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Chevrolet Sonic.

The best Chevrolet Sonic years are 2018, 2016, 2017. Years to avoid: 2012. Across 2012-2020, it has a Lemon Index of 85, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2012 to 2018.

85Lemon Index · 100 = average car

About average. Whole model, 2012-2020: 1.2× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2018 · Worst year 2012

Chevrolet Sonic
Photo shows a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

20121531.5× the complaints201392about average2014531.9× fewer complaints2015681.5× fewer complaints2016432.3× fewer complaints2017492× fewer complaints2018372.7× fewer complaints

Best years to buy

2018.

2018372.7× fewer complaints than average2016432.3× fewer complaints than average2017492× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2012.

20121531.5× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Chevrolet Sonic a good car?

It is about average, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2012-2020: Lemon Index 85; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2018 and the worst is 2012.

What are the best Chevrolet Sonic years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2018, 2016, 2017.

What Chevrolet Sonic years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2012.

How many recalls does the Chevrolet Sonic have?

23 safety recalls across the 7 model years we track. Most: 2012 (7), 2013 (6), 2014 (4). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Chevrolet Sonic problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name transmission & drivetrain, electrical and engine most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
20121531.5× the average car's complaints166transmission & drivetrain (42%)7★★★★★28–32
201392about average102electrical (25%)6★★★★★28–32
2014531.9× fewer complaints than average54electrical (31%)4★★★★★28–32
2015681.5× fewer complaints than average50airbags (32%)3★★★★★28–32
2016432.3× fewer complaints than average25airbags (24%)2★★★★★28–32
2017492× fewer complaints than average20engine (35%)0★★★★★28–32
2018372.7× fewer complaints than average9electrical (44%)1★★★★★28–32

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Chevrolet Sonic transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data