Home · 2015 Chevrolet Sonic · Complaints

What 114 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 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 (114)Crash / fire / injury (19)Electrical system (34)Airbags (27)Engine (23)Fuel system (12)Transmission & drivetrain (12)Steering (6)Brakes (5)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (4)Equipment (4)Engine & cooling (3)

34 of 114 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Mar 20, 2019Electrical systemLights

HELLO, THE CHEVY SONIC DASH AN INFORMATION CENTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THERE IS NO RADIO , NO TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS , NO SEAT BELT INDICATOR AN DASH GETS REALLY DIM AT TIMES , ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAPPENED ALL AT ONCE . I TRIED CALLING MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER BUT THEY KEEP SAYING MY VIN IS NOT EFFECTED. BUT ALL THE OTHER MAKES OF THIS MODEL OF THAT YEAR IS HAVING THE SAME RECALL ISSUES . PLEASE HELP !!!. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AN EVER CAR RIDE IS UNPLEASANT AN WE DONT FEEL SAFE .

NHTSA ODI 11190277

Oct 6, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS TURNED ON CALL LOSES POWER IF STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN YOU CAN PRESS THE ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY DOWN CAR IS VERY SLOW TAKING OFF AND SOMETIME WINDOW CONTROL DON'T WORK. AIR-CONDITION BLOWS HOT AIR AT TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11138784

Jul 13, 2018Electrical systemEquipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO WOULD AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (WALDORF CHEVROLET CADILLAC, 2298 CRAIN HWY, WALDORF, MD 20601), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V416000 (EQUIPMENT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,600.

NHTSA ODI 11111158

Oct 30, 2017Electrical system

VEHICLE ALARM SOUNDING. WITH ALL DOORS SHUT PROPERLY. I PUSH THE LOCK DOOR CONTROL ON THE KEY 2X TO ENABLE THE HORN TO SOUND INDICATING THE VEHICLE IS LOCKED AND SECURED WITH ALARM AS IT SHOULD. AS OF 28 OCT 2015 I DO THE SAME AND NOW ALARM IS GOING OFF AS IF A DOOR IS OPEN OR SOMEONE IS BREAKING IN. ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE GOOD. VEHICLE IS PARKED IN GARAGE ON LEVEL SURFACE. CHECKED WITH BOTH CAR KEYS TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T A KEY ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE RED SIGNAL LIGHT IN THE CAR INDICATING ALARM IS ON FLASHES MORE BRIGHTLY THAN USUAL. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SECURE MY VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11041131

Aug 24, 2017Electrical systemAirbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF PUYALLUP, 800 RIVER RD, PUYALLUP, WA, 98371) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE CODES (DTC C0186, C0196, C0287) APPEARED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SDM MODULE NEEDED TO BE CHECKED FOR THE LATEST SOFTWARE VERSION AND UPDATED SOFTWARE POSSIBLY NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM GM WAS LOCATED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-3212344697. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,940.

NHTSA ODI 11019369

Apr 3, 2017Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE - THE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAS WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY

NHTSA ODI 10970352

Aug 6, 2016Electrical system

KEY GETS WARM ON SHORT DRIVE AND HOT ON DRIVES OVER 90 MINUTES COMBINED CITY AND HIGHWAY. WHEN I STOP THE CAR AND TAKE THE KEY OUT, THE METAL SHAFT THAT GOES INTO THE IGNITION IS HOT

NHTSA ODI 10893749

Jun 9, 2016Electrical system

CAR WAS RUNNING WHILE LISTENING TO RADIO. ONCE IT WAS CUT OFF, I COULD NOT LOCK THE CAR OR CUT IT ON AGAIN. IT COMPLETELY DIED.

NHTSA ODI 10873451

Dec 21, 2015Electrical systemCrashFire1 death

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES AND DIED ON THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10811525

← Newer

Working with the data? Download all 114 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 2015 Chevrolet Sonic verdict →