2015 CHEVROLET SONIC — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
170
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
19
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC
The 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC has received a total of 170 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 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.. 19 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (32 complaints), Air Bags (26 complaints), and Engine (23 complaints).
Recalls for the 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC, potentially affecting up to 718,489 vehicles.
Recall 16V422000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
| 18,780 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail...
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
View full details →Recall 16V422000 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
| 18,780 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail...
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
View full details →Recall 16V257000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
| 317,572 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to...
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.
View full details →Recall 16V257000 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
| 317,572 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to...
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.
View full details →Recall 15V416000 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
| 45,785 vehicles affected
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 20, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured June 18, 2014, to June 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, equipped with the base radio and OnStar, the radio may lock up due to a software issue, causing the display to go...
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft. If a driver or front passenger does not buckle their seat belt, there would be no chime to remind them to fasten their seat belts. If a driver or passenger does not buckle their seat belt there is an increased risk that they will be injured in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15504.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC
170 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact purchased the vehicle from a dealer in March 2024. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the odometer at 60,000, and the advertisement stated 60,000. The contact recently acquired the Carfax report, which indicated that in April 2015, the odometer reading was 15,073 miles. The Carfax report indicated that the odometer reading was reported in April 2024 at 60,700 miles. The dealer was made aware of the discrepancy but provided no assistance.
my recall is already completed, why on the your website still showing incompleted?
my recall is already completed, why on the your website still showing incompleted?
my recall is already completed, why on the your website still showing incompleted?
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the catalytic converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 115,000.
Safety Rating for the 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC
The 2015 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 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC
General Motors, LLC has issued 19 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
PI0281K — STRUCTURE
This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel which may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
PIC5704F — SERVICE BRAKES
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that had the Brake Pressure Modulator Valve now Diagnostic Trouble Code C0131 is set current. Technician should remove Brake Pressure Modulator Valve assembly and inspect the brake pressure sensor assembly to ensure all shipping material has been removed before...
16-NA-118 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to complete a wire to wire repair on the engine wire harness to correct a condition of no start, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) ON, and possible loss of steering assist.
PI1284A — BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
This preliminary information bulletin provides information to the customer that the rear vision camera only shows 3/4 of the radio display screen and is a normal characteristic in which no parts are to be replaced for this condition.
16-NA-347 — BACK OVER PREVENTION: CAMERA SYSTEM
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the radio to correct a condition of Right Hand Steering Wheel Controls Inoperative, Outside Ambient Temperature Reading on Radio Display Inoperative, and/or Rear Vision Camera Gridlines Inoperative after Performing 17130 or 45340 Radio Reprogramming due to an internal calibration concern.
16NA118 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO COMPLETE A WIRE TO WIRE REPAIR ON THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF NO START, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON, AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST.
16NA118 — ENGINE
THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO COMPLETE A WIRE TO WIRE REPAIR ON THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF NO START, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON, AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST.
16NA028 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN ADDS A MEXICO BUILT VIN DESIGNATION TO A DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR PROCEDURE TO CORRECT A CUSTOMER CONCERN THAT THE A/C IS NOT GETTING COLD ENOUGH, OR IS BLOWING WARM AIR.
PIP-3140-G — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION ADVISES THE TECHNICIAN THAT A NOISE OR A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO BE ABNORMAL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. TECHNICIAN SHOULD LOOK FOR NON - GENERAL MOTORS AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE THAT CAN CAUSE THESE ISSUES.
SB-16-NA-117 — EQUIPMENT
THIS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE PURPOSE OF MAGNETIC DRAIN PLUGS.
Showing 10 of 19 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2015 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 — 518 complaints
- 2013 CHEVROLET SONIC — 322 complaints
- 2014 CHEVROLET SONIC — 226 complaints
- 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC (current)
- 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC — 69 complaints
- 2017 CHEVROLET SONIC — 57 complaints
- 2018 CHEVROLET SONIC — 23 complaints
- 2019 CHEVROLET SONIC — 10 complaints
- 2020 CHEVROLET SONIC — 15 complaints
Other CHEVROLET Models
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- CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 — 22,175 total complaints
- CHEVROLET IMPALA — 15,197 total complaints
- CHEVROLET TAHOE — 12,511 total complaints
- CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 12,135 total complaints
- CHEVROLET BLAZER — 11,032 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SILVERADO — 10,928 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SUBURBAN — 10,375 total complaints