Problems · by component

2012 Chevrolet Sonic air bags problems

34 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic cite air bags, 10% of all 354 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
34
10% of all complaints
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2023Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 11520856
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2022Power train, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11478078
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2020Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11355119
“THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH FROM ON TO OFF FOR A FEW WEEKS, AS WELL AS THE AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT ON HE DASH, NOW THE LIGHT STAYS ON THE DASH AND THE THE AIRBAG STAYS IN THE OFF POSITION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2019Air bagsODI 11193875
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC. WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY AND PULLED FORWARD AT THAN 2 TO 3 MPH AND HIT AN OBJECT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN VEHICLE WAS STILL AND CONSUMER WAS INJURED. THE FAILURE IMPACTED THE CONTACT'S MOUTH, CHIN, AND ARMS, AND CAUSED MINOR BRUISING TO THE BODY. MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. A DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEPLOYMENT PRODUCED AN ODOR AND SUBSTANCE FROM THE AIR BAGS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A TOW YARD AND DECLARED IT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAULT WITH THE SYSTEM CONCERNING THE EDR BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN AN AIR BAG RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2019Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11182314
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2018Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11066611

Showing 6 of 34 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Air bags

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jun 6, 2014NHTSA 14V300000

Air bags

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 24, 2013NHTSA 13V023000

Air bags

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Oct 31, 2012NHTSA 12V522000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.