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2012 Chevrolet Sonic recalls

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

7 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026

For the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. These apply to the model and year, not to one particular vehicle: check your VIN to see whether yours is included and whether it has been repaired.

Has your Chevrolet been repaired?

Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.

NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Chevrolet dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic recalls, newest first

July 2, 2014NHTSA 14V4170002,990 vehicles potentially affected

Equipment › Electrical

Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.
Consequence
Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

June 12, 2014NHTSA 14V31500021,567 vehicles potentially affected

Power train › Automatic transmission

Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, to June 29, 2012, and equipped with a 6 speed automatic transmission and 1.8L four cylinder engine. In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.
Consequence
If the transmission turbine shaft fracture occurs during vehicle operation in first or second gear, the vehicle will not upshift to the third through sixth gears, limiting the vehicle's speed. If the fracture occurs during operation in third through sixth gear, the vehicle will coast until it slows enough to downshift to first or second gear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission turbine shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14234.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

June 6, 2014NHTSA 14V30000031,520 vehicles potentially affected

Air bags

Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Consequence
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

January 24, 2013NHTSA 13V0230004,167 vehicles potentially affected

Air bags

Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Consequence
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

October 31, 2012NHTSA 12V5220002,949 vehicles potentially affected

Air bags

Summary
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Consequence
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

August 20, 2012NHTSA 12V40800044,668 vehicles potentially affected

Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer

Summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 5, 2011, through February 24, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." The windshield wiper washer hose on these vehicles may separate from the washer fluid reservoir. If this occurs, washer fluid will not be available to the windshield.
Consequence
A lack of washer fluid could impede the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will secure the windshield washer hose to prevent separation, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

December 28, 2011NHTSA 11V5990004,296 vehicles potentially affected

Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads

Summary
General motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet sonic vehicles manufactured from June 2, 2011, through November 21, 2011. On some of these vehicles, the front brake inner or outer pad may be missing.
Consequence
A missing pad could result in reduced brake system performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front brakes for a missing inner or outer pad. If a brake pad is missing, dealers will install new inner and outer pads, a new brake caliper, and a new rotor. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before January 14, 2012

This recall on nhtsa.gov

Owner complaints

Owners have filed 354 complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public; NHTSA uses them to decide what to investigate.

Crashes reported
27
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
18
Deaths reported
1

Most complained-about components

  1. Power train151
  2. Engine83
  3. Electrical system56
  4. Unknown or other46
  5. Air bags34

Other Chevrolet Sonic years

Other 2012 Chevrolet models

Most recalled 2012 vehicles

  1. 2012 Blue Bird All American (30 recalls)
  2. 2012 Spartan Gladiator (24 recalls)
  3. 2012 IC Bus CE (22 recalls)
  4. 2012 Freightliner Cascadia (19 recalls)
  5. 2012 Blue Bird Vision (19 recalls)
All of 2012’s most recalled vehicles

Questions

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic have any recalls?
7 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: equipment, power train, air bags, visibility, service brakes, hydraulic. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.
How do I check if my 2012 Chevrolet Sonic recall has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Chevrolet dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?
354 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.