AI Damage2016 Chevrolet Sonic: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic filed 48 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 781 service bulletins for this year. We found 3 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 48
- involving a crash
- 8
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 781
- YouTube repair videos
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 27% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 23% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 17% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 10% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 6% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 6% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 13 complaints (27% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 77.
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (23% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 151.
- Air bags: 8 complaints (17% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 5 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (6% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 58.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 5-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 48 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | 0 | 77 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 0 | 151 |
| Air bags | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 58 |
| Suspension | 3 | 1 | 17 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 99 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 31 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 17 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2 | 15 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 40 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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…
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 side curtain air bag failed to deploy. The driver and front passenger sustained head, neck, and back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to carmax ([address], clearwater, [ZIP], [phone]).
Brake failure resulted in a car accident. Upon collision the air bags malfunctioned and did not deploy. Many others are experiencing the same issues with the chevrolet sonic starting from the 2015 model. Gm was made aware of the issue and has yet to fix it or recall it.
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.
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.
This car overheated and a head gasket blew. I am on a Facebook forum, and it seems like all of these cars have these problems. The Chevy Sonic ltz turbo 1.4 2016 is known for coolant issues and head gasket failures. My car only had 104,000 miles on it. It should last a lot longer than that, but this is a common issue.
There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the power locks functioned as designed. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel would unlock from the normal position and almost fell into the driver’s lap.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 890 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Sonic has 24 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 48, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced…
This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle…
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
- This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000…
This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel for new vehicles with less than 1,000 miles that may not pass California smog inspection or smog inspection in other states.
NHTSA lists 781 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, air bags. Total complaints: 48. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (27%), overheating, coolant loss (8%), infotainment or screen glitches (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?
NHTSA lists 781 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.