There are 8 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonicin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I NOTICED THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS NOT CLOSING COMPLETELY. UPON INSPECTION I SAW THE DOOR LATCH POST THAT IS SCREWED ONTO THE BODY WAS LOOSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE DOOR DOES NOT STAY CLOSED DURING DRIVING AND ALSO A BODY INTEGRITY ISSUE SHOULD WATER ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DOOR.
THE CHROME ON THE FRONT INSIDE DOOR HANDLES IS PEELING. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO SLICE MY FINGERS OPEN ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.
FRONT SEAT RIGHT AND LEFT DOOR HANDLES , CHROME COVERING SPLIT CAUSING SHARP EDGE RESULTING CUT HAND FOR DRIVER.
TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING AND I TRIED TO BRAKE AT AN INTERSECTION DUE TO A RED LIGHT AND THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE PAD GOT STIFF AND IT DIDN'T ALLOW ME TO BRAKE, I HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME .
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW. PAINT STARTED TO LOOSE SHINE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO ( I PERSONALLY WASH THE VEHICLE WITH PROPERLY CARS WASH SOUP). TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T COVER UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. COST OVER $400.00. CHECK ENGINE ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND TWO HOSES DAMAGED AND THERMOSTAT LEAKING.
AS THE ONLY DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, I AM MAD THAT MY DOOR MALFUNCTIONED. *TR
ON JUNE 19, 2013, AFTER PICKING UP MY 5 YR OLD GRANDSON FROM SUMMER CAMP, WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO THE PARK. I AM DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY GRANDSON OPENS THE DOOR! WHILE THE LOCKS ENGAGE WHEN PUT INTO GEAR, HE WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR! NEEDLESS TO SAY, I FLIPPED OUT! THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN! MY DOORS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LOCKED!!! I FIND THIS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR ANYONE, ANY AGE! MY CAR DOES HAVE CHILD LOCKS, BUT WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO TURN THEM ON EVERY TIME SOMEONE GETS IN MY CAR WHEN MY LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WHEN PUT IN GEAR!!!!!?????????? CHEVROLET HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE MAKE OF A VEHICLE AND THAT IS WHY I CHOSE TO BUY ONE. PLUS, THE SONIC WAS A WISE CHOICE FOR ME AT THE TIME BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING 60-75 MILES A DAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND HOME. THEN MORE TRAVELING ON THE WEEKENDS TO MOBILE, AL TO VISIT FAMILY. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, PLEASE MARK MY WORD, THAT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY AGAIN, AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE ELSE DOES AS WELL. I WILL CONTACT MY LOCAL NEWS STATION AND HIRE AN ATTORNEY, IF I HAVE TO, MAKE CHEVY IMPROVE MY VEHICLE OR GIVE ME SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS SAFER FOR MY FAMILY! WHAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO MY GRANDSON? THEN WHAT? WHAT IF IT WERE YOU AND YOUR GRANDBABY OR SON OR DAUGHTER? YOU BEST BETTER BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST LAWSUIT ON YOUR HANDS THAT YOU'VE EVER HAD TO WITNESS!!! AND I GUARANTEE THAT YOU STILL WILL HAVE ONE, IF THEY DON?T MAKE THIS RIGHT! I AM NOT ASKING FOR MONEY (THAT?S NOT WHAT I?M ABOUT), BUT SIMPLY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS SAFER THAN THE CHEVY SONIC AND TO MAKE ALL CHEVY SONICS SAFER!!!! I AM APPALLED THAT CHEVY WOULD MAKE A VEHICLE THAT IS SO UNSAFE! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED POORLY AND POSITIONED TO CLOSE TO THE GROUND. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD RUB THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO SPECIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 491.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026