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RECALLROADTHE CAMPAIGN RECORD

MODEL-YEAR RECALL REPORT

2012 Chevrolet Sonic recalls

NHTSA's September 21, 2026 snapshot lists 7 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, spanning 5 component groups. A model match does not confirm that a specific VIN is included.

Official source: NHTSA recall campaign file · Snapshot September 21, 2026

Distinct campaigns7not VIN-specific
Component groups5distinct top-level categories
Latest recordJuly 2, 2014report received
VIN resultNot checkeduse official lookup

01 / OFFICIAL CAMPAIGNS

2012 Chevrolet Sonic recall campaigns

The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic report contains 7 distinct NHTSA campaigns; the most recently received record is campaign 14V417000 dated July 2, 2014.
CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 14V417000

Component
EQUIPMENT
Report received
July 2, 2014
Potential units
2,990campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore all-wheel-drive vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to September 9, 2013; Verano vehicles manufactured August 8, 2012, to June 20, 2013; Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured August 7, 2012, to August 16, 2013, and 2012-2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured May 10, 2011, to August 16, 2012 equipped with a Calix oil pan/block heater. In cold temperatures, the insulation on the engine block heater cord can become damaged, allowing the wires to be exposed.

Why it matters: Exposed wires increase the risk of electrical shock and personal injury if the cord is handled while it is plugged in.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine oil pan/block heater cord with a new cord that is rated for temperatures of minus 40 degree Celsius. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14257.

Owner notification: August 29, 2014 · Filing manufacturer: General Motors LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 14V315000

Component
POWER TRAIN
Report received
June 12, 2014
Potential units
21,567campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, to June 29, 2012, and equipped with a 6 speed automatic transmission and 1.8L four cylinder engine. In the affected vehicles, the transmission turbine shaft may fracture.

Why it matters: If the transmission turbine shaft fracture occurs during vehicle operation in first or second gear, the vehicle will not upshift to the third through sixth gears, limiting the vehicle's speed. If the fracture occurs during operation in third through sixth gear, the vehicle will coast until it slows enough to downshift to first or second gear, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission turbine shaft, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14234.

Owner notification: August 8, 2014 · Filing manufacturer: General Motors LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 14V300000

Component
AIR BAGS
Report received
June 6, 2014
Potential units
31,520campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

Why it matters: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.

Owner notification: July 25, 2014 · Filing manufacturer: General Motors LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 13V023000

Component
AIR BAGS
Report received
January 24, 2013
Potential units
4,167campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

Why it matters: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Owner notification: February 13, 2013 · Filing manufacturer: General Motors LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 12V522000

Component
AIR BAGS
Report received
October 31, 2012
Potential units
2,949campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

Why it matters: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.

Remedy

General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Owner notification: January 11, 2013 · Filing manufacturer: General Motors LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 12V408000

Component
VISIBILITY
Report received
August 20, 2012
Potential units
44,668campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured from May 5, 2011, through February 24, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems." The windshield wiper washer hose on these vehicles may separate from the washer fluid reservoir. If this occurs, washer fluid will not be available to the windshield.

Why it matters: A lack of washer fluid could impede the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will secure the windshield washer hose to prevent separation, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 7, 2012. Owners may contact the Chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.

Owner notification: September 7, 2012 · Filing manufacturer: General Motors LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 11V599000

Component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Report received
December 28, 2011
Potential units
4,296campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2012 chevrolet sonic vehicles manufactured from june 2, 2011, through november 21, 2011. on some of these vehicles, the front brake inner or outer pad may be missing.

Why it matters: A missing pad could result in reduced brake system performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front brakes for a missing inner or outer pad. if a brake pad is missing, dealers will install new inner and outer pads, a new brake caliper, and a new rotor. this service will be performed free of charge. the safety recall is expected to begin on or before january 14, 2012.

Owner notification: January 23, 2012 · Filing manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS LLC

02 / COMPONENT BREADTH

What defects are listed for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?

The most frequent component groups in 2012 Chevrolet Sonic campaign records are Air Bags (3), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1), Visibility (1), Power Train (1), Equipment (1); these counts describe filed campaigns rather than observed failure rates.
Air Bags3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Visibility1
Power Train1
Equipment1

03 / MODEL-YEAR CONTEXT

How the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic compares across model years

RecallRoad publishes 4 model-year reports for the Chevrolet Sonic, spanning 2012–2015; each year keeps its NHTSA campaign count separate.
Open the complete Chevrolet Sonic model history →