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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic is fairly new & is already showing an early trend of transmission problems.

Owners report hesitation when shifting & grinding/hard shifting into gears. Some dealers are calling the condition "normal". Another owner reported his dealership replaced the transmission under warranty, but the new transmission had the same exact grinding problem. Design defect?

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
18 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
13 / 1
Average Mileage:
68,855 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #34

May 042023

Sonic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving my 2012 chevrolet sonic on April 26 and was rear ended my seatbelt did not engage and I was injured. I was rushed to the hospital for a concussion and on may 4th I got dizzy from my concussion from the accident suffered on April 26 and lost control of my vehicle and struck a concrete barrier on i20 west then bounced of the barrier and struck the barrier yet again. My seatbelt never engaged and my airbags never deployed either time striking the barrier nor the prior accident.

- Trenton, SC, USA

problem #33

May 302020

Sonic

  • miles
I was experiencing issues with the transmission on my vehicle. I lost control and when it stop abruptly in a ditch after hitting a fallen limb of a tree the airbags did not deploy. Since this incident I have extreme pain in neck, dizziness, and weakness in both my arms. My vehicle is not listed as part of the recalls and the violent stop of my vehicle upon hitting the object was severe enough to snap both tierod ends yet airbags did not deploy. I have significant injuries as a result and a wrecked car that I feel was hard to control due to the problematic acceleration of transmission

- Willoughby, OH, USA

problem #32

Sep 082020

Sonic

  • 96,000 miles
I was driving and turning left into a plaza parking lot when another vehicle hit mine very hard as they were going really fast. They hit the front end of my vehicle completely damaging the grill, front bumper and all of the supports for them. Even though my car took a hard impact by another vehicle, the driver's side airbag did not deploy. I, as well as the cops that were on duty, were very concerned by this fact.

- Holiday, FL, USA

problem #31

Aug 052020

Sonic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine is running rough with no check engine light. Also air bag light is on with no collisions for it to appear.

- Sharon, PA, USA

problem #30

Mar 072019

Sonic

  • miles
The passenger side airbag light was going back and forth from on to off for a few weeks, as well as the airbag service light on he dash, now the light stays on the dash and the the airbag stays in the off position.

- Cullman, AL, USA

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problem #29

Nov 012018

Sonic 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owned a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. While reversing from a driveway and pulled forward at than 2 to 3 mph and hit an object, the air bags deployed when vehicle was still and consumer was injured. The failure impacted the contact's mouth, chin, and arms, and caused minor bruising to the body. Medical treatment was required. A dealer had not diagnosed the cause of the air bag deployment. The contact indicated that the deployment produced an odor and substance from the air bags. The insurance company towed the vehicle to a tow yard and declared it destroyed. The manufacturer indicated that there was no fault with the system concerning the edr box. The vehicle was not included in an air bag recall. The failure mileage was not available.

- Corvallis, OR, USA

problem #28

Feb 062019

Sonic

  • 93,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

***takata recall*** was involved in a car accident other car ran a stop sign & I tbone the other car @ about 25 mph & the air bags didnt deployed

- Wasco, CA, USA

problem #27

Jan 312018

Sonic

  • 129,000 miles
I was involved in a crash in which I was on the highway, traffic was congested due to another accident and construction. Me and the vehicle ahead of me were at a complete stop as was everyone else, when I was rear ended pretty forcefully and to the point that after slamming harder on my breaks, my vehicle was still shoved into the truck in front of me. My complaint is that my airbag never even deployed. I was struck pretty hard as well as shoved into the vehicle in front of me that crunched my car at both ends. I find this a serious safety hazard that my airbags did not protect me from if I would have hit the steering wheel.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #26

Feb 102017

Sonic

  • 85,560 miles
The contact owned a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. While the contact's husband was driving 35 mph in inclement weather, the condition went from rain to snow and the vehicle started to fishtail. The contact stated that the all terrain traction control system activated and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that her husband lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The driver's side frontal air bag and the passenger frontal air bag deployed; however, the driver's frontal air bag only partially deployed. The driver sustained a fractured sternum, a fractured hip, a fractured pelvis, and internal bleeding. The contact's husband died from his injuries. The passenger suffered a mild concussion, kidney failure, and burns from the seat belts and air bag deployment. The driver and passenger were transported by separate ambulances for medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent facility. A police report was filed. Lithia Chevrolet of redding (200 E cypress ave, redding, ca 96002, (530) 410-6002) was contacted as to what may have caused the vehicle to lose control. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 85,560.

- Westwood, CA, USA

problem #25

Sep 282017

Sonic

  • 50,000 miles
Airbag problems: About 1yr ago, had car looked at because passenger seat was not sensing occupants, airbag readiness light flashed on and off for few wks about 2 mths ago, now it's continuously on, was told airbags will not deploy in accident if passenger seat airbag sensor not replaced. Was also side swiped about 1yr ago going about 45 mph and no air bags deployed, have pics from accident but no police report filed

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #24

Sep 092015

Sonic

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My wife and I w'er hit by a person that ran a red light the car was tottled out with major front end damage no air bags deployed at all when the side air bags should have deployed but didnt causing my whole side and head smashing into the side driver door

- Big Bear Lake, CA, USA

problem #23

Jan 012017

Sonic

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. When the contact started the ignition, the front passenger side air bag off indicator illuminated when the passenger seat was occupied with an adult who weighed 145 pounds. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.

- Grants Pass, OR, USA

problem #22

Jan 132017

Sonic

  • 945,000 miles
My 2012 Chevrolet Sonic was involved in an automobile accident resulting in injury to me because my airbags did not deploy. There were several recall campaigns on the vehicle that did not come up under my VIN.campaign id 12V52200, campaign id 13V023000, campaign id14V315000, campaign id 14V317000 campaign id 11V599000, campaign id, 12V408000. I collided with a vehicle that had blew a stop sign as I proceeded through the intersection. My vehicle T-bone the other vehicle. My air bags did not deploy the other vehicles air bags did. My car has been service at modern Chevrolet university parkway in winston salem nc since purchasing the vehicle in Nov. 2012 from that dealership. The only recalls the dealership or GM has notified me about were only GM campaign id 12172 replace swaybar links and GM campaign ID12176. Vehicle was a total loss

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

problem #21

Jan 312016

Sonic 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
On 1/31/2016 a vehicle pulled out in front of me. The first and biggest issue was the airbag never went off and the seat belt tensioners did not lock the belts either. I went forward and hit my head on the steering wheel rendering me unconscious!!! almost the whole front end had to be replaced e.g.: grill and front panel, left and right front quarter panels, radiator, both wheel wells, suspension on both sides and everything that goes with those plus a whole lot of other things like the radiator, coolant and washer tanks etc. Etc.... this was a full-frontal wreck and not a single airbag went off!!! secondly are the ABS and traction control. The roads were a little slick so I had the tc on. When I hit my brakes all they did, have done since I bought the car, and continue to do to this day, is immediately lock up! I had zero control of my car. This car has, by far, the worst ABS system I have ever used. The tc is complete [xxx], too!!! thirdly, every time I start the car the engine seems to misfire or something! it rattles and shakes the whole car, hard!!! after a few seconds it seems to find it's groove and idles normally. I have brought the car in to the local Chevy dealership where I purchased the car to address these problems. All they tell me is they are design and/or manufacturing flaws. They said I can pay to fix these issues with my own money or wait and see if the issues become recalls. Which, according to my research, have not yet. To me, these are some pretty big safety issues the manufacturer should be addressing!!! and why aren't they"???" I have photos of the accident, but can't seem to find them anywhere. I'll come back if I find them. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Kingsford, MI, USA

problem #20

Jul 012016

Sonic

  • miles
The air bag warning light stays on. Started in June 2016, took it to Chevrolet dealership that I purchased my car from. They ran a computer diagnostic on the car and said that the sensor for the air bags needed to be replaced at about a cost of $500. Since I did not have the money to pay for it, they make it so the warning light was off and said that because of the bad sensor, the air bags may not deploy in an accident. The warning light had come on again. Since is not a normal "wear and tear" part on the vehicle, I feel I should not have to pay to have the issue fixed.

- Davenport, IA, USA

problem #19

Jul 032016

Sonic

  • 120,000 miles
Has burning smell of anti freeze and wires melting. Air bags don't work on front passenger side.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #18

Jul 192016

Sonic

  • 68,985 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. While driving at various speeds, the air bag warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V300000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,985.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #17

Sep 042015

Sonic

  • 14,990 miles
Air bag light on dashboard came on, intermittently at first, now permanently. There are three (3) air bag related recalls for 2012 Chevrolet Sonics which detail the same symptoms. Nearest Chevrolet dealer said this Sonic is not part of any of those recalls but the problem seems to be the same. Is there any recourse to have the car checked at no cost to owner? thank you.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #16

Jul 202015

Sonic

  • 72,000 miles
Air bag light will not go off - air bags will not deploy (per the mechanic). Took to our local dealership and was told the air bag module would not update and needed to be replaced at a cost of $750. How can a part that has never been used not be able to be updated without having to purchase a new one. I see all the recalls on this car / this model / this year regarding airbags. I think this is something that also needs to be addressed.

- La Vernia, TX, USA

problem #15

Oct 062012

Sonic

  • 12,361 miles
After purchasing my Chevy Sonic 2012, I went to get my first oil change 3 months later. And the engine light came on. I have gone back multiple times, and have been told that it was the gas cap which by the way had a recall on it. The light came back on a week later. Took it back they said that the one they replaced it with had a bad seal. They ordered the part replaced the cap. Drove for another two weeks and the engine light came back on. Took it back, this time they told me that the car needed a thermostat replacement done the light came back on again. Took it back this time, I was told that it was a air vent tube that was connected to the engine, which by the way is not covered under my power train, did that and yet again the light is back on. Now my radio goes on and off when it wants to. When I get up to go to work my battery is dead. They have also replaced the drivers air bag for some sort of recall. The windshield wipers was replaced as it also had a recall. I really want to trade this car in I am literary scared to drive it. Scared driver...........

- Maple Heights, OH, USA

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