2016 Chevrolet Sonic Reliability
The 2016 Chevrolet Sonic has 48 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with nearby Sonic model years (2014–2018), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Sonic's typical year, while the 2014 drew 150 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
48
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
8
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2016 Chevrolet Sonic complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 model year, filed between 2016 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | 27% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 23% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 17% |
| Air bags | 8 | 17% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 5 | 10% |
| Stability control | 3 | 6% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 3 | 6% |
| Suspension | 3 | 6% |
2016 Chevrolet Sonic recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2016 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V257000 | Apr 28, 2016 | Equipment — electrical / radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 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… |
| 16V422000 | Jun 10, 2016 | 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… |
How the 2016 compares with nearby Sonic years
Verdicts compare these Sonic model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 150 | 4 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2015 | 114 | 3 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2016 (this page) | 48 | 2 | Engine | Solid |
| 2017 | 37 | 0 | Engine | Solid |
| 2018 | 15 | 1 | Electrical system | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2016 Chevrolet Sonic
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2016 Chevrolet Sonic can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2016 Chevrolet Sonic reliability FAQ
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic reliable?
The 2016 Chevrolet Sonic has 48 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with nearby Sonic model years (2014–2018), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Sonic's typical year, while the 2014 drew 150 complaints.
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Sonic problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic are engine (13), electrical system (11), unknown or other (8), air bags (8). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic, including 16V257000 (equipment — electrical / radio/tape deck/cd etc.) and 16V422000 (electrical system — software). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2016 Chevrolet Sonic compare with the 2015 and 2017 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2015 has 114 complaints and 3 recalls (caution); the 2017 has 37 complaints and 0 recalls (solid). The 2016 has 48 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2016 Chevrolet Sonic?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Sonic research
Other Chevrolet Sonic model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2016 Sonic, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.