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.
14V315000	12/06/2014	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, to June 29, 2012, and equipped with a 6 speed automatic transmission and 1.8L four cylinder engine. In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.	If the transmission turbine shaft fracture occurs during vehicle operation in first or second gear, the vehicle will not upshift to the third through sixth gears, limiting the vehicle's speed. If the fracture occurs during operation in third through sixth gear, the vehicle will coast until it slows enough to downshift to first or second gear, increasing the risk of a crash.	GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission turbine shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14234.
14V300000	06/06/2014	AIR BAGS	General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.	If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.	GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.
11V599000	28/12/2011	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS	GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE FRONT BRAKE INNER OR OUTER PAD MAY BE MISSING.	A MISSING PAD COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.	GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKES FOR A MISSING INNER OR OUTER PAD. IF A BRAKE PAD IS MISSING, DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW INNER AND OUTER PADS, A NEW BRAKE CALIPER, AND A NEW ROTOR. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 14, 2012
12V408000	20/08/2012	VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER	General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 5, 2011, through February 24, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." The windshield wiper washer hose on these vehicles may separate from the washer fluid reservoir. If this occurs, washer fluid will not be available to the windshield.	A lack of washer fluid could impede the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash.	GM will notify owners, and dealers will secure the windshield washer hose to prevent separation, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
12V522000	31/10/2012	AIR BAGS	General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.	If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.	General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
13V023000	24/01/2013	AIR BAGS	General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.	If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.	GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Investigations all years →

action_number	status	subject	components	opened	closed	recall_campaign	summary
EA21002	open	Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2021-09-17	·	·	From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
RQ13002	closed	Air Bag Non-deployment	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2013-05-31	2014-07-09	13V023000	General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	99	legacy-code	0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/chevrolet/sonic

@misc{wrenchpro_2012_chevrolet_sonic_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/chevrolet/sonic}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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