RoadVitals

2012 Chevrolet Sonic Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest May 26, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 353 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed May 26, 2020

WINDOW WASHER FLUID IS NOT COMING OUT DUE TO WASHER HOSE HAVING DISCONNECTED FROM FLUID RESERVOIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326001
Incident
May 12, 2020
Visibility
Filed Jun 3, 2019

IT WAS A FOGGY NIGHT I HAD JUST GOT OFF WORK I STARTED MY CAR LIKE ANY OTHER NORMAL DAY/NIGHT EXCEPT THIS NIGHT I USED MY REAR DEFROST I PROCEED TO LEAVE MY JOB AS I BEEN TO GET OFF THE ON RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY MY ENTIRE BACK GLASS EXPLODES AND BUST OUT CAUSING GLASS TO SHATTER EVERYWHERE AND LEAVING ME WITHOUT A REAR WINDOW AND COSTLY REPAIRS. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS BUT THERE DEFINITELY SHOULD BE AS THIS CAN COST MANY PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IF EVERYTIME THE REAR DEFROST IS CUT ON THERE A POSSIBILITY MY WINDOW COULD BUST AND I GET COVERED WITH GLASS

NHTSA ID
11217668
Incident
May 31, 2019
Mileage
80,300 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Jan 1, 2018

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID THE HOSE OR SOMETHING IS CAUSING THE FLUID TO DRAIN ON THE GROUND I EXPLAINED TO BRADLEY CHEVROLET IN FRANKLIN INDIANA THAT THIS HAS BEEN A RECALL ISSUE BUT THEY STATED THAT MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T IN THE RECALL BUT I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THAT IS DUMB I WANT THIS WORK COMPLETED UNDER THE RECALL AND FIXED AND I AM HAVING A LEAN CODE OF PO171 COME UP THAT ONSTAR DIAGNOSED AND BRADLEY DOESN'T WANT TO EVEN LOOK AT IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME A DIAGNOSTIC FEE WHEN I ALREADY HAVE THE CODE FEELING VERY FRUSTRATED PLEASE HELP ME

NHTSA ID
11057885
Incident
Dec 1, 2017
Mileage
62,127 mi
Powertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jul 27, 2017

I PURCHASE MY CAR MARCH 2012. HAD HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO DEALER ABOUT THE WASHER FLUID NOT STAYING IN BOTTLE. THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEN TOOK IT AGAIN FOR TRANSMISSION SLIPPING INTO GEAR THEY SAID AGAIN NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING AND THEY SAY THE RECALL IS NOT FOR MY CAR CAUSE THERE WEBSITE SAYS SO.IT STOPPED MOVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH ME HAVING A 2YEAR OLD IN BACK SEAT. I FINALLY GOT MY FLUID TO STAY IN BOTTLE BY SOME OTHER MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID
11010989
Incident
Jul 14, 2017
Mileage
102,000 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed May 23, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE FELT LOOSE FROM UNDERNEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THERE WAS NO FAILURE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE RECURRED FIVE MONTHS LATER AND IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE MADE A HUMMING NOISE WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STABILIZER LINKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDOW WASHER FLUID DRAINED ON THE ENGINE, AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOSE CONNECTED TO THE FLUID CONTAINER WAS DISCONNECTED AND NEEDED TO RECONNECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ID
10870345
Incident
Dec 19, 2015
Mileage
32,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Visibility
Filed May 17, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT, THE GEAR BECAME STUCK INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE WASHER FLUID WAS NOT OPERATING ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY ADD WIPER FLUID TO THE WASHER HOSE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A MONTH LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V408000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID
10865324
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
30,000 mi
AirbagsExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jun 10, 2015

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. THEY HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE DRIVERS AIR BAG FOR SOME SORT OF RECALL. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WAS REPLACED AS IT ALSO HAD A RECALL. I REALLY WANT TO TRADE THIS CAR IN I AM LITERARY SCARED TO DRIVE IT. SCARED DRIVER...........

NHTSA ID
10724518
Incident
Oct 6, 2012
Mileage
12,361 mi
Visibility
Filed May 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, THE WINDSHIELD FLUID FAILED TO EMIT. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE WIPER FLUID WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V408000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,100.

NHTSA ID
10713998
Incident
Apr 30, 2015
Mileage
36,100 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Dec 8, 2014

FIRST OF ALL THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINE KEEPS POPPING OF MY CAR NOT ALLOWING ME TO USE MY WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID SO THE TANK IS ALWAYS EMPTY. SECOND WHILE DRIVING MY CAR RADIO FLICKERS ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES COMPLETELY GOES BLACK NOT ONLY THAT MY CAR SPEEDOMETER IS ELECTRICAL AND AFTER 30 MIN OF DRIVING SAYS IM GOING 20/34/WHATEVER MPH IT WANTS TO READ WHEN IM REALLY GOING THE HWY SPEED LIMIT AND I HAVE OFTEN HAD TO MESS WITH THE WIRES THAT RUN TO MY BATTERY TO TURN MY CAR BACK ON SINCE ITS THE WIRES(ELECTRICAL WORK AND NOT THE BATTERY) MY BATTERY HAS BEEN TESTED MANY TIMES. FINALLY THIRD THE LITTLE SHIFT BUTTON ON MY CAR KEEPS STICKING AND WONT ALLOW FOR MY CAR TO PROPERLY SHIFT CAUSING MY CAR TO OVER REV AND NOT WANT TO DRIVE. IM NOW AT 115,000 MILES AND EVERY TIME I GO TO A DEALERSHIP THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR WHEN I KNOW THERE IS SINCE I HAVE BEEN THE ONE DRIVING IT AND THEN THEY JUST GIVE IT BACK TO ME WHICH STILL COSTS ME MONEY WITH NO SOLUTION MY CARS STATE HAS JUST BEEN GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND DUE TO LIMITED INCOME I CANT AFFORD TO GET A NEW ONE AT THIS TIME OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE ALREADY TRADED THIS CHEVY POS IN. I ALSO CALLED CHEVROLET'S CORPORATE OFFICE WHERE THE LADY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND NEVER CALLED ME BACK LIKE SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH HER SHE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING SHE COULD DO FOR MY CAR SINCE MY CAR WASN'T A RECALL BUT I FIND IT ODD THAT MY CAR WAS MADE ON FEBRUARY 28, 2012 WHICH FALLS BETWEEN TWO MAJOR RECALLS WITH PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT MY CAR HAS ESPECIALLY SINCE ONE IS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL. SO I BELIEVE THAT THE CHEVY CORPORATION AS A WHOLE DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY CAR THAT THEY HAVE MADE AND WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TELL YOU NOTHING IS WRONG SO THAT THEY JUST TAKE YOUR MONEY AND NOT FIX YOUR CAR. UNSAFE&IMMORAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10662999
Incident
Apr 9, 2013
Mileage
38,286 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 22, 2014

AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN AN INTERSECTION AT 5:30AM MY REAR GLASS WINDOW BURST AND ALL THE GLASS SHATTERED LEAVING GLASS ON THE FOUR SIDES ONLY. INEXPLICABLE HOW IT HAPPENED, MY FIRST REACTION WAS TOO LOOK BACK AND SEE IF ANYBODY HAD HIT US, BUT WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE REAR/SIDE MIRRORS THERE WAS NO CARS BEHIND US OR NEAR US. THE SAME MORNING I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOWED MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOP FOR A TRANSMISSION RECALL, PER THE DEALER THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THE WARRANTY DUE TO GENERAL MOTORS HAD NO OTHER VEHICLES REPORTING THE SAME INCIDENT. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE I'M SURE MANY 2012 CHEVY SONICS HAVE IT AS A DEFECT. WITH SO MANY RECALLS I WOULDN'T DOUBT THAT THE WINDOWS ARE BEING RECALLED AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10638208
Incident
Aug 27, 2014
Mileage
30,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 26, 2014

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND IT WAS WARM OUTSIDE.....SO BUGS CAKED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN THE BUGS CAKED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD I TRIED TO USE MY WINDSHIELD CLEANER AND NOTHING WOULD COME OUT AND I ENDED UP SMEARING THE BUGS. I ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT SEE....SO I MADE IT TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND CHECKED THE RESERVOIR TO FIND IT EMPTY. I WENT INTO THE GAS STATION AND BOUGHT A CHEAP BOTTLE OF CLEAN AND PUT IT INTO THE RESERVOIR, AND AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN A PUDDLE DRAINED FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I FOUND THAT THE RESERVOIR COULD NOT HOLD THE LIQUID AND I FIGURED THAT A HOSE MUST BE LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10628499
Incident
Aug 24, 2014
Visibility
Filed Aug 25, 2013

I WENT TO GO SOME PLACE WHEN I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THERE IS NO CHIP INDICATING THAT SOMETHING HAD HIT IT. THE CRACK SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED FROM THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT SEEMS THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD TWISTED. THE CRACK IS APPROX 8 TO 12 INCHES AND CIRCLES INTO AN UP SIDE DOWN U. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED TO SEE IF GM HAS A RECALL AND THEY DO NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10537134
Incident
Aug 23, 2013
Mileage
9,215 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 12, 2013

THE OUTSIDE DOOR MIRRORS ARE SMALL AND HAVE BLIND SPOTS. I'VE LOST SIGHT OF VEHICLES I KNOW WHERE BEHIND ME. WHEN GM BECAME AWARE OF THIS OVERLOOK IN DESIGN OF THE 2012 CHEVY SONIC, 2013 MODELS WERE INSTALLED WITH THE SAME SIZE MIRROR WITH A SMALL CONVEX AS PART OF THE MIRROR TO DETECT AREAS PREVIOUS MIRRORS COULD NOT DETECT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY GM TO REPLACE THESE MIRRORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10502458
Incident
May 30, 2012
Mileage
1,500 mi
AirbagsBrakesSteering+2 more
Filed Sep 11, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE WHENEVER MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSE BY A DEFECTIVE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED TO SEND A LUBRICATION KIT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. ...UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF UPDATED 10/25/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10475009
Incident
Jul 11, 2011
Mileage
12,000 mi
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Mar 14, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WOULD NOT IDENTIFY THAT A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER OBSTRUCTED THE FIELD OF VISION WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10451658
Incident
Feb 13, 2012
Mileage
5 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Feb 29, 2012

I TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS & THE ENGINE DIED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD RAINED AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR & REALLY DID NOT AT THIS TIME ASSOCIATE THE WIPERS & THE ENGINE DYING UNTIL LATER THAT SAME DAY WHEN CONTACTED A FRIEND OF MINE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE DEALER CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT IS A LONG STORY & I'M VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF & OTHERS. IT DIED THE OTHER DAY IN TRAFFIC WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN & I TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND ALMOST WAS HIT BY A TRUCK. PLEASE CONTACT ME, IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR HIM TO EXPLAIN IN PERSON ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10449731
Incident
Feb 4, 2012
Mileage
100 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .