How many electrical complaints does NHTSA have for the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic?

NHTSA lists 49 Electrical System complaints for the 2014 Sonic, which is 33% of the 150 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic electrical system?

Yes. Recall 16V257000 covers 2013-2016 Sonic and Trax and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles with a Bring Your Own Media radio; GM updates the radio software free of charge.

At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2014 Sonic is 50,150 miles, though some owners reported issues at much lower mileage.

Did the 2014 Sonic's electrical problems cause any fires or crashes?

NHTSA data shows 2 reported fires tied to Electrical System complaints for the 2014 Sonic and 0 crashes or injuries.

How does the 2014 Sonic compare to other model years for electrical complaints?

The 33% share of complaints tied to the Electrical System in 2014 is the highest among the listed years, compared to 18% in 2012 and 26% in 2013.

2014 Chevrolet Sonic Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 49 Electrical System complaints for the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic, 33% of all 150 complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 50,150 miles and 2 reported fires. A related recall (16V257000) covers Bring Your Own Media radio software, but most reported issues involve stalling, ignition, and instrument panel faults not tied to that recall.

Electrical System complaints: 49; 33% of 150
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 2
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 50,150 mi
Related recalls: 1

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

Instrument panel and dash lights, including the speedometer, shut off and reset while driving at highway speed, sometimes lasting 10-20 seconds.
Engine stalls unexpectedly at various speeds, in some cases paired with the instrument panel going dark or becoming unresponsive.
Vehicle intermittently fails to start after being driven for a period, even though the battery tests at full voltage; tapping the starter sometimes gets it running again.
Ignition key or ignition switch overheats or triggers repeat failures, in one case preceding a fire reported after the vehicle sat parked.
Radio, lights, door locks, and instrument panel cycle on and off on their own while driving or when approaching the parked car.
After a dealer recall repair, the back-up camera and steering wheel audio/phone controls stopped working.

When 2014 Chevrolet Sonic electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 24, 2014, latest Sep 10, 2026.

49 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2014 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2018 (4).

Electrical System recalls for the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic

NHTSA 16V257000Apr 28, 2016Electrical System317,572 vehicles
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."
Risk: 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.

Electrical System complaints by Sonic model year

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

20110 (0%)
201262 (18%)
201357 (26%)
201449 (33%)
201535 (31%)
201611 (23%)
20176 (16%)
20186 (43%)
20191 (13%)
20206 (60%)

Frequently asked questions

How many electrical complaints does NHTSA have for the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic?: NHTSA lists 49 Electrical System complaints for the 2014 Sonic, which is 33% of the 150 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2014 Chevrolet Sonic electrical system?: Yes. Recall 16V257000 covers 2013-2016 Sonic and Trax and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles with a Bring Your Own Media radio; GM updates the radio software free of charge.
At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2014 Sonic is 50,150 miles, though some owners reported issues at much lower mileage.
Did the 2014 Sonic's electrical problems cause any fires or crashes?: NHTSA data shows 2 reported fires tied to Electrical System complaints for the 2014 Sonic and 0 crashes or injuries.
How does the 2014 Sonic compare to other model years for electrical complaints?: The 33% share of complaints tied to the Electrical System in 2014 is the highest among the listed years, compared to 18% in 2012 and 26% in 2013.