Problems · NHTSA complaints

2019 Chevrolet Sonic problems

Owners filed 8 complaints about the 2019 Chevrolet Sonic with NHTSA between Jul 2019 and Nov 2024. The most-cited component is engine (2).

Complaints
8
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine2
  2. Fuel/propulsion system2
  3. Engine and engine cooling2
  4. Electrical system1
  5. Other / unknown3

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20191
20200
20210
20220
20230
20247

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

2 reports
“The thermostat housing and water pump keeps failing and leaking.The seat heaters dont work. The car started leaking antifreeze real bad which cause it to overheat and lock up. Yes it has been confirm by a dealer that alot of the chevys been coming for new thermostat housing and water pumps. No vehicle was only inspected by a dealer. The overheating like came on and then 10 seconds later the car locked up”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2024Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11625053

Fuel/propulsion system

2 reports
“cooling ISSUES - the WATER PUMPLE , cooling TANK . the WHOLE COOLING . my CARE HAS BEEN SHOP 5 TIMES AT JBA for cooling system”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11569927

Engine and engine cooling

2 reports
“The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while pulling into the garage, the high engine temp warning light illuminated, and the engine was overheating. The contact immediately turned off the vehicle. The contact stated there was coolant underneath the front of the vehicle. The contact had learned that the water pump failure was common for the vehicle and believed that the water pump had failed. The contact was able to identify an extended warranty for the failure. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure when it was confirmed that the VIN was not covered under warranty or recall. The manufacturer had referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,400.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2024Engine and engine coolingODI 11605200

Electrical system

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026

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