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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2016 Chevrolet Sonic is associated with 48 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Air Bags, accounting for 6 reports (13% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 12 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.4l 4-cyl and 1.8l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 28 to 32 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 48 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Air Bags (6 / 13%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 8 crash / 1 fire / 5 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 28–32 MPG across 12 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Sonic 1.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 28 MPG 38 MPG 32 MPG — $1,900 / yr
Sonic 5 1.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 28 MPG 38 MPG 32 MPG — $1,900 / yr
Sonic 1.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 27 MPG 36 MPG 30 MPG — $2,050 / yr
Sonic 5 1.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 27 MPG 36 MPG 30 MPG — $2,050 / yr
Sonic RS 1.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 26 MPG 33 MPG 29 MPG — $2,100 / yr
Sonic 1.8L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd 26 MPG 34 MPG 29 MPG — $2,100 / yr
Sonic 5 RS 1.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd 26 MPG 33 MPG 29 MPG — $2,100 / yr
Sonic 5 1.8L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd 26 MPG 34 MPG 29 MPG — $2,100 / yr
Sonic RS 1.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 25 MPG 33 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Sonic 1.8L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 24 MPG 34 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Sonic 5 RS 1.4L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 25 MPG 33 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Sonic 5 1.8L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 24 MPG 34 MPG 28 MPG — $2,200 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
4 DR FWD 12.6%
5 DR FWD 12.6%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Chevrolet Sonic models.
View complete 2016 Chevrolet Sonic crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?

Summary of 48 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
48
Crash Reports
8
Fire Reports
1
Complaints w/ Injury
5
Total Injuries
6

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Air Bags 6 complaints (4 crashes)
Electrical System 6 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 2 complaints
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE 2 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2016 Chevrolet Sonic problems & component breakdown (25 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #16V422000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Defect Summary: 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."

Free Manufacturer 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.
NHTSA Campaign #16V257000 Active Recall
Affected Component: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

Defect Summary: 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."

Free Manufacturer 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.
View all 2016 Chevrolet Sonic recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic

How many safety recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic have?

The 2016 Chevrolet Sonic is associated with 2 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 2 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?

NHTSA records list 48 consumer defect complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Air Bags, appearing in 6 filings (13% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2016 Chevrolet Sonic defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic range from 28 to 32 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.