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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 (2)
Electrical system: software
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 Protection."
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Electrical system: software
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 "Theft Protection."
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Canadian recalls (2)
Show 2 Canadian recalls
Electrical
2016-06-08 · campaign 2016-292
Certain vehicles equipped with a "Bring Your Own Media" (BYOM) radio may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Protection and CMVSS 208 - Occupant Protection in Frontal Impacts. The radio software may fail to provide an audible warning/reminder chime that meets the requirements of the standard when the key is left in the ignition and the driver door is opened, or when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt. This can sometimes occur when the driver turns the ignition off with the headlamp or hazard warning flashers on and then restarts the vehicle while the radio is going through the “sleep” sequence. The loss of an audible warning when a key is left in the ignition may increase the risk of vehicle theft, and may fail to alert the driver that he or she is unbelted, increasing the risk of injury to the driver in a crash. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the radio with corrected operating software. Note: This recall involves vehicles that were previously repaired under recall 2016-191 that now require re-inspection and repair.
Electrical
2016-04-28 · campaign 2016-191
Certain vehicles equipped with a "Bring Your Own Media" (BYOM) radio may fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Protection. The radio software may fail to provide an audible warning/reminder chime that meets the requirements of the standard if the ignition key is left in the off position and the driver delays opening the driver’s door for more than 10 minutes, or opens and closes the door several times. The loss of an audible warning when a key is left in the ignition may increase the risk of vehicle theft. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the radio with corrected operating software.
Owner complaints (48)
Owners filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic (8 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries reported). Among 10 model years of this model, it ranks #5 for the most complaints (median 48).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Engine | 13 | |
| Electrical system | 11 | |
| Unknown or other | 8 | |
| Air bags | 8 | |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | |
| Suspension | 3 | |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 3 | |
| Power train | 3 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2016 Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ |
| 2016 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2016 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 |
| Sonic 5 RS 1.4 L Manual 6-spd | 26 | 33 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Sonic 5 RS 1.4 L Automatic (S6) | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Sonic RS 1.4 L Manual 6-spd | 26 | 33 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Sonic RS 1.4 L Automatic (S6) | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,400 |
Need this data in your app?
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.