Reliability & cost of ownership
Chevrolet Sonic Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Chevrolet Sonic? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Chevrolet Sonic problems by model year
23 recall entries and 950 owner complaints on file across 10 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Sonic | 0 | 9 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2019 Sonic | 0 | 8 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2018 Sonic | 1 | 14 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2017 Sonic | 0 | 37 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2016 Sonic | 2 | 48 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2015 Sonic | 3 | 114 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2014 Sonic | 4 | 149 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2013 Sonic | 6 | 217 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2012 Sonic | 7 | 353 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2011 Sonic | 0 | 1 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Chevrolet Sonic, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine237 complaints
- power train231 complaints
- electrical system225 complaints
- unknown or other166 complaints
- air bags126 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system69 complaints
- steering54 complaints
- service brakes42 complaints