2012 CHEVROLET SONIC — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
518
Owner Complaints
7
Recalls
118
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC
The 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC has received a total of 518 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 7 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS. 118 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Train (150 complaints), Engine (82 complaints), and Electrical System (56 complaints).
Recalls for the 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC
NHTSA has recorded 7 recalls for the 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC, potentially affecting up to 112,157 vehicles.
Recall 14V417000 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
| 2,990 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix...
Consequence: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service...
View full details →Recall 14V315000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
| 21,567 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, to June 29, 2012, and equipped with a 6 speed automatic transmission and 1.8L four cylinder engine. In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.
Consequence: If the transmission turbine shaft fracture occurs during vehicle operation in first or second gear, the vehicle will not upshift to the third through sixth gears, limiting the vehicle's speed. If the fracture occurs during operation in third through sixth gear, the vehicle will coast until it slows enough to downshift to first or second gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission turbine shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14234.
View full details →Recall 14V300000 — AIR BAGS
| 31,520 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air...
Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This...
View full details →Recall 13V023000 — AIR BAGS
| 4,167 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
View full details →Recall 12V522000 — AIR BAGS
| 2,949 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
View full details →Recall 12V408000 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
| 44,668 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 5, 2011, through February 24, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." The windshield wiper washer hose on these vehicles may separate from the washer fluid reservoir. If this occurs, washer fluid...
Consequence: A lack of washer fluid could impede the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will secure the windshield washer hose to prevent separation, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
View full details →Recall 11V599000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
| 4,296 vehicles affected
Defect: GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE FRONT BRAKE INNER OR OUTER PAD MAY BE MISSING.
Consequence: A MISSING PAD COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKES FOR A MISSING INNER OR OUTER PAD. IF A BRAKE PAD IS MISSING, DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW INNER AND OUTER PADS, A NEW BRAKE CALIPER, AND A NEW ROTOR....
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC
518 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Transmission shaft malfunction. Doesn't shift out of 1st gear. Transmission does not engage into gear.
Reviving the p2138 code for throttle/accelerator sensor. Still getting code after replacing 3 accelerator peddles. Possible manufacture issue with wiring that water gets into connectors shorting out that system
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
Safety Rating for the 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC
The 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC
General Motors, LLC has issued 118 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
N202299080 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Special Coverage - Certain 2014 model year Buick Encore, 2011 - 2014 model year Chevrolet Cruze, 2012 - 2014 model year Chevrolet Sonic, and 2014 model year Chevrolet TRAX vehicles, equipped with a 1.4L Engine (RPO LUJ or LUV), may have a condition where cracks can develop in the diaphragm...
PIP5540E — ENGINE
This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the need to inspect the induction system for potential icing issues in very cold ambient temperatures. To allow the ice to melt so that it can be drained from the related components. That any of the listed DTC's may set with or without...
PIP5495E — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a Malfunction Indicator Lamp on. The technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0299 or P0234 set. The technician is provided with a list of causes of misdiagnosis leading to returned Turbochargers with no trouble found.The purpose...
PIC5650C — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable...
PIP5353C — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a rough idle or misfire. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code P0300 set in the Engine Control Module. Technician will need to utilize engine controls schematics to compare the Fuel Injector Control Circuit wire colors to...
PI1166D — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This preliminary information bulletin provides a information on vehicles that are slow to heat up in cold temperatures.
PIP5353A — ENGINE
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a rough idle or misfire. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code P0300 set in the Engine Control Module. Technician will need to utilize engine controls schematics to compare the Fuel Injector Control Circuit wire colors to...
16-NA-158 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This informational bulletin provides information on a new U.S. dealer special tool loan program.
PI1086A — EQUIPMENT
Shifter handle knob cracked and/or will not operate while shifting out of park
PI1164B — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Shifter Handle Knob Cracked and/or Will Not Operate While Shifting Out of Park Some customers may comment on the shifter handle knob being cracked and/or will not operate while shifting out of Park. This condition may occur if the chrome knob on the shifter handle cracks, not allowing the shifter...
Showing 10 of 118 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the CHEVROLET SONIC
- 2011 CHEVROLET SONIC — 1 complaint
- 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC (current)
- 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC — 322 complaints
- 2014 CHEVROLET SONIC — 226 complaints
- 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC — 170 complaints
- 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC — 69 complaints
- 2017 CHEVROLET SONIC — 57 complaints
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