Model year 2018 · Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons

2018 Chevrolet Sonic: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic at 28–32 mpg combined across 8 versions. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 15 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

28–32

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Chevrolet dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2018 Chevrolet Sonic recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 1 safety recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic, newest first.

Seats

NHTSA 18V342000 Reported May 27, 2018

Filed by: General Motors, LLC (manufacturer recall no. 18178)
Units affected: 71 (estimate)
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. A joint in the driver's seat-back frame may not be properly welded, reducing the strength of the seat-back frame.
Risk: In the event of a rear-impact crash, the seat-back may fail, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat-back, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18178.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2018 Chevrolet Sonic fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2018 Chevrolet Sonic EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Sonic	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	27/35/30 mpg	$2,250	296
Sonic	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	Manual 6-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	28/37/32 mpg	$2,100	280
Sonic	1.8L 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	25/34/28 mpg	$2,400	311
Sonic	1.8L 4-cyl	Manual 5-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	26/35/29 mpg	$2,300	306
Sonic 5	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	27/35/30 mpg	$2,250	296
Sonic 5	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	Manual 6-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	28/37/32 mpg	$2,100	280
Sonic 5	1.8L 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	25/34/28 mpg	$2,400	311
Sonic 5	1.8L 4-cyl	Manual 5-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	26/35/29 mpg	$2,300	306

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2018 Chevrolet Sonic crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2018 Chevrolet Sonic NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2018 Chevrolet Sonic 4 DR FWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars	12.6%	Optional
2018 Chevrolet Sonic 5 DR FWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars	12.6%	Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2018 Chevrolet Sonic owner complaints

Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Sonic, most recently on Oct 14, 2026. 0 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2018 Chevrolet Sonic complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Electrical system	6
Engine	4
Seats	2
Unknown or other	2
Wheels	2
Air bags: Sensor: Occupant classification: Front passenger	1
Exterior lighting	1
Fuel system, gasoline	1
Fuel/propulsion system	1
Parking brake	1

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Chevrolet Sonic model years

Chevrolet Sonic by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2020 Sonic	29 mpg	0	10	5/5
2019 Sonic	29–31 mpg	0	8	5/5
2017 Sonic	28–32 mpg	0	37	5/5
2016 Sonic	28–32 mpg	2	48	5/5
2015 Sonic	28–32 mpg	3	114	5/5

All Chevrolet Sonic years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2018 Chevrolet models

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 2018 Chevrolet City Express Cargo Van 2018 Chevrolet Colorado 2018 Chevrolet Corvette 2018 Chevrolet Cruze 2018 Chevrolet Equinox 2018 Chevrolet Impala 2018 Chevrolet Malibu 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2018 Chevrolet Spark 2018 Chevrolet Suburban 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe 2018 Chevrolet Traverse 2018 Chevrolet Trax 2018 Chevrolet Volt

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Chevrolet.