YearToAvoid

2016 Chevrolet Sonic Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

56/100

#5 most-complained of 10 Sonic years

NHTSA lists 48 complaints and 2 recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic, giving it a Complaint Index of 56 and a rank of 5th worst out of 10 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Engine (33%) and Electrical System (23%) complaints lead the way.

Complaints
48
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
8 / 1
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29
26 city / 34 hwy

Top 2016 Chevrolet Sonic problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine16 (33%)
  2. Electrical System11 (23%)
  3. Airbags8 (17%)
  4. Other8 (17%)
  5. Brakes5 (10%)
  6. Fuel System5 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body5 (10%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (8%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain3 (6%)
  10. Steering2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report airbags failing to deploy in crash situations, including rear-end collisions and hydroplaning incidents, resulting in head, neck, and back injuries.
  • Some owners describe sudden brake failure while maneuvering at low speed, leading to loss of control and collisions with fixed objects.
  • One owner reported rodent damage to engine compartment insulation that caused a minor fire.
  • Owners describe the vehicle swaying and drifting at highway speeds, feeling unstable and out of control above 45 mph, with dealers reprogramming the electric steering control module.
  • An owner reported the airbag warning light cycling on and off intermittently for about two months.
  • One owner described a piece of road debris striking the front bumper grill and air conditioning condenser while driving on the interstate.
2016 Chevrolet Sonic complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2016Oct 2017Jul 2018Feb 2019Nov 2019Aug 2020Oct 2021Aug 2025
68 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2016 to Feb 2026; peak Mar 2019 (4).

2016 Chevrolet Sonic recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V422000Jun 10, 2016Electrical System18,780 vehicles

    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."

    Risk: 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.

  2. 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.

2016 Chevrolet Sonic fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Sonic years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Caution67150429
2015Avoid78114329
2016Caution5648229
2017Good4437029
2018Good3314129.5

All Chevrolet Sonic years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
NHTSA data shows 48 complaints and a Complaint Index of 56 for the 2016 Sonic, ranking it 5th worst among the 10 model years tracked, with a Caution verdict relative to other Sonic years.
What problems does the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic have?
Engine complaints make up 33% of reports, followed by Electrical System at 23% and Airbags at 17%. Airbag-related complaints involved 5 crashes, the most of any category.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 Sonic, both involving the Electrical System's Bring Your Own Media radio, which could fail to provide an audible warning chime. Neither recall is a do-not-drive order.
How does the 2016 Sonic compare to other Sonic model years?
The 2016 Sonic's Complaint Index of 56 is better than 2012 (100), 2013 (89), and 2015 (78), all rated Avoid, but worse than 2017 through 2020, which rate Good or Best.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?
EPA rates the 2016 Sonic at 29 mpg combined (26 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.