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Chevrolet Sonic VIN Number Check

Run a free NHTSA vPIC decode on a Chevrolet Sonic VIN to confirm the model year and engine, then see which of the 16 NHTSA recall campaigns for 2012–2020 cover that year.

VIN prefix1G1

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Chevrolet Sonic

About the Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet sold the Sonic in the US for model years 2012–2020. Across those years NHTSA lists 16 vehicle recall campaigns and 952 owner complaints. The 2012 has the most complaints of any model year (354). EPA rates it at 28–32 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2012–2020
EPA classCompact Cars
NHTSA recall campaigns16
Owner complaints952 at NHTSA
Chevrolet Sonic photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Chevrolet Sonic at a glance

One generation in the data, 2012–2020: 16 NHTSA recall campaigns and 952 owner complaints.

1 / 1
Gen 1
2012–2020Compact Cars
201220152020
2012–2020

Chevrolet Sonic

EPA classCompact Cars
EPA combined mpg28–32
NHTSA recalls16

Engines (EPA)

  • 1.4 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2012–2020
  • 1.8 L 4-cyl · 2012–2018

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • FWD
  • manual (2012–2019), automatic (2012–2020)

Known issues to check

Engine and cooling (243)Powertrain (transmission, driveline) (230)Electrical system (227)2 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 952 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · Gen 11G1JC5SH?C4······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LT, built in Orion, Michigan
Check a Sonic VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Sonic model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 16 campaigns on file for Sonic model years 2012–2020, and the 2012 shows up in more of them than any other year (7), ahead of the 2013 (6). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2012
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Chevrolet Sonic owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2012 and 2013 hold 571 of the 952 complaints, or 60%. Tap any bar or generation.

952NHTSA complaints, 2012–2020
91mention a crash
18mention a fire
76injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearGen 1: 952 complaints · most for the 2012 (354)

Top complaint areas · Gen 1

Mentions in 952 complaints, 2012–2020.

Engine and cooling243
Powertrain (transmission, driveline)230
Electrical system227
Air bags126
Fuel system69
Steering54
Crashes 91Fires 18Injuries 76

2012–2020

NHTSA data summary

The 2012 is the outlier. On its own it has 354 of the ’s 952 complaints (37%), more than any other Sonic model year. By area, nothing stands out. Engine and cooling leads with 243, with the powertrain (230) and the electrical system (227) close behind.

What Sonic owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2012–2020 (1st generation)

The 2012 draws the most complaints, and totals fall steadily after that. NHTSA owners of the 2012 most often describe automatic transmission trouble, such as the car staying in first or second gear, along with engine ticking and stalling. CarComplaints lists a bad transmission and hesitant shifting for 2012, and coolant leaks, stalling and no start problems for 2013. Chevrolet ended the Sonic after 2020. Recalls cover transmission turbine shafts on some 2012 automatics that may fracture and driver air bags on some 2012–2013 models. [1] [2] [3] [4]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the turbine shaft recall on 2012 automatics and the driver air bag recalls on 2012 and 2013 models.
  • Ask for transmission and cooling system repair records.
  • On the drive, confirm the car shifts through every gear, listen for engine ticking and check under the hood for coolant leaks.
Sources (4) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
  2. CarComplaints.com, 2012 Chevrolet Sonic problems
  3. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2013 Chevrolet Sonic
  4. CarComplaints.com, 2013 Chevrolet Sonic problems

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Sonic complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Sonic version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

952complaints, 2012–2020
91mention a crash
18mention a fire
76injuries reported
2complaints report a death
Most complaints: 2012 (354), 2013 (217), 2014 (150)
354’12217’13150’14’15’20

2012 · 354 complaints

Crashes 27 · fires 5 · injuries 18 · complaints reporting a death 1

Power train154
Engine83
Electrical system59
Unknown or other46
Air bags34

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Sonic CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 76 Sonic versions for model years 2012–2020. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 276 g/mi (2016). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Gen 12012–2020

28–32 mpg · CO₂ 276–321 g/mi

2019
31combined MPG
285CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$2,150EPA yearly fuel cost
5/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
7/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III ULEV70 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 70Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2019: Sonic · Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo — 31 MPG · 285 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
200250300350400201520202012 · Gas: 2782013 · Gas: 2762014 · Gas: 2762015 · Gas: 2762016 · Gas: 2762017 · Gas: 2812018 · Gas: 2802019 · Gas: 2852020 · Gas: 308
Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Sonic vs Toyota Corolla vs Volkswagen Jetta

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2012–2020. NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for the Sonic, against 17 for the Toyota Corolla and 33 for the Volkswagen Jetta. Pick a range to compare.

Chevrolet Sonic

Model years 2012–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns
16
NHTSA owner complaints
952
EPA combined mpg
28–32
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.4, 1.8 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2020)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 243
  2. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 230
  3. Electrical system 227

Toyota Corolla

Model years 2012–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns
17
NHTSA owner complaints
2,195
EPA combined mpg
29–52
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.8, 2.0 L
Also listed
hybrid
Drive (EPA)
FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2020)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Air bags 778
  2. Engine and cooling 243
  3. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 221

Volkswagen Jetta

Model years 2012–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns
33
NHTSA owner complaints
2,751
EPA combined mpg
25–44
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.4, 1.8, 2.0 L · 5-cyl 2.5 L
Also listed
turbo, diesel, hybrid
Drive (EPA)
FWD
NHTSA crash rating
5★ overall (2020)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Electrical system 711
  2. Engine and cooling 616
  3. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 578

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Chevrolet Sonic VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Sonic

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

White Chevrolet Sonic (2017-2020 facelift) hatchback, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Cutlass, CC0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

Locate the Sonic's VIN on the plate at the lower driver's side windshield. Inside the driver's door jamb, a label carries the full number. A secondary sticker is often found on the door sill beneath the driver's door.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Chevrolet Sonic VIN questions

Which Chevrolet Sonic model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2012 leads with 354, ahead of the 2013 (217) and 2014 (150). Those first two alone make up 60% of the 952 Sonic complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Chevrolet Sonic had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 16 vehicle campaigns for model years 2012–2020, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Chevrolet Sonic recalls are high risk?

23V-516 covers an air bag inflator module and how it deploys. NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 13V-464. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Chevrolet Sonic get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2012–2020 Sonic at 28–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Chevrolet Sonic compare with the Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta on recalls?

For 2012–2020 models the Sonic has 16 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Toyota Corolla has 17, the Volkswagen Jetta 33. Complaints run 952, 2,195 and 2,751 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Chevrolet Sonic have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2020 Sonic 5 stars overall. Both rated versions, 5 HB FWD and 4 DR FWD, get that score.

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