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ProblemsByVin Index / 2016-CHEVROLET-SONIC / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2016 Chevrolet Sonic owner complaints

48 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 5 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

other 5 complaints shown

11/03/2020 47,000 mi ODI #11372897.0

My drivers side seat heater stopped working. I click the button, the light comes on, and then shuts right back off. I've tried turning the car on and back off and it still does the same thing.

10/24/2019 ODI #11270721.0

I purchased my car on march 9,2019. In may I took it to the dealership [xxx] in moultrie, georgia where I purchased the car from and no one looked at it, it just sat out there. When I'm at a traffic light too long my car will cut off occasionally and always hesitate when accelerating even sometimes when I?m in reverse. I got my transmission looked at and nothing was wrong with it. One day after I stopped at the stop sign and accelerated my car cut off while I was already in drive and I almost got hit. I called the dealership where I got it from and told them that it was cutting while in traffic and he said all he could tell me was to keep driving it and he don't remember selling me no car, when I told him he did and his name is even on my paperwork listed [xxx]. Took it to a local auto me

10/21/2019 35,000 mi ODI #11270010.0

Car shuts off and check engine light comes on, when it is being driven. Always when we have had rain. We have taken car to dealer and they cannot find the problem. Once we put heat in the gas tank it starts to drive until another rain hits.

10/18/2020 85,000 mi ODI #11365051.0

The car started sputtering every time I had to put gas in it then it wouldn't crank at all and we have been able to detremine that this fuel system issue has created an inability to keep the car running and every time we get it running it repeatedly cuts off till we rev it up multiple times and then it tries to cut off every time we stop at a light.

10/05/2018 16,700 mi ODI #11133435.0

The upper dash panel (closest to the windshield) has begun to melt. It has an obviously sticky or tacky feel to it at all times. The stickiness is most noticeable in the afternoon and evening on warm, sunny days. After sitting in the dark all night long, the stickiness is less prominent although still noticeable. This dash panel piece has begun to "sparkle" at night because it has hundreds of small, melted spots all over it. The same material used for this dash panel has also been used for the glove box drawer, part of the interior center console, and some of the interior door trim. The glove box has a very faint sticky feeling at times; none of the other areas have shown any obvious signs of melting. This seems logical because none of these other areas receive direct heat and sun

engine 4 complaints shown

8 total in this category · severe · avg repair $3,100 · see engine cluster analysis →
12/21/2021 38,000 mi ODI #11444626.0

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle began to stall inadvertently. The engine overheating warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she veered to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact's friend came on the scene and provided her with engine coolant, and she added the coolant to the vehicle. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the thermostat housing had melted and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic several times and the thermostat housing was replaced three times due to its plastic-based material.

11/20/2019 50,000 mi ODI #11281438.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet sonic. The contact stated that the valve cover gasket became defective, the check engine warning indicator persistently illuminated, and the turbo engine's fins were bent. The contact took the vehicle to two independent mechanics to be diagnosed. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

11/19/2018 ODI #11152527.0

Takata recall- the engine light is on I have taken it to auto shop they could not find any wrong took it to a Chevy dealer they cannot find anything wrong. But my car shakes and stalls on me. It's very frastrating spending on the vechile and one can find what's going on.

10/12/2018 72,000 mi ODI #11140045.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet sonic. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle overheated, stalled, and completely shut off. The vehicle was taken to jeff wyler dixie Chevrolet (5340 dixie hwy, louisville, ky 40216, (502) 448-2820) where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in a power train warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

electrical 3 complaints shown

11 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/26/2020 45,000 mi ODI #11384973.0

Turn signal indicators do not make sound when active

12/26/2018 56,000 mi ODI #11163479.0

As I was driving on a street, possibly two minutes after departing my home, is when I'd realized the air bag indicator light was illuminated. Everytime for the next three days, the warning light would illuminate as soon as the car turned on. It finally shut off after I went out to shop. It was illuminated on my way to the shops. I turned the car off, shopped and when I turned it back on, the light did not illuminate and has not since then. Now, it has been around two weeks since it turned off.

08/28/2023 ODI #11541262.0

My car lock and unlocks when I did not hit any buttons. The remote start does not work sometimes. The battery loses connection from time to time with a brand new battery. I own 2 of these cars and the same exact thing is happening. There needs to be a recall on this

airbags 3 complaints shown

7 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
11/06/2019 97,131 mi Crash ODI #11278369.0

Tl* the contact owned a 2016 Chevrolet sonic. While attempting to turn onto a neighborhood street in the rain, the vehicle hydroplaned and began to slide. The contact crashed into the front end of another vehicle that was idling at a stop sign. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The hood and front driver's side of the vehicle were damaged. The vehicle was towed to a collision shop by the contact's insurance company. The other driver sustained small cuts that did not require medical attention. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The cause of the failure was not determined. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 97,131.

10/30/2021 Crash ODI #11438724.0

Hello, I need you guys help. I got into a car wrecked which wasn’t my fault. The airbags they deployed and my child car seat was damage. I got a police report stating that the car accident wasn’t my fault and it’s the fault of a 16 year old. He merge straight into my Car and I have all these expeensives that I cannot pay for.

10/13/2020 2,000 mi Crash ODI #11364059.0

The airbag warning light keeps going on and off. This has been going on for approx 2 months.

cruise control 1 complaint shown

12/10/2021 Crash ODI #11443384.0

My vehicle malfunctioned Driving on my way to work entering a large parking area connected stores. I saw a available parking spot in between 2 cars I drove in the spot lined up car and put my car in park completely stopped.I looked to my right then to my left to be sure I wasn't to close to the other two vehicles then I opened my drivers door to check if I was within the line.I was just on the line.As soon as I shut the door the doors locked the engine roared so loud I thought it was going to explode then the safety belt latched on so tight pulled me back at same time the car plummeted forward extreme acceleration into a brick building. Instantly the bags deployed as I halted forward I put up my arms up panic knowing I was going into the bldg once impacted hit bldg I heard a loud screech

brakes 1 complaint shown

12/01/2017 32,847 mi Crash ODI #11051689.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet sonic. While pulling into a parking spot, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle accelerated. The vehicle drove over a concrete median and through bushes before coming to a complete stop. The contact sustained a thumb injury that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to auffenberg Chevrolet Buick GMC (830 valley creek dr, farmington, mo 63640), but the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 32,847.

suspension 1 complaint shown

3 total in this category · severe · avg repair $900 · see suspension cluster analysis →
11/10/2017 ODI #11045076.0

These issues happen while the vehicle is both in motion and still.the right indicator light malfunctions quite excessively. The malfunction causes the rear indicator to turn off and the people driving behind you cannot see you using a turn signal. Also the suspension does not brace impact or adjust to different terrain.

powertrain 1 complaint shown

3 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
11/08/2022 80,000 mi ODI #11492766.0

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact indicated that the RPMs increased but the vehicle would not accelerate as needed. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the cruise control would erroneously activate. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Showing 300 of 48 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Chevrolet/Sonic#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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