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)

27 of 114 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 1 of 2

May 23, 2026Airbags

Passenger seat airbag shows that it is still off even when there is someone in the Passenger seat

NHTSA ODI 11739750

Jul 3, 2024Airbags

The air bags deployed while the vehicle was in motion. No Collision or impact occurred.

NHTSA ODI 11598544

Jun 25, 2023Airbags

Air bag light on. There are 4 codes in the SDM, due to an internal fault in the sensing diagnostic module. The dealership states that it has to be replaced and will cost close to $1100 to have repaired and to clear all of the codes.

NHTSA ODI 11528703

Apr 27, 2023AirbagsCrash1 injury

Passenger side front airbags did not deploy during a front end vehicle crash. All other airbags in vehicle did deploy. Injury did occur due to this.

NHTSA ODI 11519192

Jul 16, 2021AirbagsEngine

My airbag on the passenger side goes on and off all the time, dealership wouldnt fix it couldnt find why it was doing that. Now while driving it just shuts off with out a warning ,scard to take it to dealership cant afford to keep putting money into it. I have had problems since the car was bought from the dealership. Now do not know how to be able to sell if it is doing this.

NHTSA ODI 11425191

May 30, 2020Airbags

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM TURNS OFF EVEN WITH AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETIMES IT TURNS ON AND THEN TURNS OFF MIDWAY THROUGH A TRIP, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, WITH NO EXPLANATION. IT WORKS SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES DOES NOT FOR NO RHYME OR REASON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326637

Jan 22, 2020Airbags

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT IS INCONSISTENT. WITH ANY PASSENGER SEATED THE "ON" LIGHT DOES NOT STAY ON. IT WILL SOMETIMES COME ON TEMPORARILY THEN OFF AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER OR NOT THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS SIMILAR CONCERNS FROM OTHERS ON LINE AND EVEN ON THIS SITE.

NHTSA ODI 11301146

Dec 29, 2019Airbags

THE PASSENGER SIDE (OCCUPANT SENSOR) AIR BAG SWITCH IS INCONSISTENT. IT WILL NOT ALWAYS TURN ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. SOMETIMES IT DOES SOMETIMES IS DOES NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11291833

Dec 5, 2019Electrical systemAirbagsSeats

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE ACCORDING TO OUR MECHANIC. WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE CAR TURNED ON AND STATIONARY, SOMETIMES, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DOES NOT TURN ON AS IF IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A PERSON THERE. IF THE CAR IS THEN PUT INTO DRIVE, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM STILL REMAINS OFF. OTHER TIMES, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL TURN ON AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DRIVE AND THEN TURN OFF RANDOMLY DURING THE DRIVE WHILE SOMEONE IS STILL SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN OBVIOUS ISSUE AS THE AIRBAG MAY NOT ACTIVATE IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THERE IS INDEED SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA ODI 11287078

Aug 19, 2019LightsAirbagsBody & structureCrash

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH WHEN SHE SAW A DEER IN THE ROAD - SHE SWERVED AND BRAKED HITTING THE DEER IN THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT AREA ABOVE DRIVERS FRONT TIRE AND BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND HOLD HER IN PLACE.

NHTSA ODI 11245012

Apr 6, 2019AirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

I'VE REALIZED AND NOTICED IN MY VEHICLE; THAT SOME THINGS AREN'T ELECTRONIC SET CORRECT. MY AIR BAG LIGHT FOR PASSENGER; DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER. SOME DAYS IT WILL BE ON AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL NOT. MY SCREEN GLITCHES HERE AND THERE AND NOT WORKING CORRECTLY EVEN WITH TOUCH. A FEW BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WILL ARE NOT AS WELL WORKING FOR SOME REASON. MY FUEL GAGE FOR MILES CHANGES AND NOT SET UP CORRECTLY WITH PUMP. IT WILL SHOW 280 WHEN FULL THE. MOVE UP MAYBE 15 MINUTES LATER THEN BACK DOWN. NOT LIKE IT WAS WHEN I FIRST PURCHASE MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11194353

Dec 22, 2018AirbagsSeat belts

WE OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, WE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CHEVROLET -5925 US 90/ MILTON, FL 32583) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE CODES (DTC C0186, C0196, C0287) APPEARED. WE WAS INFORMED THAT ISN'T A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS MODELS.( AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELTS ARE A SAFETY DEVICE, THIS FAULT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE). WE FOUNT A SERVICE BULLETIN : SB-10059177-1527 FROM GM FOR THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11163092

Sep 10, 2018Airbags

YESTERDAY 9-9-2018, I STARTED CAR, DROVE IT ONE BLOCK AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. CAR HAS 30K MILES, NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND NEVER HAD ANY SAFETY PROBLEM. DEALER SAYS IT WENT OUT OF WARRANTY 5-26-2018........

NHTSA ODI 11128462

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

Jun 27, 2017AirbagsCrash3 injuries

OUR VEHICLE WAS HIT WHILE IN MOTION AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A CITY STREET ON THE DRIVER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT DIDN'T YIELD AT A STOP INTERSECTION. SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE OF OUR THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. MY HEAD BOUNCED OFF THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CAUSING INJURY THAT I DIDN'T SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR. CHILD IN BACKSEAT DRIVER SIDE HIT HEAD AS WELL, AND DID SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. OUR VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE, AND HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE SCENE.

NHTSA ODI 11001671

Feb 22, 2017SteeringAirbagsCrashFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE CRASH OCCURRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 10956386

Sep 7, 2016Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THE SDM MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 10904469

Aug 8, 2016AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE MERGING INTO THE LEFT LANE, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. ..UPDATED 12/28/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI 10894206

Jun 14, 2016Airbags

THE SHIFTING GEAR GETS STUCK, AND IT CANNOT BE MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. TO MOVE THE GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND HAVE TO USE A LOT OF STRENGTH TO MAKE THE GEAR CHANGE. BUT SOMETIMES IT GETS SO STUCK I HAVE TO WAIT TO MAKE THE CHANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS TURN OFF I HAVE TO WAIT 2-3 MINUTES TO REMOVE THE KEY. THIS HAPPENS ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE.

NHTSA ODI 10874137

Jun 12, 2016Airbags1 injury

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. NO COLLISION ONCE SO EVER, POLICE AND I AGREED THERE WAS NO PHYSICALLY INDICATION ON WHY THEY WENT OFF. AS WELL AS THE GM INSPECTOR COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING EITHER. STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM GM.

NHTSA ODI 10873765

Jun 8, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND LOWER BACK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,700.

NHTSA ODI 10873197

May 16, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, WHEN SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER BUMPED HER HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 07/27/16*LJ

NHTSA ODI 10865107

Sep 3, 2015AirbagsCrash2 injuries

MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER HIT A DEER GOING ABOUT 60 MPH. THE DEER HIT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FROM THE GRILL TO THE CORNER. AFTER THE IMPACT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DAMAGE COULD BE A TOTAL LOSS JUST WAITING ON THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER.

NHTSA ODI 10761416

Aug 10, 2015AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DEER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ODI 10747406

Apr 7, 2015Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 10/05/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10704206

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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 →