2016 Chevrolet Sonic Problems, Recalls & Reliability
69 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 15/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports, typically around 57,500 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2016 sits among all Sonic years
What owners report
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 44 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 48,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 32,847 and 75,200 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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…
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…
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…
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…
Technical service bulletins
1,082 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
The 2016 Chevrolet Sonic drew 69 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 15/100, scored against the model's worst year (2012).
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Sonic problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic are engine (15 complaints), other (11), and electrical (11).
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Sonic problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Chevrolet Sonic problems around 48,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 32,847 and 75,200 miles.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.