CAR HESITATED TO START AFTER GETTING GAS. WHEN IT DOES FINALLY START IT SPUTTERS AND HAVE TO REV MOTOR SOME TO MAKE IT STOP. IDLES HIGH. AFTER GET STARTED AND START TO DRIVE IT IT'S OK, BUT WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT IDLES HIGHER. I HAVE HAD THE PURGE VALVE REPLACED, BUT IT'S STILL DOING IT.
2016 Chevrolet Sonic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 42.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sonic years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30 reports with mileage · 18 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
48 reportsVEHICLE BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH ACCELERATION AND JERKING WHEN STOPPED IN JULY 2019. TOOK VEHICLE TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS SUGGESTED I REPLACE THE BATTERY AND THE OXYGEN SENSORS. BOTH WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE STILL CONTINUES TO JERK AND NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE. VEHICLE DRIVES SMOOTH SO LONG AS THEIR IS A FULL TANK OF GAS AND ITS GO…
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VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH ACCELERATION AND JERKING WHEN STOPPED IN JULY 2019. TOOK VEHICLE TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS SUGGESTED I REPLACE THE BATTERY AND THE OXYGEN SENSORS. BOTH WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE STILL CONTINUES TO JERK AND NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE. VEHICLE DRIVES SMOOTH SO LONG AS THEIR IS A FULL TANK OF GAS AND ITS GOING A STEADY AT LEAST 40 MPH. WHEN THE GAS GETS BELOW HALF TANK, THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE JERKING AND ACCELERATING ISSUE. VEHICLE ALSO HAS TO BE RESTARTED NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER GAS IS PUT IN.
PURCHASED MY CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2018. IN JULY OF 2019, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED SHORTLY AFTERWARD BY THE TEMPERATURE OVERHEAT GAUGE. TOOK MY CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY THERMOSTAT NEEDED REPLACED AND THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH MY MAKE/MODEL. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. IN JANUARY 2020, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, …
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PURCHASED MY CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2018. IN JULY OF 2019, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED SHORTLY AFTERWARD BY THE TEMPERATURE OVERHEAT GAUGE. TOOK MY CAR IN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY THERMOSTAT NEEDED REPLACED AND THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH MY MAKE/MODEL. REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. IN JANUARY 2020, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, WITH A PO599 CODE. TOOK IT TO LOCAL AUTO SHOP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED; THEY SAID THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN STARTING THE CAR, SO LIKELY WASN'T AN OVERHEATING ISSUE. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE SENSORS/CIRCUITS. AFTER RUNNING DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, AGAIN SUGGESTED REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND TIME THE THERMOSTAT HAS NEEDED REPLACED IN THE YEAR AND THREE MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. WHEN AT JIFFY LUBE, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD SEEN AT LEAST FOUR OTHER SONICS COME IN WITH THE SAME CHECK ENGINE CODE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET BECAME DEFECTIVE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR PERSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED, AND THE TURBO ENGINE'S FINS WERE BENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET BECAME DEFECTIVE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR PERSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED, AND THE TURBO ENGINE'S FINS WERE BENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN ONTO A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND BEGAN TO SLIDE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS IDLING AT A STOP SIGN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE H…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN ONTO A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND BEGAN TO SLIDE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS IDLING AT A STOP SIGN. 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 DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,131.
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 …
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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 AND TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS CUTTING WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND HE SAID ALL HE COULD TELL ME WAS TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND HE DON'T REMEMBER SELLING ME NO CAR, WHEN I TOLD HIM HE DID AND HIS NAME IS EVEN ON MY PAPERWORK LISTED [XXX]. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC SHOP AND A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY MECHANIC SHOP AND NEITHER SHOPS COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. IN SEPTEMBER I CALLED THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURING OFFICE AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET PLACE. THEY LOOKED AT AND COULDN?T FIND ANYTHING AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T COMING ON BUT THEY TEST DROVE IT AND SEEN EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. THEY TRIED DOING AN INDUSTRIAL FLUSH AND IT DIDN'T WORK. THEY SUGGESTED MY ALTERNATOR BE REPLACED CAUSE IT WAS READING A 15, SERPENTINE BELT AND BELT TENSIONER BE REPLACED, I DID THAT AND TOOK IT TO AN AUTO MECHANIC SHOP SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE A WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM ISN'T FIXED AND IT STILL JERKS AND CUTS OFF TO THIS DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR; HOWEVER, …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND HAD THE THERMOSTAT AND INTAKE MAIN GASKET SET REPLACED, AND AN ENGINE TUNE -UP; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,456.
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 T…
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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. THIS ERROR HAS BEEN DISPLAYING FOR MANY MONTHS & I NO LONGER HAVE A WARRANTY THAT WOULD COVER THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THE DATE SELECTED IS AN ESTIMATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LOST POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARBER CHEVROLET (205-631-2669, LOCATED AT 90 BARBER BLVD, GARDENDALE, AL 35071) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LOST POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BARBER CHEVROLET (205-631-2669, LOCATED AT 90 BARBER BLVD, GARDENDALE, AL 35071) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,200.
Official recalls
216V422000 · Electrical System:software; Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
Jun 10, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
16V257000 · Electrical System:software; Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
Apr 28, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:software
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.
Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."
Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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