Model year record

2015 Chevrolet Sonic recalls & problems

The 2015 Chevrolet Sonic has 3 safety recalls and 114 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (34 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints114filed by owners

Crashes · fires15 · 3reported in complaints

NHTSA overall5 ★crash-test stars

2015 Chevrolet Sonic in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Electrical systemJun 10, 2016

Software

Recall 16V42200018,780 vehicles

Problem: 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: 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.

Components: Electrical system › Software; Equipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.

Electrical systemApr 28, 2016

Software

Recall 16V257000317,572 vehicles

Problem: 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: 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.

Components: Electrical system › Software; Equipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.

EquipmentJun 30, 2015

Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.

Recall 15V41600045,785 vehicles

Problem: 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 key being left in ignition when the driver goes to exit the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 "Occupant Crash Protection", and 114 "Theft Protection."
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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2015 Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	12.6%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2015 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	12.6%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2015 Chevrolet Sonic NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

2015 Chevrolet Sonic NHTSA side pole crash test — NHTSA side pole crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Sonic

32mpg combined

City / highway	28 / 38 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.4 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,100/year to fuel

Sonic 5

32mpg combined

City / highway	28 / 38 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.4 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,100/year to fuel

Sonic

30mpg combined

City / highway	27 / 36 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel

Sonic 5

30mpg combined

City / highway	27 / 36 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel

Sonic RS

29mpg combined

City / highway	26 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.4 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,300/year to fuel

Sonic

29mpg combined

City / highway	26 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,300/year to fuel

Sonic 5 RS

29mpg combined

City / highway	26 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.4 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,300/year to fuel

Sonic 5

29mpg combined

City / highway	26 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,300/year to fuel

Sonic RS

28mpg combined

City / highway	25 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

Sonic 5 RS

28mpg combined

City / highway	25 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

Sonic

28mpg combined

City / highway	24 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

Sonic 5

28mpg combined

City / highway	24 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel; Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer	34	1	1	0	50,000 mi
Air bags	27	10	1	13	28,700 mi
Engine	23	0	0	0	38,500 mi
Unknown or other	22	1	0	4	30,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	12	0	0	0	19,890 mi
Power train	12	0	0	1	39,000 mi
Steering	6	2	1	0	37,500 mi
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	4	0	0	0	52,300 mi
Electronic stability control (esc)	4	0	0	0	10,969 mi
Service brakes	3	2	0	1	35,000 mi
Wheels	3	0	1	0	—
Exterior lighting	3	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
Passenger seat airbag shows that it is still off even when there is someone in the Passenger seat
Oct 18, 2023
Electrical system › Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer
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 15,073 miles. The Carfax report indicated that the odometer reading was reported in April 2024 at 60,700 miles. The dealer was made aware of the discrepancy but provided no assistance.
Mar 14, 2024 · 60,700 miles
Unknown or other
my recall is already completed, why on the your website still showing incompleted?
Jul 10, 2025
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
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 assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 115,000.
Mar 3, 2024 · 115,000 miles
Electrical system
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 get to reset veichle settings. Vehicle will not turn over on the first key turn. The engine turns over on the third or forth turn and when it dose there is a loud ratteling noise.
Aug 7, 2024
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 rear camera gridlines reduce driver guidance in reverse. Onstar menu not starting in case of need. Reported in existing GM Technical Service Bulletin 16-NA-347. [XXX] ) Related to completed Key Chime recall completed prior to October 10, 2016. Current vehicle codes were reviewed by Hendrick Chevrolet Buick GMC Southpoint, and no existing error…
Jun 1, 2024
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 all times due to many failures and demands of TCM.
Aug 29, 2024
Fuel/propulsion system
Stalls when reduced speed. CEL constant. Codes indicate Emission promlem. Cleared by replacing intake valve. CEL came back on.
Apr 4, 2024

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.