U.S. public vehicle records

2015 Chevrolet SONIC problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

114 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

35,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 114 complaints (28.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	12	10.5%
Braking behavior	11	9.6%
Transmission and shifting	9	7.9%
Electrical and battery issues	9	7.9%
Engine operation	6	5.3%
Fuel system concerns	2	1.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System

Air Bags

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Fuel/Propulsion System

Power Train

Steering

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Electrical System: 32; Air Bags: 27; Engine: 23; Unknown Or Other: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Power Train: 12; Steering: 6; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 35 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2015: 9; 2016: 17; 2017: 12; 2018: 12; 2019: 16; 2020: 11; 2021: 8; 2022: 12; 2023: 6; 2024: 7; 2025: 3; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10704189 · 2015-04-07 (April 7, 2015)

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING STRAIGHT IN A 2015 CHEVROLET SONIC LT AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER OF A 2002 TOYOTA COROLLA MADE A LEFT HAND TURN CAUSING A COLLISION. SIMPLY PUT WE T BONED THE OTHER VEHICLE. 2015 CHEVY SONICS ARE EQUIPPED WITH WEIGHT SENSING RESTRAINT SYSTEMS. I WAS THE PASSENGER AND WEIGH APPROXIMATELY 142 LBS. BOTH DRIVER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, KNEE AND STEERING WHEEL. THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. ALMOST ALL OF THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT END PASSENGER SIDE. TOTAL MILEAGE AT TIME OF COLLISION…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,191 miles reported. Look up ODI 10704189 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10746253 · 2015-08-04 (August 4, 2015)

WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER TO RIGHT YOU FIGHT STEERING AND THEN CAR GOES TO LEFT HARD AND IT CROSSES CENTER LINE. I FEEL FOR THE SAFETY OF THE OWNER AND OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY THIS NEEDS ADDRESSED AND FIXED

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10746253 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10811722 · 2015-12-22 (December 22, 2015)

THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. THE ABS BRAKES DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE ALSO HAS ISSUES. THE BRAKES HAS CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS THUS FAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION SEVERAL TIMES WITH REPAIRS AT NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK AND CAUSED TWO REAR END ACCIDENTS.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811722 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10870766 · 2016-05-25 (May 25, 2016)

I WAS DRIVING A 2015 SONIC DEALERSHIP CAR BECAUSE MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR THE WEEKEND, A CAR WAS ABOUT TO HIT ME AND ALL DID WAS I STEPPED ON BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND RAN ME INTO A POLE. I HAD JUST TURNED THE CORNER, THE WEATHER WAS GREAT, I WAS ONLY GOING 15 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870766 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10874137 · 2016-06-14 (June 14, 2016)

THE SHIFTING GEAR GETS STUCK, AND IT CANNOT BE MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. TO MOVE THE GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND HAVE TO USE A LOT OF STRENGTH TO MAKE THE GEAR CHANGE. BUT SOMETIMES IT GETS SO STUCK I HAVE TO WAIT TO MAKE THE CHANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS TURN OFF I HAVE TO WAIT 2-3 MINUTES TO REMOVE THE KEY. THIS HAPPENS ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE.

Owner-reported narrative. 370 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874137 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11161813 · 2018-12-16 (December 16, 2018)

SHIFTER KNOB BUTTON STICKING. THE BUTTON STICKS TO WHERE THE CAR CAN BE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR. IT CAUSES A PROBLEM TO WHERE YOU CAN NOT PULL KEY OUT OF IGNITION WITH BUTTON STUCK IN

Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 11161813 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11041131 · 2017-10-30 (October 30, 2017)

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 WITH BOTH CAR KEYS TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T A KEY ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE RED SIGNAL LIGHT IN THE CAR INDICATING ALARM IS ON FLASHES MORE BRIGHTLY THAN USUA…

Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11041131 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11174939 · 2019-02-07 (February 7, 2019)

JUNE 2015 THE DEALER SWITCHED CARS WHEN WE REFUSED THE OPTIONS AT THE CLOSING OF THE DEAL TO A BASE/STANDARD CAR. A WEEK OR SO AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR A TIRE POPPED AS WE DROVE DOWN THE STREET. IT IS VERY LOUD IN THE MORNING. A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAKING SOUND. NEXT WE HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS,OIL/FLUID LEAKING FROM THE CAR. THE DRIVEWAY IS STAINED FROM IT. THE THERMOSTAT HAS BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES. IT HAS BEEN JERKING,STALKING, SPUTTERING. THE ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR HAS BOILED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. IT SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS BURNING. THE AIR …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11174939 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11034001 · 2017-10-17 (October 17, 2017)

CAR HAS ROUGH IDLE AND WHEN PARKED RUNNING THE CAR IT STALLS OUT. ALSO AFTER PUTTING GAS IN THE GAS TANK THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OVER TO START. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON NOW TOO. THE CAR WANTS TO STALL AT INTERSECTIONS AND IN TRAFFIC.

Owner-reported narrative. 40,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034001 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11252537 · 2019-08-31 (August 31, 2019)

MY CHEVY SONIC STALLS WHILE DRIVING IT. THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, DOOR LOCKS CYCLE, LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES GO OUT, RPMS DROP, AND UNTIL TODAY, IT TURNS BACK ON, THE RPMS JUMP SKY HIGH, AND THE MOTOR REVS BACK TO LIFE AND IT GOES FINE AGAIN FOR AWHILE. BUT TODAY IT STALLED SITTING IN MCDONALDS PARKING LOT AND NOT ONLY DIDN'T START AGAIN, BUT HAD TO BE JUMPED. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I HAD HER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THAT HAPPENED! EVERY OTHER TIME IT'S BEEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD.…

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11252537 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11162029 · 2018-12-17 (December 17, 2018)

THE FUEL INJECTOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AFTER ONLY HAVING MY CAR FOR 6MONTH.

Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 11162029 at NHTSA ↗