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Service bulletins for the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

1589 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.

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By component

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Only bulletins with component: Engine are shown. Show all

Bulletins, newest first
PIC5703A2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a fuel gauge is inoperative and the gauge is stuck on (E) with a full tank of fuel. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code P0461 set in the Engine Control Module. Technician can clear the Diagnostic Trouble Code and the gauge will work. Technician will ensure that the customer is not frequently topping off the fuel tank and overfilling the fuel tank past the automatic shut-off of the pump.
PIP5050B2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a vibration that is only present in fourth gear when lugging the engine. Technician will need to contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center with all the vibration data for further assistance.
PIP5036C2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have oil consumption or blue smoke from the exhaust. Technician will need to inspect the engine oil level and inspect the positive crankcase ventilation hoses, turbo housing, spark plugs, cylinders, intake manifold and air ducts for signs of excessive oil. Technician will also need to follow the latest versions of PI0552 and PIP4925. Technician will need to remove all pistons and inspect ring condition and for cracks between the number 1 and 2 compression ring lands, if no air leaks are found. If cracked piston ring lands are found, then inspect the cylinder head to determine first or second design. Technician will need to replace the cylinder head if it is the 1st design. Also the pistons rings will need to be placed.
PIP4543C2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about a concern with diagnostic trouble codes P0011, P0014, P0016, or P0017 in the engine control module after a repair involving the camshaft actuators. There is a unique black plastic oil sleeve that is between the end of the cam actuator and the camshaft. This sleeve directs oil into the actuator to adjust the timing. If the sleeve is damaged or missing, the engine control module cannot control the cam actuator movement and will set the diagnostic trouble codes.
PIP4543B2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about a concern with diagnostic trouble codes P0011, P0014, P0016, or P0017 in the engine control module after a repair involving the camshaft actuators. There is a unique black plastic oil sleeve that is between the end of the cam actuator and the camshaft. This sleeve directs oil into the actuator to adjust the timing. If the sleeve is damaged or missing, the engine control module cannot control the cam actuator movement and will set the diagnostic trouble codes.
PIP5051A2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that the Engine Control Module has ended no longer be on restriction through the General Motors Product Quality Center. Dealer can now order part through the normal Customer Care and Aftersales parts process.
PIP4977A2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about melted plastic piece in the engine block deck that may be found when performing mechanical engine repairs. If the Technician finds melted or distorted oil feed restrictor orifice is found, engine replacement is required at this time.
PIC57922017-08-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with the locations of the engine grounds.
PIT3173C2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that fluid contamination may be directed to one of the following testing centers according to the type of fluid needing testing. Dealer should send the correct fluid to the proper testing center.
PIC57732017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY; EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a rattle, clunk or flutter type noise coming from the front of the vehicle while driving. Technician will need to inspect the upper radiator baffle for a loose or missing clip.
PIP5036B2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have oil consumption or blue smoke from the exhaust. Technician will need to inspect the engine oil level and inspect the positive crankcase ventilation hoses, turbo housing, spark plugs, cylinders, intake manifold and air ducts for signs of excessive oil. Technician will also need to follow the latest versions of PI0552 and PIP4925. Technician should record engine compression and cylinder leakage readings. Technician will need to remove all pistons and inspect for cracks in the piston ring lands. Technician will need to replace the pistons including new rings as needed using the part numbers in the catalog and drain the charge air cooler and intake manifold.
PIP51632017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about engine block of possible cylinder bore damage, scoring or out of round as the possible cause of engine oil consumption, misfire, cylinder leakage or blow by. Technician will need to inspect the engine for Cylinder damage or scoring, An out of round cylinder bore, Dirt intrusion, and Catalytic Converter failure.
06-06-01-010C2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE. This informational bulletin provides information on close coupled converters and there affect on newly installed engines or engines during there break in period.
PIP52262017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about finding needle bearings during an oil change. Technician will gain access to the roller rockers to inspect them. Only replace the roller rocker that is missing needle bearings. Be sure to clean the oil drains to retrieve the needle bearings. Each roller rocker has 66 bearings.
PIP5163A2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about engine block of possible cylinder bore damage, scoring or out of round as the possible cause of engine oil consumption, misfire, cylinder leakage or blow by. Technician will need to inspect the engine for Cylinder damage or scoring, An out of round cylinder bore, Dirt intrusion, and Catalytic Converter failure.
PIP4670D2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about a no start or another concern after swapping an Engine Control Module or other modules from one vehicle to another. The Global Architecture electrical system associated with these vehicles does not allow controller swaps between vehicles.
10-00-89-005F2017-07-18. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ENGINE. This informational bulletin provides warranty policy information on revised wiring repair labor operations and required additional information.
10-00-89-005F2017-07-18. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ENGINE. This informational bulletin provides warranty policy information on revised wiring repair labor operations and required additional information.
16-NA-2222017-05-25. Service bulletin. ENGINE. THIS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN PROVIDES THE TECHNICIAN WITH WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO AN ENGINE DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE.
PIP5282A2017-05-18. Service bulletin. ENGINE. THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION ADVISES THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT THE CALCULATION AND OPERATION OF THE ENGINE OIL LIFE MONITOR. THE MONITOR CALCULATES THE PERCENT OF OIL LIFE REMAINING, BASED ON 3 PATHWAYS. THE FIRST PATHWAY FOR OIL LIFE CALCULATION IS ENGINE REVOLUTIONS. THE SECOND PATHWAY FOR OIL LIFE CALCULATION IS THE MILEAGE FORM THE LAST REST FOR ALL GENERAL MOTORS POWERTRAINS EXCEPT THE VOLT. THE THIRD PATHWAY FOR OIL LIFE CALCULATION IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE OIL IS IN THE ENGINE. THE VOLT USES A 2 YEAR TIMER INSTEAD OF 1 YEAR. IT ALSO USES THE ENGINE REVOLUTION COUNTER. IT DOES NOT USE THE MILEAGE PATHWAY TO COUNT DOWN.
PIP5029G2017-05-16. Service bulletin. ENGINE. THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT VEHICLES THAT HAVE A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON OR ENGINE MISFIRE, ROUGH IDLE, EXTENDED CRANK, OR CRANK NO START IN SOME CASES. TECHNICIAN WILL NEED TO PERFORM PUBLISHED SERVICE INFORMATION DIAGNOSTICS. IF TECHNICIAN FINDS CARBON, AN UPPER ENGINE AND VALVE CLEANING SHOULD BE PERFORMED.
PIP4990C2017-03-20. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; ENGINE. THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION ADVISES THE TECHNICIAN THAT SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SERVICE ENGINE SOON THAT COMES ON. TECHNICIAN MAY FIND A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE U0101 CURRENT OR STORED HISTORY. TECHNICIAN SO CHECK TERMINAL PIN FIT AT TRANSMISSION CONNECTOR, UNDER HOOD FUSE BLOCK. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE GROUND WILL NEED TO BE INSPECTED. TECHNICIAN WILL REVIEW THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE INFORMATION DIAGNOSTICS FOR DTC U0101.
PIP4786C2016-10-20. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT VEHICLES THAT MAY HAVE LOW OIL PRESSURE MESSAGE. TECHNICIAN MAY ALSO FIND A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0521 IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. TECHNICIAN SHOULD FOLLOW ALL PUBLISHED SERVICE INFORMATION DIAGNOSIS. WHEN USING A SCAN TOOL IF THE OIL PRESSURE IS LOW BUT THE OIL PRESSURE AT THE OIL FILTER HOUSING IS CORRECT, TECHNICIAN SHOULD INSPECT THE VALVE LIFTER OIL FILTER FOR DEBRIS/SLUDGE THAT COULD BE RESTRICTING OIL FLOW TO THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. TECHNICIAN SHOULD REMOVE THE VALVE LIFTER OIL FILTER AND CLEAN IT. IF THE VALVE LIFTER OIL FILTER CANNOT BE CLEANED REPLACE IT.
PI1394A2016-10-19. Service bulletin. ENGINE. THIS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW TO INSTALL PISTONS AND SUGGEST WHAT TOOLS TO USE.
030604017I2016-10-18. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL. THIS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN EXPLAINS THE USE OF DIESEL FUEL ADDITIVES IN AN ENGINE, ARE NOT REQUIRED UNLESS THE CUSTOMER DESIRES ADDITIVES TO PREVENT FUEL CONCERNS DEPENDING ON FUEL OR TEMPERATURE RELATED CONDITIONS.

The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.