Summary
The Chevrolet Sonic has 9 recalls spanning the 2012–2018 production run, with the most serious recent issue being a driver's seat-back frame with a weak weld on 2018 models that can fail in a rear-impact crash, raising the risk of injury to the driver.
On those same 2018 vehicles, a poorly welded joint means the seat structure may not hold during the impact that most directly loads it from behind. Stepping back to the 2014 model year, a steering column electrical connection can fail in a severe crash and limit the driver's frontal airbag to its first stage of deployment only, reducing the protection it provides. Also affecting 2013–2014 models, the front fuel tank strap bracket can separate from the vehicle, placing the full load on the remaining tank support and potentially letting the fuel tank drop free and leak. There is also a wiring issue on 2012–2014 models where a charging cord can develop exposed wires, creating a risk of electrical shock when the cord is handled while plugged in.
Going back to 2013, the body control module can fail to detect when a turn signal bulb has burned out and will not alert the driver, so the signal continues to operate silently while other road users receive no warning of a lane change or turn. On 2012 models, several separate issues appear: early production examples may be missing one or more front brake pads entirely, which substantially reduces braking ability; the windshield washer hose can separate from the reservoir, leaving the driver without washer fluid and reduced forward visibility; and 2012 vehicles with the 1.8-liter engine and six-speed automatic transmission can have a turbine shaft fracture that prevents the transmission from upshifting past second gear. Rounding out the recalls, 2015 models with the base radio and OnStar can experience a software lockup that blanks the display and disables all audio functions, which can cause the driver to leave the key in the ignition.
