Chevrolet Sonic
Every model year 2016–2020: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2019 is the cleanest Sonic year we hold, and the 2016 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2020: best combined mpg 31 → 29; 4 → 2 EPA configurations
- 2019: best combined mpg 32 → 31; 8 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2017: 12 → 8 EPA configurations
Common questions about the Chevrolet Sonic
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Chevrolet Sonic year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2019 Sonic comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (100/100), 0 recalls and 8 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Chevrolet Sonic years should I avoid?
No Sonic model year carries a D or F Safety Signal or a standing advisory. The ranking page orders every year on recalls and complaints per year on the road, and says why.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Sonic have?
Across model years 2016–2020, NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the Chevrolet Sonic. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.