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2016 Chevrolet Sonic

Verified July 23, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
5
of 5 stars
Recalls
2
on record
MPG
30
combined

Open recalls on record

2 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.

Vehicle Summary

2016 Chevrolet Sonic

2 recalls
48 complaints
30 MPG combined
5/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Check all recalls are completed
Review consumer complaints
Verify no crash-related complaints
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
2
Owner complaints
48
Complaints citing a crash
8

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalised 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 We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

2 Recalls on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

2 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 16V422000high

    Electrical issue

    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."

  • 16V257000low

    Electrical issue

    EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."

Consumer complaints

48 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

48
Total
8
Crashes
1
Fires
6
Injuries

Most reported components

  • ENGINE15
  • AIR BAGS8
  • OTHER7
  • ELECTRICAL7
  • FUEL SYSTEM3

Notable Issues

48 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 6 reports involve injuries. 8 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)15
airbag concerns (warning light, deployment issues)8
miscellaneous issues7

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

36

Hwy

30

Comb

Annual cost
$2,000
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

NHTSA crash ratings

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Explore related

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 16V422000

    Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

  2. Recall

    Recall 16V257000

    Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.