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.
Safety risk
In the event of a rear-impact crash, the seat-back may fail, increasing the risk of injury.
Manufacturer 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.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Engine
6
85,000 mi
Electrical system
5
26,950 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
2
85,000 mi
Seats
2
15,000 mi
Unknown or other
2
—
Wheels
2
96,000 mi
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
1
15,000 mi
Exterior lighting
1
—
Fuel/propulsion system
1
—
Parking brake
1
28,000 mi
Seat belts
1
39,000 mi
Steering
1
—
Visibility/wiper
1
—
The 2017 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 2019 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.