2016 Chevrolet SONIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
47,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 48 complaints (27.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 14.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 13 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
Engine: 13; Electrical System: 9; Air Bags: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Power Train: 3; Suspension: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 18 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2016: 2; 2017: 6; 2018: 8; 2019: 9; 2020: 12; 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 11179710 · 2019-02-26 (February 26, 2019)
2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD WIRING. CONSUMER BELIEVES IT CAN BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE SAFETY ISSUE AND REPAIR COST. *AS *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11179710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11184599 · 2019-03-06 (March 6, 2019)
TAKATA RECALL . ONE TIRE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE IN FEBRUARY 2019.. IT WAS DEFECTIVE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE OTHER PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL, THE DRIVER SEAT WASN'T HEATING AND THE INFOTAINMENT CENTER REAR CAMERA WAS BLURRING CAUSING A UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION.. THE DASHBOARD WAS CLICKING OUT FOR A SECOND WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11184599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11140045 · 2018-10-12 (October 12, 2018)
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, [phone removed]) 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11140045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11152527 · 2018-11-19 (November 19, 2018)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11152527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10983523 · 2017-05-04 (May 4, 2017)
WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN THE RIGHT LANE IN THE AREA OF MILE MARKER 7 IN SOUTH CAROLINA A PIECE OF FOREIGN DEBUS WAS RAN OVER BY THE CAR IN FROM OF ME. THE LARGE PIECE OF METAL BOUNCED OF THE ROAD AND HIT THE FRONT BUMPER GRILL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER ( 24 INCH PIECE OF METAL IT APPEARED TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HOLD A SEMI TRACK SPARE TIRE IN PLACE) THE CAR I WAS BEHIND DIDN'T STOP TO ENSURE MY SAFETY HOWEVER THEY DID BRAKE AND CONTINUE ON THEIR JOURNEY. I PULLED OFF AS SOON AS I COULD GET IN A SAFE PLACE AND I HAVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10983523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10993851 · 2017-06-07 (June 7, 2017)
CARS COMPUTER/PROGRAMMING IS REMOTELY CONTROLLED ,BRAKES TRANMISSION LIGHTS SUSPENSION DO NOTB PERFORM AS INTENDED BY MANUFACTURER.HACKING INVOLVED WHILE DRIVING STATIONARY FREEWAYS/CITY STREETS.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10993851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10883709 · 2016-07-09 (July 9, 2016)
THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE SWAYS AND DRIFTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT MOVES LEFT AND RIGHT IN THE LANE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE. I DON'T FEEL I AM IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICE THIS AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 45 MPH AND ABOVE. I HAD IT INTO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE CONTROL MODULE OF THE ELECTRIC STEERING BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. GM HAS GIVEN ME NO SATISFACTION AND NO HELP WITH THIS MATTER. I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AGAIN UNTIL THI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10883709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11218782 · 2019-06-09 (June 9, 2019)
MY CAR WAS BOUGHT IN OCT OF 2015. IT DID NOT COME WITH A REAR CAMERA BACK UP SYSTEM, HOWEVER THE CENTER DISPLAY (RADIO & CONTROLS PANEL) STARTED DISPLAYING AN ERROR MESSAGE ABOUT THIS BACK UP SYSTEM. AT THE SAME TIME THE PHONE & RADIO CONTROLS LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO STOPPED WORKING. WHEN BLUE TOOTHING A PHONE (HAVE TRIED WITH MORE THAN ONE TYPE) IT OFTEN DISCONNECTS & WHEN IT DOES CONNECT, IT DOESN'T FULLY CONNECT. BOTH THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL & BLUE TOOTH PROBLEMS STARTED AT THE TIME THE REAR BACK UP ERROR BEGAN SHOWING UP. …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11218782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11270721 · 2019-10-24 (October 24, 2019)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11270721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11270010 · 2019-10-21 (October 21, 2019)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11270010 at NHTSA ↗