Home · 2012 Chevrolet Sonic · Complaints

What 353 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (353)Crash / fire / injury (36)Transmission & drivetrain (154)Engine (82)Electrical system (59)Airbags (34)Suspension (19)Fuel system (18)Brakes (16)Speed control (16)Visibility & wipers (16)Steering (14)

18 of 353 complaints match · Airbags · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

May 7, 2023AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

I was driving my 2012 chevrolet sonic on April 26 and was rear ended my seatbelt did not engage and I was injured. I was rushed to the hospital for a concussion and on may 4th I got dizzy from my concussion from the accident suffered on April 26 and lost control of my vehicle and struck a concrete barrier on i20 west then bounced of the barrier and struck the barrier yet again. My seatbelt never engaged and my airbags never deployed either time striking the barrier nor the prior accident.

NHTSA ODI 11520856

Aug 7, 2022Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsCrash1 injury

I was experiencing issues with the transmission on my vehicle. I lost control and when it stop abruptly in a ditch after hitting a fallen limb of a tree the airbags did not deploy. Since this incident I have extreme pain in neck, dizziness, and weakness in both my arms. My vehicle is not listed as part of the recalls and the violent stop of my vehicle upon hitting the object was severe enough to snap both tierod ends yet airbags did not deploy. I have significant injuries as a result and a wrecked car that I feel was hard to control due to the problematic acceleration of transmission

NHTSA ODI 11478078

Sep 15, 2020AirbagsCrash

I WAS DRIVING AND TURNING LEFT INTO A PLAZA PARKING LOT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT MINE VERY HARD AS THEY WERE GOING REALLY FAST. THEY HIT THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY DAMAGING THE GRILL, FRONT BUMPER AND ALL OF THE SUPPORTS FOR THEM. EVEN THOUGH MY CAR TOOK A HARD IMPACT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I, AS WELL AS THE COPS THAT WERE ON DUTY, WERE VERY CONCERNED BY THIS FACT.

NHTSA ODI 11355119

Feb 25, 2019AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* 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. THE FAILURE IMPACTED THE CONTACT'S MOUTH, CHIN, AND ARMS, AND CAUSED MINOR BRUISING TO THE BODY. MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. A DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEPLOYMENT PRODUCED AN ODOR AND SUBSTANCE FROM THE AIR BAGS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A TOW YARD AND DECLARED IT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAULT WITH THE SYSTEM CONCERNING THE EDR BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN AN AIR BAG RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI 11182314

Feb 14, 2019AirbagsCrash

***TAKATA RECALL*** WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT OTHER CAR RAN A STOP SIGN & I TBONE THE OTHER CAR @ ABOUT 25 MPH & THE AIR BAGS DIDNT DEPLOYED

NHTSA ODI 11180121

Feb 2, 2018AirbagsCrash

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC WAS CONGESTED DUE TO ANOTHER ACCIDENT AND CONSTRUCTION. 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. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT MY AIRBAG NEVER EVEN DEPLOYED. I WAS STRUCK PRETTY HARD AS WELL AS SHOVED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT CRUNCHED MY CAR AT BOTH ENDS. I FIND THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT PROTECT ME FROM IF I WOULD HAVE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI 11066611

Nov 24, 2017SteeringAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control SystemCrash1 injury1 death

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 35 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONDITION WENT FROM RAIN TO SNOW AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISHTAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALL TERRAIN TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER HUSBAND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG AND THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM, A FRACTURED HIP, A FRACTURED PELVIS, AND INTERNAL BLEEDING. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND DIED FROM HIS INJURIES. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A MILD CONCUSSION, KIDNEY FAILURE, AND BURNS FROM THE SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE TRANSPORTED BY SEPARATE AMBULANCES FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. LITHIA CHEVROLET OF REDDING (200 E CYPRESS AVE, REDDING, CA 96002, (530) 410-6002) WAS CONTACTED AS TO WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,560.

NHTSA ODI 11048271

Sep 28, 2017AirbagsCrash

AIRBAG PROBLEMS: ABOUT 1YR AGO, HAD CAR LOOKED AT BECAUSE PASSENGER SEAT WAS NOT SENSING OCCUPANTS, AIRBAG READINESS LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF FOR FEW WKS ABOUT 2 MTHS AGO, NOW IT'S CONTINUOUSLY ON, WAS TOLD AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT IF PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR NOT REPLACED. WAS ALSO SIDE SWIPED ABOUT 1YR AGO GOING ABOUT 45 MPH AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HAVE PICS FROM ACCIDENT BUT NO POLICE REPORT FILED

NHTSA ODI 11030314

Mar 24, 2017Electrical systemAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash2 injuries

MY WIFE AND I W'ER HIT BY A PERSON THAT RAN A RED LIGHT THE CAR WAS TOTTLED OUT WITH MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL WHEN THE SIDE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT DIDNT CAUSING MY WHOLE SIDE AND HEAD SMASHING INTO THE SIDE DRIVER DOOR

NHTSA ODI 10968412

Jan 26, 2017AirbagsBrakesEngineCrash1 injury

MY 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY TO ME BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE SEVERAL RECALL CAMPAIGNS ON THE VEHICLE THAT DID NOT COME UP UNDER MY VIN.CAMPAIGN ID 12V52200, CAMPAIGN ID 13V023000, CAMPAIGN ID14V315000, CAMPAIGN ID 14V317000 CAMPAIGN ID 11V599000, CAMPAIGN ID, 12V408000. I COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAD BLEW A STOP SIGN AS I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. MY VEHICLE T-BONE THE OTHER VEHICLE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THE OTHER VEHICLES AIR BAGS DID. MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICE AT MODERN CHEVROLET UNIVERSITY PARKWAY IN WINSTON SALEM NC SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN NOV. 2012 FROM THAT DEALERSHIP. THE ONLY RECALLS THE DEALERSHIP OR GM HAS NOTIFIED ME ABOUT WERE ONLY GM CAMPAIGN ID 12172 REPLACE SWAYBAR LINKS AND GM CAMPAIGN ID12176. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS *TR

NHTSA ODI 10947808

Jan 8, 2017AirbagsSeat beltsBrakesCrash1 injury

ON 1/31/2016 A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THE FIRST AND BIGGEST ISSUE WAS THE AIRBAG NEVER WENT OFF AND THE SEAT BELT TENSIONERS DID NOT LOCK THE BELTS EITHER. I WENT FORWARD AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL RENDERING ME UNCONSCIOUS!!! ALMOST THE WHOLE FRONT END HAD TO BE REPLACED E.G.: GRILL AND FRONT PANEL, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANELS, RADIATOR, BOTH WHEEL WELLS, SUSPENSION ON BOTH SIDES AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH THOSE PLUS A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER THINGS LIKE THE RADIATOR, COOLANT AND WASHER TANKS ETC. ETC.... THIS WAS A FULL-FRONTAL WRECK AND NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG WENT OFF!!! SECONDLY ARE THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. THE ROADS WERE A LITTLE SLICK SO I HAD THE TC ON. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES ALL THEY DID, HAVE DONE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND CONTINUE TO DO TO THIS DAY, IS IMMEDIATELY LOCK UP! I HAD ZERO CONTROL OF MY CAR. THIS CAR HAS, BY FAR, THE WORST ABS SYSTEM I HAVE EVER USED. THE TC IS COMPLETE [XXX], TOO!!! THIRDLY, EVERY TIME I START THE CAR THE ENGINE SEEMS TO MISFIRE OR SOMETHING! IT RATTLES AND SHAKES THE WHOLE CAR, HARD!!! AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT SEEMS TO FIND IT'S GROOVE AND IDLES NORMALLY. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS. ALL THEY TELL ME IS THEY ARE DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING FLAWS. THEY SAID I CAN PAY TO FIX THESE ISSUES WITH MY OWN MONEY OR WAIT AND SEE IF THE ISSUES BECOME RECALLS. WHICH, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, HAVE NOT YET. TO ME, THESE ARE SOME PRETTY BIG SAFETY ISSUES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE ADDRESSING!!! AND WHY AREN'T THEY????? I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THEM ANYWHERE. I'LL COME BACK IF I FIND THEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10943705

May 20, 2015AirbagsCrash

I WAS GOING DOWN DENTON ROAD AND HIT A DEER GOING 55 MPH. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED REALLY BAD ALMOST $5,000.00 OF DAMAGE. I HAVE TWO SLIPPED DISK IN MY BACK BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENT. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ODI 10717436

Oct 28, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

I WAS DRIVING WITH TRAFFIC AT CORRECT SPEED DOWN MAIN ROAD. WHEN SUDDENLY A LADY THAT DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT AWAY PULLED OUT INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. SHE HIT THE SIDE OF MY CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE AREA OF MY FRONT WHEEL. THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD THAT MY CAR WAS PUSHED ACROSS TURNING LANE IN MIDDLE, ACROSS A LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND PART OF CAR WAS IN THE EMERGENCY LANE WHEN IT FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. SINCE SHE WAS TURNING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC ON HER SIDE OF THE STREET WHEN SHE STRUCK ME HER SVC WENT FROM MY FRONT WHEEL DOWN ALMOST THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF MY CAR. MY CONCERN THAT DURING THIS ENTIRE ACCIDENT AND MY 2012 BEING TOTALED OVER $12,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND I WAS HURT, NOT ONE SINGLE AIRBAG OUT OF THE 10 IN MY 2012 SONIC DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10650720

Aug 20, 2014SuspensionAirbagsBody & structureWheelsCrash1 injury

ALL TEN (10) AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN MY CAR WAS STRUCK BY A DRIVER ATTEMPTING TO PASS ME ON THE LEFT AS I WAS TURNING LEFT. THAT DRIVER WAS SPEEDING, CROSSED THE DOUBLE-YELLOW LINE TO PASS, DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE NOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE. MY DRIVER'S DOOR TOOK THE INITIAL IMPACT STRIKE AND WAS DEEPLY CREASED AS THE OTHER CAR CONTINUED FORWARD INTO MINE, THEN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WAS STRUCK; THE WHEEL AND A ROD CONNECTED FLEW OFF, MY FENDER WAS OBLITERATED, ENGINE COMPONENTS WERE SMASHED, AND MY CAR SPUN AROUND AT LEAST 200 DEGREES. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS GOING SO FAST, IT CONTINUED FORWARD MORE THAN 150 FEET BEFORE THE DRIVER COULD GET HIS VEHICLE TO STOP AFTER STRIKING MY CAR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED MY CAR A TOTAL LOSS. DURING THE ACCIDENT, MY HEAD VIOLENTLY STRUCK THE DOOR FRAME AND I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. IT IS A MIRACLE FROM GOD THAT I WASN'T KILLED! MY HUSBAND IS LIVID TO THINK I COULD HAVE DIED... AND TO THINK THAT THE 10 AIRBAGS WERE A BIG SELLING POINT FOR US WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WE THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING A SAFE VEHICLE. WE FEEL LIED TO AND ABUSED AS THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS--SO SAYS AN ATTORNEY--SINCE I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED NOR KILLED. AFTER MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAYS, I'LL STILL OWE ABOUT $4000 ON MY NEW-ISH CHEVY SONIC, AND I AM STILL REQUIRED TO PAY THE BALANCE TO ALLY (HOLDING THE LOAN FOR THIS GM CAR) FOR A PRODUCT THAT DIDN'T PERFORM AS IT SHOULD HAVE TO KEEP ME SAFE. HOW IS THIS NOT A CRIME? ISN'T THIS ROBBERY? GM SHOULD PROVIDE SOME KIND OF ASSISTANCE SINCE IT ADVERTISED UNTRUE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE VEHICLE. IF WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THE CAR WAS UNSAFE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT. THERE'S TOO LITTLE JUSTICE IN AMERICA THESE DAYS. GM, IF YOU WILL MAKE THIS RIGHT, I WILL PLACE A FULL PAGE ADVERTISEMENT IN MY NEWSPAPER TELLING EVERYONE YOU TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10626584

Mar 19, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON DRIVER SIDE BY ANOTHER CAR THAT FAILED TO STOP AT A FOUR WAY STOP. THE IMPACT WAS MOSTLY ON THE DRIVER DOOR. THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10573633

Mar 17, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

I WAS IN A TBONE ACCIDENT WHERE THE DRIVER WAS GOING WELL OVER MY SPEED. AFTER THE HIT, MY HEAD HIT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE IMPACT SENT ME SPINNING ACROSS THE ROAD INTO A WOODED AREA WHERE MY PASSENGERS SIDE STRUCK A TREE. I WAS OUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE (NOT SURE HOW LONG). WHEN I CAME TO MY SENSES MEDICAL WAS ON SCENE AND I HAD A MAJOR HEADACHE AND MY LEFT KNEE WAS PRETTY SORE. I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM THAT DAY TO BE INFORMED THAT I SUFFERED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED I WAS TOLD THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLES HAD MORE AIRBAGS THAN THE STANDARD VEHICLE AND MY AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10572868

Jul 24, 2013AirbagsCrash

PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK DRIVER'S SIDE FROM LEFT ONTO FRONT BUMPER/FRONT FENDER AREA BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. VEHICLE THAT STRUCK SONIC TRAVELING 50+ MPH IMPACTED ENTIRE FRONT OF VEHICLE FROM LEFT SIDE DAMAGING FENDERS, HOOD, BUMPER(NO LIGHT CASINGS OR BULBS BROKEN), MOVED RADIATOR. NONE OF THE DRIVER'S FRONT, SIDE, OR HEAD AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL. CAR WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. I REQUESTED A DETAILED LISTING OF THEIR FINDINGS AND NONE WAS GIVEN TO ME. THE CAR WAS TAKEN QUICKLY NOT ALLOWING ME TO INVESTIGATE THE AIRBAG FAILURE. REASONS FOR TOTALING IT. I FEEL THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE LOST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT I WILL HAVE TO MAKE UP TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE WHICH I PURCHASED ONLY 54 WEEKS PRIOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10531684

Jul 9, 2012AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A TRAILER TWICE AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, THE HOOD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE KNEE, LEFT SHOULDER AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 10464676

Working with the data? Download all 353 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Chevrolet Sonic verdict →