2012 Chevrolet Sonic Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

82Engine complaints

23.2%Of all 353 complaints

#2Most-reported category

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

How engine 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

“BEGINNING FROM THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. APPROX. 28,000 MI. AT COLD START THERE IS A RATTLE NOISE LIKE METAL ON METAL. THEN WILL DISAPPEAR…”NHTSA complaint 10648627 — filed 10/19/2014

“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

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND GEAR BOX WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN…”NHTSA complaint 10633243 — filed 09/15/2014

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic: 82 of 353 complaints on file (23.2%). 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 engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE 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.