Does the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic have an airbag recall?

Yes. Recall 23V516000, reported in 2023, covers a driver-side airbag inflator that may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect; GM replaces the airbag module for free.

How common are airbag complaints on the 2013 Sonic?

NHTSA lists 25 airbag complaints for the 2013 Sonic, making up 12% of all 217 complaints filed for that model year.

Were there injuries linked to airbag problems in the 2013 Sonic?

Yes. NHTSA data shows 17 crashes and 17 injuries associated with airbag complaints for the 2013 Sonic.

At what mileage do airbag problems tend to show up?

The median mileage at failure among reported airbag complaints for the 2013 Sonic is 33,000 miles.

Is the airbag complaint rate worse for 2013 than other Sonic years?

The 2013 Sonic's 12% share is close to nearby years, with 2012 at 10%, 2014 at 16%, and 2015 at 24%, so 2013 is not the highest but still notable.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 25 airbag complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic, 12% of all complaints for the year, with 17 crashes and 17 injuries reported. A related recall (23V516000) covers a driver-side airbag inflator defect that can explode during deployment.

Airbags complaints: 25; 12% of 217
Crashes reported: 17
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 17
Median mileage: 33,000 mi
Related recalls: 1

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

Frontal or side-impact crashes at highway speeds where the driver, roof, or side airbags failed to deploy at all.
Low-speed parking or pull-out collisions in which the front driver-side airbag did not activate despite vehicle damage.
Head-on or T-bone collisions where occupants sustained injuries such as bruises, whiplash, or back pain because no airbags deployed.
Repeat frontal impacts, including one owner citing three separate hits, where airbags never deployed on any occasion.
Owners reporting they were unaware of the airbag recall until after a crash revealed the non-deployment issue.

When 2013 Chevrolet Sonic airbag complaints were filed

First complaint May 8, 2013, latest Apr 17, 2025.

25 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2013 to Apr 2025; peak Feb 2015 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic

NHTSA 23V516000Jul 27, 2023Airbags767 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232413120.

Airbags complaints by Sonic model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

20110 (0%)
201234 (10%)
201325 (12%)
201424 (16%)
201527 (24%)
20168 (17%)
20176 (16%)
20181 (7%)
20190 (0%)
20201 (10%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic have an airbag recall?: Yes. Recall 23V516000, reported in 2023, covers a driver-side airbag inflator that may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect; GM replaces the airbag module for free.
How common are airbag complaints on the 2013 Sonic?: NHTSA lists 25 airbag complaints for the 2013 Sonic, making up 12% of all 217 complaints filed for that model year.
Were there injuries linked to airbag problems in the 2013 Sonic?: Yes. NHTSA data shows 17 crashes and 17 injuries associated with airbag complaints for the 2013 Sonic.
At what mileage do airbag problems tend to show up?: The median mileage at failure among reported airbag complaints for the 2013 Sonic is 33,000 miles.
Is the airbag complaint rate worse for 2013 than other Sonic years?: The 2013 Sonic's 12% share is close to nearby years, with 2012 at 10%, 2014 at 16%, and 2015 at 24%, so 2013 is not the highest but still notable.