This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Chevrolet Sonic electrical problems
critical 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
1fire
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 31 electrical complaints filed for the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 31 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Electrical accounts for 27% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other diagnostic methods to identify them.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic describe a consistent electrical failure pattern: the engine stalls while driving, and simultaneously, doors unlock and relock, dashboard lights go dark or bright, and power steering and brakes lose assist. The vehicle sometimes restarts on its own from forward momentum, or the driver must shift to neutral and use the key. This happens at all speeds, worsens over time, and occurs especially when the AC runs. Replacing the battery or alternator does not stop the recurrence. Dealers cannot reproduce the fault and retrieve no diagnostic codes.
Owners also report secondary cascades: door locks cycling without input, the MyLink infotainment screen freezing, radio turning on and off without warning, and steering-wheel control buttons becoming unresponsive. Airbag warning lights illuminate without cause, and the passenger presence module fails to recognize occupants. Battery dead cells appear early (20K–40K miles), sometimes failing again within months. One owner witnessed both front headlights fail together; another's shift button popped out while driving. The security alarm sounds continuously despite all doors being closed.
Across 31 complaints, dealers consistently state they cannot recreate the failures, find no codes, and offer no fixes. No recalls address these issues.
Same Chevrolet Sonic electrical reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling with electrical cascades (door locks, dash lights)
Engine cuts out while driving or idling; simultaneously, door locks cycle, dashboard lights illuminate or go dark, power steering and brakes lose assist, RPM gauges fluctuate. Vehicle may restart on its own from forward momentum, or require manual restart via key and neutral shift. Happens at all speeds, increases in frequency over time, especially when AC is running.
When: Ongoing from September 2021 forward; occurs daily in some cases; at various speeds and during idle
Symptoms owners cite: Engine quits while driving or at idle; Doors unlock/relock simultaneously; Dash lights go on or off; Power steering fails; Power brakes fail; RPM gauge drops or races high; Vehicle requires manual restart or coasting restart; Occurs more frequently when AC is running
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to reproduce or retrieve codes; battery replacement does not permanently resolve issue; alternator replacement performed in at least one case but did not resolve issue
Door locks unlocking while driving
Door locks unlock spontaneously while vehicle is in motion, with or without relock. Occurs at varying speeds (20–50 mph). Owner reports pressing lock button to re-secure doors. Episodes increase in frequency. Some narratives report accompanying stall or dash light events; others report doors as isolated failure. No diagnostic codes retrieved.
When: Ongoing from 2015 onward; multiple incidents reported across 2022–2024
Symptoms owners cite: All doors unlock without driver input; Doors relock immediately or shortly after; Occurs at various speeds while driving
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealers unable to reproduce or code failure
MyLink/infotainment system failures
Radio/infotainment system malfunctions including unresponsive screen (freeze), audio volume control failure, radio turning on/off without warning, steering wheel control buttons inoperative, outdoor temperature display inoperative, and backup camera false warnings/gridlines inoperative. Errors often appear simultaneously without prior warning.
When: June 2024 (reported case); 67,600 miles onward; occurs after warranty expiration in some cases
Symptoms owners cite: Radio screen unresponsive/frozen; Radio powers on/off without warning; Steering wheel audio control buttons unresponsive; Outdoor ambient temperature reading inoperative; Backup camera gridlines inoperative; Backup camera warning displayed on non-equipped vehicle; Loud volume startup
Repairs/costs cited: Software updates recommended by dealer; no repairs completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Technical Service Bulletin 16-NA-347 referenced; vehicle excluded from NHTSA Campaign 16V422000 and 15V416000
Airbag system failures (SDM module/passenger presence)
Airbag warning light illuminates without cause; passenger presence module fails to recognize occupant or disables airbag unexpectedly during drive; SDM (Sensing and Diagnostic Module) reports error codes and requires software update or replacement. Failure codes: C0186, C0196, C0287.
When: At 39,940 miles and 80,000+ miles; appears independent of mileage threshold
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on dashboard; Passenger airbag disables with occupant present; Passenger airbag randomly disables during drive; No warning lamps or messages
Codes mentioned: C0186, C0196, C0287
Repairs/costs cited: SDM software update recommended; repair costs reported as ~$900 in one case; not completed in most reported instances
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Case number 8-3212344697 provided; vehicle not included in recall; manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA
Battery premature failure (dead cell)
Battery develops dead cell(s) early in service life, causing starter failure or loss of electrical power. Initial failure at low mileage (20K–37K miles). Replacement battery may fail again within months to years, or alternator replacement does not resolve charging issue.
When: First occurrence at 20,000–39,000 miles; recurrence within months to years
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle won't start; Battery has dead cell
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement ~$200; one case covered under warranty; alternator replacement also performed without resolving repeat issue
Dashboard dimming and brightness fluctuation
Speedometer and dashboard lights dim and brighten without cause or operator input, independent of ambient light or vehicle settings.
When: Unknown exact mileage; reported on vehicle with <70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard speed indicator dims and brightens randomly; No warning lamps
Automatic transmission shift button failures
Park/Drive/Reverse selector button sticks or pops out unexpectedly while driving or shifting. Button may break off entirely. Key cannot be removed when transmission won't engage park. Poses distraction and potential stranding risk.
When: Reported on vehicle with <70,000 miles; button popped while driving on July 17
Symptoms owners cite: Shift button sticks; Shift button pops out during drive; Shift button breaks off; Key cannot be removed; Transmission won't engage park
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not yet assessed by dealership or insurance
Ignition key retention / key left in ignition
Key seized in ignition, draining battery. Seatbelt chime and 'Key Left in Ignition' audible alerts inoperative or missing, preventing driver notification of key left in switch after engine off.
When: At 37,000 miles; ongoing from October 2015
Symptoms owners cite: Key ceases in ignition; Battery drained with key in ignition; Key Left in Ignition chime inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Battery and alternator replaced; failure recurred; multiple towing events required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 16V257000 referenced as possible solution; manufacturer notified
Horn and communication system failures
Horn disengaged or unresponsive; warning chimes absent (seatbelt reminder, key-in-ignition alerts); radio software malfunction. Communication/alert systems fail to function as designed.
When: At 167,000 miles and 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Horn inoperative; No warning chimes; Seatbelt reminder chime absent; Key-in-ignition chime absent; Radio software malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Radio software update recommended
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 16V422000 referenced; vehicles excluded from recall
Hazard light button and headlight failures
Hazard light button will not deactivate once pressed; both front headlights fail simultaneously after recent replacement; side mirror control switch inoperative.
When: Hazard button failure as of recent date; headlight failure 3 weeks after headlight replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Hazard light button stuck or won't deactivate; Both front headlights fail together; Side mirror switch inoperative
Ignition key overheating
Metal key shaft becomes hot on short drives and extremely hot on drives over 90 minutes. Heat level concerning to driver.
When: Reported on vehicle with unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Key warms on short drive; Key becomes hot on extended drives; Metal shaft of key hot to touch
Body Control Module failure
Body Control Module ceased functioning. Not covered under powertrain warranty.
When: Unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle electrical system inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Not covered under powertrain warranty
Engine no-start and rough idle / starting difficulty
Engine fails to crank or start on first or second key turn; requires multiple turns (third or fourth) to start; accompanied by loud rattling noise on startup. Check engine light remains on despite multiple repair attempts.
When: Ongoing over 3-year ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Engine won't turn over on first key turn; Loud rattling noise on startup; Check engine light on continuously; Engine may shut down while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple repair attempts; mechanics unable to identify root cause
Electrical surges and component interference (rain/high-beam trigger)
Driving in rain with high beams on triggers unintended electrical events: doors unlock, wipers turn off, RPMs race high, vehicle accelerates dangerously requiring steering correction, engine and radio shut off. Alternator, battery, and electrical system tested normal. Issue attributed to manufacturer computer system malfunction.
When: Reported date not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Doors unlock in rain with high beams on; Wipers turn off; RPMs race high; Vehicle accelerates unintended; Engine shuts off; Radio shuts off at random
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnostic check completed; alternator, battery, electrical systems tested normal
Vehicle security system alarm malfunction
Security alarm sounds continuously when doors are properly closed and vehicle is locked via remote key fob. Alarm triggers as if door is open or break-in occurring. Red security indicator light flashes brighter than normal. Resetting alarm with lock button does not stop alarm. All fuses checked normal.
When: As of October 28, 2015
Symptoms owners cite: Alarm sounds with all doors closed; False alarm trigger (sounds like door open or break-in); Red security light flashing brightly; Lock/unlock button doesn't silence alarm
Repairs/costs cited: Fuses checked; all normal
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet sonic. The contact stated that while the driver was driving at 50 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle and the vehicle engulfed in flames. The driver sustained fatal injuries and died on the scene. A police report was filed. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed and was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
There is a problem with the passenger presence module according to our mechanic. When an adult is seated in the passenger seat with the car turned on and stationary, sometimes, the airbag system does not turn on as if it does not recognize a person there. If the car is then put into drive, the airbag system still remains off. Other times, the air bag system will turn on at the beginning of the…
Vehicle alarm sounding. With all doors shut properly. I push the lock door control on the key 2x to enable the horn to sound indicating the vehicle is locked and secured with alarm as it should. As of 28 oct 2015 I do the same and now alarm is going off as if a door is open or someone is breaking in. All fuses have been checked and are good. Vehicle is parked in garage on level surface. Checked…
I have had this vehicle for three years now and no matter of the repairs I had done to it by machanics the check engind light continue to turn on and the vehicle has shut down on the road and I can't find out what the solution is. I am afraid to drive it.Also the mylink radio which has all the vehicle settings in it has malfunctioned. I cannot get to reset veichle settings. Vehicle will not turn…
Right Hand Steering Wheel Controls Inoperative, Outside Ambient Temperature Reading on Radio Display Inoperative, inoperative rear vision camera gridlines, and Onstar Menu Screen is Not Showing When Pressing Onstar Button. Inoperable radio steering wheel control buttons increase driver distraction risk in reaching for the radio display. Absence of rear camera gridlines reduce driver guidance in…
Had electrical trouble with your 2015 Chevrolet Sonic?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic?
It's a serious issue. 31 complaints have been filed, including 1 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 34,622 and 79,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 34,622; a quarter make it past 79,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Chevrolet/Sonic.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.