- Safety
- 5
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 1
- on record
- MPG
- 30
- combined
Open recalls on record
1 safety recall. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.
Vehicle Summary
2018 Chevrolet Sonic
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 1
- Owner complaints
- 14
- Complaints citing a crash
- 0
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
1 Recall on Record
These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.
Safety recalls
1 NHTSA campaign affecting this model year.
- 18V342000high
Safety restraint issue
SEATS
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. A joint in the driver's seat-back frame may not be properly welded, reducing the strength of the seat-back frame.
Consequence
In the event of a rear-impact crash, the seat-back may fail, increasing the risk of injury.
Full campaign recordRemedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat-back, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18178.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 5 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 12.6%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic 5 out of 5 stars overall, level with the 5-star median for the 7 comparable 2018 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 12.6% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
27
City
35
Hwy
30
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $2,050
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 296 g/mi
How this compares
At 30 MPG combined, the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic ranks 7th of 18 compact cars EPA rated for 2018 — 1.5 MPG better than the 28.5 MPG median for that group.
That places it a little above the middle of its class. Fuel cost is close enough to its rivals that other running costs will probably matter more.
EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $2,050, $200 less than the $2,250 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $10,250, a $1,000 difference against a class-median vehicle.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 296 grams per mile — about 4.4 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
Consumer complaints
14 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 14
- Total
- 0
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
Most reported components
- ENGINE3
- SEAT BELTS2
- ELECTRICAL2
- OTHER1
- AIR BAGS1
Normal Range
14 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic, newest first.
- Recall
In the event of a rear-impact crash, the seat-back may fail, increasing the risk of injury.
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- Compact Cars
- Drive type
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 1.4L 4-cyl
- Fuel type
- Unknown
- Transmission
- Automatic (S6)
- Seats
- 0
Fuel economy
27
City
35
Hwy
30
Comb
- Annual cost
- $2,050
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Systems recalled
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Recall
In the event of a rear-impact crash, the seat-back may fail, increasing the risk of injury.