2018 Chevrolet Sonic problems and recalls

Owners have filed 15 complaints on the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Electrical System (6 complaints).

15
Complaints
1
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
0
Injuries
53.0
Severity index

Severity index 53.0 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 53.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 6 complaints (40.0%)6 40%EngineEngine: 4 complaints (26.7%)4 27%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 2 complaints (13.3%)2 13%SeatsSeats: 2 complaints (13.3%)2 13%WheelsWheels: 2 complaints (13.3%)2 13%Fuel SystemFuel System: 1 complaints (6.7%)1 7%GasolineGasoline: 1 complaints (6.7%)1 7%Air BagsAir Bags: 1 complaints (6.7%)1 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM640.0%
ENGINE426.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER213.3%
SEATS213.3%
WHEELS213.3%
FUEL SYSTEM16.7%
GASOLINE16.7%
AIR BAGS16.7%

Complaints filed per year

0232018: 22019: 32020: 22021: 22022: 32025: 22026: 1 (partial year)181932021222526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20182
20193
20202
20212
20223
20252
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2021 to 2025 were close to 2018 to 2020 (7 against 7).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V34200027/05/2018SEATSGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. A joint in the driver's seat-back frame may not be properly welded, reducing the strength of the seat-back frame.

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 2026-10-23. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.