2015 Chevrolet Sonic problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (19) · Electrical System (12) · Engine (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Sonic model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
79 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Electrical System:software 2016-06-10 · campaign 16V422000 · 18,780 vehicles
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 to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protect
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:software 2016-04-28 · campaign 16V257000 · 317,572 vehicles
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 open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:electrical:radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. 2015-06-30 · campaign 15V416000 · 45,785 vehicles
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 blank and all audio functions to cease. Because of this, there may be no warning chimes such as the reminder to buckle the seat belt and the
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (1,331)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-21 · PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pi to help diagnose a/c concern
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,331 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-23 · Air Bags“passenger seat airbag shows that it is still off even when there is someone in the passenger seat…”
2025-09-29 · Electrical System:instrument Panel:speedometer/Odometer · 60,700 mi“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,…”
2025-07-10 · Wheels“my recall is already completed, why on the your website still showing incompleted?…”
2025-02-03 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor · 115,000 mi“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 ass…”
2024-10-27 · Unknown Or Other“ i have had this vehicle for three years now and no matter of the repairs i had done to it by machanics the check engind light continue to turn on and the vehicle has shut down on the road and i can't find out what the solution is. i am afraid to drive it.also the mylink radio which has all the vehicle settings in it has malfunctioned. i cannot ge…”
2024-10-16 · Electrical System“right hand steering wheel controls inoperative, outside ambient temperature reading on radio display inoperative, inoperative rear vision camera gridlines, and onstar menu screen is not showing when pressing onstar button. inoperable radio steering wheel control buttons increase driver distraction risk in reaching for the radio display. absence of…”
2024-09-26 · Power Train“code u0101 is set. unable to communicate with tcm. troubleshooted and found tcm is bad. removed necessary components for tcm replacement. removed the tcm/valve body assembly and replaced. replaced necessary gaskets and reinstalled necessary components. set transmission fluid level to specifications per procedure. dealer advised they stock 3 tcm at…”
2024-08-21 · Fuel/Propulsion System“stalls when reduced speed. cel constant. codes indicate emission promlem. cleared by replacing intake valve. cel came back on. …”
2024-07-03 · Air Bags“the air bags deployed while the vehicle was in motion. no collision or impact occurred. …”
2024-03-19 · Engine · 117,000 mi“the contact owns a 2015 chevrolet sonic. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. the traction control and check engine warning lights …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.