2012 Chevrolet Sonic Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/12/2026

34Air Bags complaints

9.6%Of all 353 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN151 · 42.8%

ENGINE82 · 23.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM56 · 15.9%

Unspecified / other46 · 13%

AIR BAGS34 · 9.6%

Share of the 353 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic overview page.

What owners report

“1. TOOK CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP IN AUG FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND COOLANT IS LOW, CAR OVERHEATS. CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR ALMOST…”NHTSA complaint 10648615 — filed 10/18/2014

“I'M EXPERIENCING SOME ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAG PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR WHICH IS IN RED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. SAME DESCRIPTION OF THE…”NHTSA complaint 10628718 — filed 08/27/2014

“PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK DRIVER'S SIDE FROM LEFT ONTO FRONT BUMPER/FRONT FENDER AREA BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. VEHICLE THAT…”NHTSA complaint 10531684 — filed 07/24/2013

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic: 34 of 353 complaints on file (9.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic have in total?

353 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 27 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, 18 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.