Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗No Warning Chime /FMVSS 114
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.
No 'Key Left in Ignition' Warning Chime/FMVSS 114
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.
Radio Software Lock Up/FMVSS 208, 114
- Summary
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 20, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured June 18, 2014, to June 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, equipped with the base radio and OnStar, the radio may lock up due to a software issue, causing the display to go blank and all audio functions to cease. Because of this, there may be no warning chimes such as the reminder to buckle the seat belt and the key being left in ignition when the driver goes to exit the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 "Occupant Crash Protection", and 114 "Theft Protection."
- Consequence
- Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft. If a driver or front passenger does not buckle their seat belt, there would be no chime to remind them to fasten their seat belts. If a driver or passenger does not buckle their seat belt there is an increased risk that they will be injured in a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15504.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (114)
114 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 114 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 34 | 29.8% |
| Air bags | 27 | 23.7% |
| Engine | 23 | 20.2% |
| Unknown or other | 22 | 19.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 10.5% |
| Power train | 12 | 10.5% |
| Steering | 6 | 5.3% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 4.4% |
| Electronic stability control | 4 | 3.5% |
| Equipment | 4 | 3.5% |
How 2015 compares with other Sonic years
Best and worst Sonic years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 354 | 7 |
| 2013 | 217 | 6 |
| 2014 | 150 | 4 |
| 2015 | 114 | 3 |
| 2016 | 48 | 2 |
| 2017 | 37 | 0 |
| 2018 | 14 | 1 |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2015 Chevrolet Sonic 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 32 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,100
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 276 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 32 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 38 / 32 | $2,100 | 276 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 38 / 32 | $2,100 | 276 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | $2,250 | 295 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 36 / 30 | $2,250 | 295 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 29 | $2,300 | 306 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 34 / 29 | $2,300 | 305 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 29 | $2,300 | 306 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 34 / 29 | $2,300 | 305 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | $2,400 | 321 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | $2,400 | 321 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 34 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 34 / 28 | $2,400 | 317 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2015 Sonic for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2015 Chevrolet Sonic FAQ
How many recalls does the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 16V422000 (electrical), 16V257000 (electrical), 15V416000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2015 Chevrolet Sonic problems?
Owners filed 114 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (34), Air bags (27), Engine (23) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic get?
EPA rates the 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual version at 28 city, 38 highway and 32 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic get?
NHTSA rated the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (12.6% rollover risk).
How does the 2015 Sonic compare with other years?
Among the 2011–2020 Chevrolet Sonic model years at least five years old, the 2011 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2012 the most (354). The 2015 drew 114. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.