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What 48 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 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 (48)Crash / fire / injury (10)Engine (13)Electrical system (11)Airbags (8)Fuel system (5)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (3)Suspension (3)Transmission & drivetrain (3)Body & structure (2)Brakes (2)Engine & cooling (2)

3 of 48 complaints match · Electronic Stability Control (esc) · clear filters

Jun 20, 2024Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The ESC and oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the Intake Plenum Gasket and other unknown parts needed to be sealed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,299.

NHTSA ODI 11595505

Oct 24, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I PURCHASED MY CAR ON MARCH 9,2019. IN MAY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP [XXX] IN MOULTRIE, GEORGIA WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND NO ONE LOOKED AT IT, IT JUST SAT OUT THERE. WHEN I'M AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT TOO LONG MY CAR WILL CUT OFF OCCASIONALLY AND ALWAYS HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING EVEN SOMETIMES WHEN I?M IN REVERSE. I GOT MY TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. ONE DAY AFTER I STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AND ACCELERATED MY CAR CUT OFF WHILE I WAS ALREADY IN DRIVE AND I ALMOST GOT HIT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT IT FROM AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS CUTTING WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND HE SAID ALL HE COULD TELL ME WAS TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND HE DON'T REMEMBER SELLING ME NO CAR, WHEN I TOLD HIM HE DID AND HIS NAME IS EVEN ON MY PAPERWORK LISTED [XXX]. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC SHOP AND A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY MECHANIC SHOP AND NEITHER SHOPS COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. IN SEPTEMBER I CALLED THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURING OFFICE AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET PLACE. THEY LOOKED AT AND COULDN?T FIND ANYTHING AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T COMING ON BUT THEY TEST DROVE IT AND SEEN EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. THEY TRIED DOING AN INDUSTRIAL FLUSH AND IT DIDN'T WORK. THEY SUGGESTED MY ALTERNATOR BE REPLACED CAUSE IT WAS READING A 15, SERPENTINE BELT AND BELT TENSIONER BE REPLACED, I DID THAT AND TOOK IT TO AN AUTO MECHANIC SHOP SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE A WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM ISN'T FIXED AND IT STILL JERKS AND CUTS OFF TO THIS DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11270721

Nov 10, 2017SuspensionElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THESE ISSUES HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BOTH IN MOTION AND STILL.THE RIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS QUITE EXCESSIVELY. THE MALFUNCTION CAUSES THE REAR INDICATOR TO TURN OFF AND THE PEOPLE DRIVING BEHIND YOU CANNOT SEE YOU USING A TURN SIGNAL. ALSO THE SUSPENSION DOES NOT BRACE IMPACT OR ADJUST TO DIFFERENT TERRAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11045076

Working with the data? Download all 48 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 2016 Chevrolet Sonic verdict →