2016 Chevrolet Sonic problems and recalls

Owners have filed 48 complaints on the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (13 complaints).

48
Complaints
2
Recalls
8
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
6
Injuries
99.3
Severity index

Severity index 99.3 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 99.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 13 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 91% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 13 complaints (27.1%)13 27%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 11 complaints (22.9%)11 23%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 8 complaints (16.7%)8 17%Air BagsAir Bags: 8 complaints (16.7%)8 17%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 5 complaints (10.4%)5 10%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3 complaints (6.2%)3 6%Power TrainPower Train: 3 complaints (6.2%)3 6%SuspensionSuspension: 3 complaints (6.2%)3 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE1327.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1122.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER816.7%
AIR BAGS816.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM510.4%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)36.2%
POWER TRAIN36.2%
SUSPENSION36.2%

Complaints filed per year

06122016: 22017: 62018: 82019: 92020: 122021: 42022: 12023: 22024: 12025: 12026: 2 (partial year)161718192012212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20162
20176
20188
20199
202012
20214
20221
20232
20241
20251
2026 (year to date)2
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.2x those in 2020 to 2022 (4 against 17).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V42200010/06/2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWAREGeneral 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
16V25700028/04/2016EQUIPMENT: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

Other Chevrolet Sonic model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 7 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.