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2012 Chevrolet Sonic

Car · 2012–2020

Which year to buy

Best betNo standoutNo year is clearly better than the rest Newest we'd buy2020The latest year rated a good buy AvoidNoneNo year stands out as bad Be careful2012–2013More problems; check the recalls were done

usual

’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20

Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.

2012CAREFULSerious complaints 2.1× usual, mostly power train and engine Extended coverage

295 serious complaints of 354, the most about power train (154) and engine (83); per car on the road, 2.1× this model's usual year. 7 recalls. NHTSA investigation EA21002: desiccated air bag inflator rupture. NHTSA investigation RQ13002: air bag non-deployment.

What owners report

“The contact owns a 2012 chevrolet sonic. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the vehicle would not shift to the correct gear causing the engine rpm to suddenly increase. Also, the contact mentioned that when the vehicle would come to a stop, the vehicle would accelerate independently.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the power train, Aug 2014

“The contact owns a 2012 chevrolet sonic. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, the check engine and traction warning indicators illuminated continuously. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter failed and needed to be replaced.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Feb 2016

Fixes and extended coverage

Extended coverage Some vehicles with the 1.4l engine may have an engine coolant leak from the water pump. 14371a - special coverage (revised warranty information). (G-208432, Jan 2015)
Extended coverage Some 2011-2014 model year chevrolet cruze vehicles and some 2012-2014 chevrolet sonic vehicles with the 1.4l engine may have an engine coolant leak from the water pump. 14371b - special coverage (labor code revised). (G-209375, Jan 2015)
Extended coverage On certain vehicles, a P0171 Fuel System Lean or P0101 Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Performance diagnostic trouble code may set as a result of a cracked air cleaner outlet duct. 16139 - Special Coverage. (GCUS-9-3731, Mar 2017)
Extended coverage Special Coverage - Certain 2014 model year Buick Encore, 2011 - 2014 model year Chevrolet Cruze, 2012 - 2014 model year Chevrolet Sonic, and 2014 model year Chevrolet TRAX vehicles, equipped with a 1.4L Engine (RPO LUJ or LUV), may have a condition where cracks can develop in the diaphragm of the… (N202299080, Jul 2020)
Repair program This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module. (PIT5236F, Aug 2015)

From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.

354 owner complaints · 7 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 28–32 mpg · NHTSA: 5 of 5 stars · 2012 trims and features

Every Sonic year's verdict →

Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.

Trims and features

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl turbo; 1.8L 4-cyl · Drive: FWD

2012 Sonic trims

	LS	LT	LTZ	Lvl2	Lvl3

base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Chevrolet reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Chevrolet aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.

Year by year

Year	Engines	Drive	Fuel economy	Crash rating	Recalls	Owner complaints	Most-reported problem	CarPlay
2020	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	FWD	29 mpg	5 of 5	0	10	Electrical system (6)	Yes
2019	1.4L 4-cyl turbo manual available	FWD	29–31 mpg	5 of 5	0	8	Unknown or other (3)	Yes
2018	1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available	FWD	28–32 mpg	5 of 5	1	14	Electrical system (5)	Yes
2017	1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available	FWD	28–32 mpg	5 of 5	0	37	Engine (19)	Yes
2016	1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available	FWD	28–32 mpg	5 of 5	2	48	Engine (13)	No
2015	1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available	FWD	28–32 mpg	5 of 5	3	114	Electrical system (34)	No
2014	1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available	FWD	28–32 mpg	5 of 5	4	150	Electrical system (49)	No
2013	1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available	FWD	28–32 mpg	5 of 5	6	217	Electrical system (56)	No
2012	1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available	FWD	28–32 mpg	5 of 5	7	354	Power train (154)	No

Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.

Apple lists CarPlay for: Sonic 2017–2025 (Apple).

Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints

Year	Version	Stars	Forward collision warning	Lane departure warning	Recalls	Complaints
2020	Chevrolet Sonic 5 HB FWD	5	Optional	Optional	0	10
2020	Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	0	10
2019	Chevrolet Sonic 5 HB FWD	5	Optional	Optional	0	8
2019	Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	0	8
2018	Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	1	14
2018	Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	1	14
2017	Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	0	37
2017	Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	0	37
2016	Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	2	48
2016	Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	2	48
2015	Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	3	114
2015	Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	3	114
2014	Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD	5	No	No	4	150
2014	Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD	5	No	No	4	150
2013	Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD	5	No	No	6	217
2013	Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD	5	No	No	6	217
2012	Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD	5	No	No	7	354
2012	Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD	5	No	No	7	354

Source: NHTSA.

Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg

Year	EPA model	Engines	Combined
2020	Sonic	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	29
2020	Sonic 5	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	29
2019	Sonic	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	29–31
2019	Sonic 5	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	29
2018	Sonic	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2018	Sonic 5	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2017	Sonic	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2017	Sonic 5	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2016	Sonic	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2016	Sonic 5	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2016	Sonic 5 RS	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	28–29
2016	Sonic RS	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	28–29
2015	Sonic	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2015	Sonic 5	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2015	Sonic 5 RS	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	28–29
2015	Sonic RS	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	28–29
2014	Sonic	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2014	Sonic 5	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2014	Sonic 5 RS	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	28–29
2014	Sonic RS	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	28–29
2013	Sonic	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2013	Sonic 5	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2013	Sonic RS	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo	28–29
2012	Sonic	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32
2012	Sonic 5	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L	28–32

Source: fueleconomy.gov.

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