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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)

4 of 353 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

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

Jan 22, 2015Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEquipment Adaptive/mobility1 injury

THE BUTTON TO RELEASE THE CAR OUT OF GEAR, AND ONCE IN PARK THAT RELEASES THE KEY CAME APART. IT HAS BEEN STICKING FOR AWHILE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMETHING SHARP STARTED POKING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE BUTTON, AND IT HAS CUT MY HUSBAND'S HAND. NOW THE BUTTON BARELY PUSHES IN AND THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10678360

Apr 1, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEquipment Adaptive/mobilityCrash

ON OR AROUND DECEMBER, 2014, THE SHIFT COVER WOULD NOT ATTACH PERMANENTLY. ON OR AROUND MARCH 10, 2014, THE ELECTRICAL ACCESS PLUG DID NOT OPERATE. ON OR AROUND MARCH 6, 2014, MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING AROUND 45MPH, AND WE HIT AN ELK. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10576112

Apr 22, 2012Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainCrash

WHEN I AM DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND AM BEHIND A CAR THAT IS TURNING I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I GIVE IT GAS AT AROUND 2K RPM. THE CAR HAS SOME HESITATION LIKE IT CANT FIND A GEAR TO BE IN. IT HAS DONE IT SEANCE ABOUT 100 MILES. HAS 7000 MILES ON IT NOW. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION TRYING TO FIND ITS SHIFT POINTS AS YOU BREAK IT IN AT 1000 MILES.(BERGER CHEVY) ALSO WHEN IN GARAGE AND START CAR IT SOUNDS FINE. BUT ONCE I PUT IT IN REV. I HEAR LOST LOT PINGS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. STARTED AFTER DEER CRASH. TOOK TO BERGER CHEVY WHERE CAR WAS BOUGHT. THEY FOUND NOTHING BUT JUST BODY DAMAGE. HOOD, FRONT END, AND PASSAGE SIDE ALL REPLACE. WITH 600 MILES ON CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10456042

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 →