2012 Chevrolet Sonic recalls (7)

Every 2012 Chevrolet Sonic recall

Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.

• Power Train · NHTSA 14V315000

  Dec 6, 2014Power Train:Automatic Transmission

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 14V315000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 14V300000

  Jun 6, 2014Air Bags

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 14V300000 →

• Equipment · NHTSA 14V417000

  Feb 7, 2014Equipment:Electrical

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 14V417000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 13V023000

  Jan 24, 2013Air Bags

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 13V023000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 12V522000

  Oct 31, 2012Air Bags

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 12V522000 →

• Visibility · NHTSA 12V408000

  Aug 20, 2012Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 12V408000 →

• Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA 11V599000

  Dec 28, 2011Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads

  Problem

  GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE FRONT BRAKE INNER OR OUTER PAD MAY BE MISSING.

  Risk

  A MISSING PAD COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

  Fix

  GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKES FOR A MISSING INNER OR OUTER PAD. IF A BRAKE PAD IS MISSING, DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW INNER AND OUTER PADS, A NEW BRAKE CALIPER, AND A NEW ROTOR. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 14, 2012

  Full recall details for 11V599000 →

2012 Chevrolet Sonic complaints and service bulletins

Owners filed 354 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, reporting 27 crashes, 5 fires, 18 injuries, 1 deaths. Chevrolet has issued at least 1,589 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.

Most-reported components

• Power Train154
• Engine83
• Electrical System59
• Unknown Or Other46
• Air Bags34
• Suspension19

Service bulletins by component

• Equipment (671)
• Electrical System (335)
• Engine and Engine Cooling (179)
• Power Train (145)
• Engine (135)
• Equipment Adaptive/Mobility (93)

Read Chevrolet Sonic owner complaints and bulletins, every year

NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in 2 investigations. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  EA21002Opened Sep 17, 2021Open
• Air Bag Non-deployment
  RQ13002Opened May 31, 2013Closed Jul 9, 2014

Other Chevrolet Sonic model years

2013 Chevrolet Sonic →

• 2018 (1)
• 2016 (2)
• 2015 (3)
• 2014 (4)
• 2013 (6)
• 2012 (7)

All Chevrolet Sonic recalls, every model year