Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Chevrolet Sonic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was experiencing issues with the transmission on my vehicle. I lost control and when it stop abruptly in a ditch after hitting a fallen limb of a tree the airbags did not deploy. Since this incident I have extreme pain in neck, dizziness, and weakness in both my arms. My vehicle is not listed as part of the recalls and the violent stop of my vehicle upon hitting the object was severe enough to snap both tierod ends yet airbags did not deploy. I have significant injuries as a result and a wrecked car that I feel was hard to control due to the problematic acceleration of transmission
I was driving my 2012 chevrolet sonic on April 26 and was rear ended my seatbelt did not engage and I was injured. I was rushed to the hospital for a concussion and on may 4th I got dizzy from my concussion from the accident suffered on April 26 and lost control of my vehicle and struck a concrete barrier on i20 west then bounced of the barrier and struck the barrier yet again. My seatbelt never engaged and my airbags never deployed either time striking the barrier nor the prior accident.
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. While the contact's husband was driving 35 MPH in inclement weather, the condition went from rain to snow and the vehicle started to fishtail. The contact stated that the all terrain traction control system activated and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that her husband lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The driver's side frontal air bag and the passenger frontal air bag deployed; however, the driver's frontal air bag only partially deployed. The driver sustained a fractured sternum, a fractured hip, a fractured pelvis, and internal bleeding. The contact's husband died from his injuries. The passenger suffered a mild concussion, kidney failure, and burns from the seat belts and air bag deployment. The driver and passenger were transported by separate ambulances for medical attention. …
I was involved in a crash in which I was on the highway, traffic was congested due to another accident and construction. Me and the vehicle ahead of me were at a complete stop as was everyone else, when I was rear ended pretty forcefully and to the point that after slamming harder on my breaks, my vehicle was still shoved into the truck in front of me. My complaint is that my airbag never even deployed. I was struck pretty hard as well as shoved into the vehicle in front of me that crunched my car at both ends. I find this a serious safety hazard that my airbags did not protect me from if I would have hit the steering wheel.
Airbag problems: about 1yr ago, had car looked at because passenger seat was not sensing occupants, airbag readiness light flashed on and off for few wks about 2 mths ago, now it's continuously on, was told airbags will not deploy in accident if passenger seat airbag sensor not replaced. Was also side swiped about 1yr ago going about 45 MPH and no air bags deployed, have pics from accident but no police report filed
I was driving and turning left into a plaza parking lot when another vehicle hit mine very hard as they were going really fast. They hit the front end of my vehicle completely damaging the grill, front bumper and all of the supports for them. Even though my car took a hard impact by another vehicle, the driver's side airbag did not deploy. I, as well as the cops that were on duty, were very concerned by this fact.
My wife and I w'er hit by a person that ran a red light the car was tottled out with major front end damage no air bags deployed at all when the side air bags should have deployed but didnt causing my whole side and head smashing into the side driver door
I was going down denton road and hit a deer going 55 MPH. The front of my car was damaged really bad almost $5,000.00 of damage. I have two slipped disk in my back because of the incident. My airbags did not deploy
On 1/31/2016 a vehicle pulled out in front of me. The first and biggest issue was the airbag never went off and the seat belt tensioners did not lock the belts either. I went forward and hit my head on the steering wheel rendering me unconscious!!! Almost the whole front end had to be replaced e.g.: grill and front panel, left and right front quarter panels, radiator, both wheel wells, suspension on both sides and everything that goes with those plus a whole lot of other things like the radiator, coolant and washer tanks etc. Etc.... This was a full-frontal wreck and not a single airbag went off!!! Secondly are the ABS and traction control. The roads were a little slick so I had the tc on. When I hit my brakes all they did, have done since I bought the car, and continue to do to this day, is immediately lock up! I had zero control of my car. …
After purchasing my Chevy Sonic 2012, I went to get my first oil change 3 months later. And the engine light came on. I have gone back multiple times, and have been told that it was the gas cap which by the way had a recall on it. The light came back on a week later. Took it back they said that the one they replaced it with had a bad seal. They ordered the part replaced the cap. Drove for another two weeks and the engine light came back on. Took it back, this time they told me that the car needed a thermostat replacement done the light came back on again. Took it back this time, I was told that it was a air vent tube that was connected to the engine, which by the way is not covered under my power train, did that and yet again the light is back on. Now my radio goes on and off when it wants to. When I get up to go to work my battery is dead. …
Related recalls
Air bags
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…
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.
Air bags
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.
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.
Air bags
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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Non-deployment
General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Airbag complaints in other Sonic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, 10% of the model year's 354 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2012 Chevrolet Sonic airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-300 (air bags, Jun 6, 2014); NHTSA recall 13V-023 (air bags, Jan 24, 2013); NHTSA recall 12V-522 (air bags, Oct 31, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Chevrolet Sonic airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 53,000 miles, and 27% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 18 crashes, 0 fires and 13 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.