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exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (7)
Equipment: electrical
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 oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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 at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.
Power train: automatic transmission
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Air bags
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 bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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 is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.
Air bags
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Air bags
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer
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 will not be available to the windshield.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components, disc
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 14, 2012
Canadian recalls (8)
Show 8 Canadian recalls
Lights and instruments
2017-02-03 · campaign 2017-051
Certain vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. The headlamp high-beam lens is not marked with the bulb type, contrary to the requirements of the standard. Correction: An manufacturing change has been undertaken to prevent this non-compliance condition from continuing. No corrective recall action is required as the non-compliance condition is deemed to be non-safety related.
Airbag
2014-07-22 · campaign 2014-306
On certain vehicles, the primary stage of the driver’s airbag may not deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted). Failure of an airbag to deploy correctly could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil. Note: This is an expansion of recall 2012368.
Accessories
2014-07-03 · campaign 2014-274
On certain vehicles, insulation on the engine block heater power cord may become damaged if the cord is handled during very cold days (temperatures below -25C). This could create an electrical shock hazard, which could result in personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the block heater cord.
Powertrain
2014-06-12 · campaign 2014-229
On certain vehicles equipped with a 1.8L engine and 6 speed automatic transmission, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture, disabling transmission gears 3 through 6. If this were to occur while the transmission is in 1st or 2nd gear, the transmission would fail to up-shift past 2nd gear, limiting vehicle speed. If this were to occur while the transmission is in 3rd through 6th gear, motive power would be lost and the vehicle would coast until vehicle speed was reduced to allow the transmission to down-shift to 2nd gear. Limited vehicle speed or a loss of motive power could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the transmission turbine shaft.
Airbag
2014-06-06 · campaign 2014-213
On certain vehicles, the primary or secondary stage of the driver’s airbag may not deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted). Failure of an airbag to deploy correctly could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil. Note: This recall is superseded by recall 2014306.
Airbag
2012-10-30 · campaign 2012-368
On certain vehicles, the primary stage of the driver’s airbag may not deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted). Failure of an airbag to deploy correctly could increase the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant. Correction: Dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil.
Visual system
2012-08-17 · campaign 2012-283
On certain units, the windshield washer hose may separate from the washer fluid reservoir. If this occurs, washer fluid will not be available to clean the windshield. This could impede the driver's visibility, possibly causing a crash resulting in property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will secure the windshield washer hose.
Brakes
2011-12-23 · campaign 2011-440
On certain vehicles, the front brake inner and/or outer pads may have been omitted during vehicle assembly. This could increase stopping distances, possibly resulting in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect the front brakes and, as necessary, install brake pads, and replace the calipers and rotors.
Owner complaints (354)
Owners filed 354 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic (27 crashes, 5 fires, 18 injuries, 1 deaths reported). Among 10 model years of this model, it ranks #1 for the most complaints (median 48).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Power train | 154 | |
| Engine | 83 | |
| Electrical system | 59 | |
| Unknown or other | 46 | |
| Air bags | 34 | |
| Suspension | 19 | |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 16 | |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ |
| 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2012 Chevrolet Sonic version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Sonic 1.4 L Manual 6-spd | 28 | 38 | 32 | $2,100 |
| Sonic 1.4 L Automatic (S6) | 27 | 36 | 30 | $2,250 |
| Sonic 1.8 L Automatic (S6) | 24 | 34 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Sonic 1.8 L Manual 5-spd | 26 | 34 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Sonic 5 1.4 L Manual 6-spd | 28 | 38 | 32 | $2,100 |
| Sonic 5 1.4 L Automatic (S6) | 27 | 36 | 30 | $2,250 |
| Sonic 5 1.8 L Automatic (S6) | 24 | 34 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Sonic 5 1.8 L Manual 5-spd | 26 | 34 | 29 | $2,300 |
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Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.