2015 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	2015 / chevrolet / sonic
known issues	8 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-26)
complaints	114 on file (2015-03-30 → 2026-05-23)
recalls	3
investigations	0
fars	84 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Gear shift push-button stickingPOWER TRAIN9 complaints2016-06 → 2022-07sonic-2015-shifter-button-stuck

11265276 STATIONARY. 2015 CHEVY SONIC. THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON/KNOB WAS STICKING AND FINALLY BROKE. I'VE HAD TO FIDDLE WITH IT (FOR THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS OR SO) TO GET THE CAR IN AND OUT OF GEAR USING A SCREWDRIVER
11183092 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE SHIFT INTERLOCK BUTTON SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, OR RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL WITHOUT THE VEHICLE ROLLING FORWARD
10950194 WHEN SHIFTER FROM ANY GEAR INTO PARK THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER STICKS IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION MAKING IT EASY TO BUMP THE SHIFTER BACK INTO GEAR AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE

Catalytic converter failureENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5 complaints2019-11 → 2025-02sonic-2015-catalytic-converter

11465060 Vehicle shows P0420 code (Bad Catalytic Converter) at relatively low miles 92,000 miles on a 2015 model with a 1.8L engine
11454520 Catalytic converter failed at 110,000 miles. Same exact catalytic converter recalled for 2013 and 2014 sonic models, for some reason not covered by the recall for 2015 models
11490021 The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the odor of exhaust fumes was present inside the cabin of the vehicle

Transmission control module and clutch failurePOWER TRAIN4 complaints2019-10 → 2024-09sonic-2015-tcm-clutch-failure

11616544 Code U0101 is set. Unable to communicate with TCM. Troubleshooted and found TCM is bad. Removed necessary components for tcm replacement. Removed the tcm/valve body assembly and replaced
11266781 TRANSMISSION IS SURGING IN GEAR, IN MOTION AND STATIONARY, AT ANY SPEED. SENSATION IS STRONG ENOUGH TO NOTICE EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FEELS LIKE RESISTANCE BUILDING AND THEN RELEASING RAPIDLY. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN COLDER WEATHER
11525910 We have a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic Lt that we bought from car country in Aurora Indiana the transmission has gone the dealer told that the had been serviced but it never was so now we can't drive the car and its just sitting in the our driveway we reported it to car country about

Front airbags failed to deploy in crashAIR BAGS10 complaints2015-04 → 2023-04sonic-2015-airbag-no-deploy

11519192 Passenger side front airbags did not deploy during a front end vehicle crash. All other airbags in vehicle did deploy. Injury did occur due to this
10761416 MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HIT A DEER GOING ABOUT 60 MPH. THE DEER HIT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FROM THE GRILL TO THE CORNER. AFTER THE IMPACT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DAMAGE COULD BE A TOTAL LOSS JUST WAITING ON THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER
10894206 TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE MERGING INTO THE LEFT LANE, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES

Door locks cycle and engine stalls while drivingELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE11 complaints2016-06 → 2023-09sonic-2015-electrical-stall-lock

11483637 Once again, my doors unlocked then relocked, my dashboard lights went out and the engine stalled. I was on the KU campus when this happened 3 times within 6 blocks. This is getting very scary, especially when i am in a busy area of town
11482611 3 times yesterday - September 1, 2022, my car locks unlocked then locked again and the engine stalled. Dash lights did not go off, but the car died 3 times in a matter of 10 minutes
11482351 While driving, the locks on the car will unlock then relock quickly, the dash will go black and the motor will rev like I am trying to go in the Park position. This has happened several time in town where I live

Coolant leak and engine overheatingENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8 complaints2018-04 → 2023-06sonic-2015-coolant-leak-overheat

11090198 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
11442568 The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet sonic. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, there was white smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle
11221906 ANTIFREEZE OVERFLOW HAS A LEAK AND IS BUBBLING OVER THE ENGINE LIGHT ON EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO CHEVY DEALER. CAR STUTTERED AND HAD BAD SMELL AIR DOES NOT GET COOL WE HAD TO PULL OVER AND THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED THE CAR WOULD NOT START

Passenger airbag occupant sensor malfunctionAIR BAGS7 complaints2019-04 → 2026-05sonic-2015-airbag-occupant-sensor

11739750 Passenger seat airbag shows that it is still off even when there is someone in the Passenger seat
11326637 THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM TURNS OFF EVEN WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETIMES IT TURNS ON AND THEN TURNS OFF MIDWAY THROUGH A TRIP, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, WITH NO EXPLANATION. IT WORKS SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES DOES NOT FOR NO RHYME OR REASON. *TR
11291833 THE PASSENGER SIDE (OCCUPANT SENSOR) AIR BAG SWITCH IS INCONSISTENT. IT WILL NOT ALWAYS TURN ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. SOMETIMES IT DOES SOMETIMES IS DOES NOT

Airbag warning light from SDM module faultAIR BAGS7 complaints2015-03 → 2023-06sonic-2015-airbag-sdm-fault

11528703 Air bag light on. There are 4 codes in the SDM, due to an internal fault in the sensing diagnostic module. The dealership states that it has to be replaced and will cost close to $1100 to have repaired and to clear all of the codes
10904469 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THE SDM MODULE
10702727 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

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
114	2015-03-30	2026-05-23	15	3	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:34; AIR BAGS:27; ENGINE:23; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:22; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM:12

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
16V422000	10/06/2016	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE	General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."	Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.	GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
15V416000	30/06/2015	EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.	General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 20, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured June 18, 2014, to June 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, equipped with the base radio and OnStar, the radio may lock up due to a software issue, causing the display to go blank and all audio functions to cease. Because of this, there may be no warning chimes such as the reminder to buckle the seat belt and the key being left in ignition when the driver goes to exit the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 "Occupant Crash Protection", and 114 "Theft Protection."	Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft. If a driver or front passenger does not buckle their seat belt, there would be no chime to remind them to fasten their seat belts. If a driver or passenger does not buckle their seat belt there is an increased risk that they will be injured in a crash.	GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15504.
16V257000	28/04/2016	EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.	General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."	Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.	GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	84	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). 2015 Chevrolet Sonic vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2015/chevrolet/sonic

@misc{wrenchpro_2015_chevrolet_sonic_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2015 Chevrolet Sonic},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2015/chevrolet/sonic}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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