Chevrolet Sonic, representative photo
Representative model. Photo: Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2012 Chevrolet Sonic recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2012 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns
7
Park-it warnings
0
Complaints
354
Latest campaign
Jul 2, 2014

Recall summary by component7

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h
ComponentCampaignsLatestCampaign IDs
Air bags3Jun 6, 2014
14V30000013V02300012V522000
Equipment1Jul 2, 2014
14V417000
Power train1Jun 12, 2014
14V315000
Visibility1Aug 20, 2012
12V408000
Service brakes, hydraulic1Dec 28, 2011
11V599000

Safety recalls7

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h
0Park-it warnings
0Fixable over the air
Jul 2, 2014Latest campaign
Jul 2, 201414V417000

Equipment: electrical

Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

DetailsHide details for campaign 14V417000
What's wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.
Risk
Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.
Campaign
NHTSA 14V417000 · Jul 2, 2014
Jun 12, 201414V315000

Power train: automatic transmission

If the transmission turbine shaft fracture occurs during vehicle operation in first or second gear, the vehicle will not upshift to the third through sixth gears,…

DetailsHide details for campaign 14V315000
What's wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, to June 29, 2012, and equipped with a 6 speed automatic transmission and 1.8L four cylinder engine. In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.
Risk
If the transmission turbine shaft fracture occurs during vehicle operation in first or second gear, the vehicle will not upshift to the third through sixth gears, limiting the vehicle's speed. If the fracture occurs during operation in third through sixth gear, the vehicle will coast until it slows enough to downshift to first or second gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission turbine shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14234.
Campaign
NHTSA 14V315000 · Jun 12, 2014
Jun 6, 201414V300000

Air bags

If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy,…

DetailsHide details for campaign 14V300000
What's wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Risk
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.
Campaign
NHTSA 14V300000 · Jun 6, 2014
Jan 24, 201313V023000

Air bags

If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy,…

DetailsHide details for campaign 13V023000
What's wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Risk
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Campaign
NHTSA 13V023000 · Jan 24, 2013
Oct 31, 201212V522000

Air bags

If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy,…

DetailsHide details for campaign 12V522000
What's wrong
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Risk
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Campaign
NHTSA 12V522000 · Oct 31, 2012
Aug 20, 201212V408000

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer

A lack of washer fluid could impede the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 12V408000
What's wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 5, 2011, through February 24, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." The windshield wiper washer hose on these vehicles may separate from the washer fluid reservoir. If this occurs, washer fluid will not be available to the windshield.
Risk
A lack of washer fluid could impede the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will secure the windshield washer hose to prevent separation, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
Campaign
NHTSA 12V408000 · Aug 20, 2012
To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Chevrolet recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component354

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h
354Complaints filed
27Involving a crash
5Involving a fire
18Injuries reported · 1 death
ComponentShareComplaints%CrashesFiresInjuries
Power train15444302
Engine8323232
Electrical system5917313
Unknown or other4613010
Air bags341018013
Suspension195101
Service brakes175502
Vehicle speed control165100
Fuel/propulsion system165000
Steering144201
Structure123214
Visibility/wiper113000
Electronic stability control (ESC)93303
Exterior lighting62110
Visibility51000

11 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

  • Structure

    “I purchased a 2012 Chevy Sonic with 65k miles on it from Carvibe LLC earlier this month.”

    Filed 08/20/2026 · ODI 11758358
  • Power train

    “The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that on several occasions, while coming to a stop, the vehicle unexpectedly remained in second gear. There were no warning lights illuminated.”

    Filed 02/25/2026 · ODI 11720417
  • Power train

    “Transmission shaft malfunction. Doesn't shift out of 1st gear. Transmission does not engage into gear.”

    Filed 02/02/2026 · ODI 11715161

Other Chevrolet Sonic model years

All years: 2020 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012

Other Chevrolet models

All Chevrolet models and years →

2012 Chevrolet Sonic recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic have?

NHTSA lists 7 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. The most recent, 14V417000 (reported July 2, 2014), concerns equipment. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic recalls for?

The largest group is air bags, with 3 campaigns. Others: equipment (1), power train (1), visibility (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?

Power train is the most-reported component, named in 154 complaints out of 354 filed with NHTSA (44%). Across all complaints, owners reported 27 crashs and 5 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Chevrolet recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Chevrolet dealer.

Check a specific Chevrolet by VIN

0/17
Free · No signup · US-market vehicles, 1981+

Need the factory options too? See the Chevrolet build sheet & window sticker guide.