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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.

By type

By component

By trouble code

By topic

Bulletins, newest first
PIC4310H2017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicle that may have an OnStar system that has progression tones when pressing the blue or red button. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center with the scan tool data from the OnStar system.
PIT4733J2017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that customers may inquire as to the availability of OnStar bluetooth on their vehicle. Technician should be advised that Vehicles with Regular Production Option Code (UPF or UWE) offer Bluetooth through the OnStar system.
PIC5687B2017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that loose connection between the vehicle and a Bluetooth phone. Technician will need to use a scan tool to check the "Firmware Over-the-Air" value. If the "Firmware Over-the-Air" value is up to date and customer's concern is still present contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
PIC57812017-08-15. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a rotational noise coming from the rear of the vehicle during brake apply. Technician will need to follow published Service Information diagnostics. If the inspection and normal diagnosis does not identify the cause of this concern contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center to start a case. Dealer should communicate to the customer that we apologize for this inconvenience and that General Motors is working on a solution for this concern.
PIC57802017-08-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that some vehicles may have an Antilock Braking System Malfunction Indicator Lamp on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code C0035 sym 0F and or C0040 sym 0F. Technician will need to follow the latest version of PI0276 and inspect the wiring first. Technician will also need to inspect the wheel bearings and hubs for excessive play causing an excessive air gap.
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.
PIP5050A2017-08-15. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 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 if the vibration is fourth gear only verify correct shift system adjustment and if no change.
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.
PIC57782017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that only play Bluetooth audio music from the left speaker. When using a Bluetooth device for phone calls, audio will only come out of the left speaker. This is normal operation. If the concern is present with music streaming verify the audio device (including cell phones) is linked to the Bluetooth music. The device will need to be paired a second time to the radio for music steaming.
PIT4907A2017-08-15. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about brake rotors on new vehicles and replacement parts from General Motors Service Parts Operations. Technician should be advised the costing should not be removed from the brake rotor it will wear off with normal brake usage. Dealer should communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle.
PIP4902F2017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that General Motors Technical Assistance Center may ask for Global Diagnostic System 2 Session Log. Technician will need use Global Diagnostic System 2 to send the session logs to General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance on the vehicle in question.
PIP4902E2017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that General Motors Technical Assistance Center may ask for Global Diagnostic System 2 Session Log. Technician will need use Global Diagnostic System 2 to send the session logs to General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance on the vehicle in question.
PIC5491A2017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an OnStar system that will not power up. Technician should turn off the ignition and cancel retained accessory power. After the vehicle has powered down, remove power to the OnStar module for five minutes. After the power has been removed for five minutes, if the OnStar system is working release the vehicle. If the OnStar system is still inoperative continue with published Service Information diagnostics.
PIC4935D2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that during battery parasitic drain test, there may be some confusion as to what the normal power consumption reading should be from the OnStar system. Technician should understand the power cycles of the various OnStar systems. All Generation 6, 7, 8, and 9 systems are powered up continuously for 48 hours from ignition off. After 120 hours from ignition off, these systems then completely power off. The Onstar modules draw: * IGN ON - 240 to 400 Milliamp. * IGN OFF - 3 to 20 Milliamp for 48 hours or 120 hours on Gen 9 and vehicle communication platforms. * IGN OFF - 0.2 to 0.8 Milliamp after 48 hours or 120 hours on Gen 9 and vehicle communication platforms.
PIP4902D2017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that General Motors Technical Assistance Center may ask for Global Diagnostic System 2 Session Log. Technician will need use Global Diagnostic System 2 to send the session logs to General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance on the vehicle in question.
PIC5719A2017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician there are revised roof rack installation torque specifications. Technician will need to use the new torque tool when installing the General Motors accessories roof rack.
PIT3099J2017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about installing General Motors Accessory parts. Technician can check Service Information for some accessories. Technician can also contact Partech for assistance.
PIC57592017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a message on the radio "maximum number of phones are currently paired to the vehicle". Dealer should advise the customer this is normal operation of the vehicle due to the maximum number of five phones can be paired to a vehicle.
PIC57532017-08-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION; STEERING:COLUMN; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH; STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that some customers may comment that when returning to the vehicle the ignition key requires high effort or may not turn from the lock position. Technician should be advised that this model is equipped with a steering column lock. If the vehicle is turned off with the steering wheel turned it may rotate back against the steering lock causing the lock to bind, resulting in the key cylinder binding.
PIC57472017-08-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician with a diagnostic tip and additional information for high speed local area network diagnostics. Technician may find circuits 2500 & 2501 and performing a resistance test a technician may find approximately 58.5 Ohms of resistance across pins 6 & 14 of the Assembly Line Data Link. Technician should be advised that it has been identified that on the Sonic this is a normal reading.
PIC58622017-08-15. Service bulletin. EXTERIOR LIGHTING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have brake lights remain on with the vehicle off and parked and/or the vehicle battery goes dead. Technician will need to inspect for aftermarket parts.
PIC5491D2017-08-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an OnStar system that will not power up. Technician should turn off the ignition and cancel retained accessory power. After the vehicle has powered down, remove power to the OnStar module for five minutes. After the power has been removed for five minutes, if the OnStar system is working release the vehicle. If the OnStar system is still inoperative continue with published Service Information diagnostics. Technician may need to contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center depending on the STID, Station ID, or OnStar Customer Identifier.
PIC5492B2017-08-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D-37 history in the Vehicle Communication Interface Module or telematics communication interface control module. Engineering has determined that this code will only display in history on the scan tool and will not cause issues with OnStar system operation.
PIT52362017-08-15. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance. If the Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D has a sym 37 set please refer to the latest version of PIC5492.
PIC5781A2017-08-15. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM; SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DRUM:DRUM; SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a rotational noise coming from the rear of the vehicle during brake apply. Technician will need to replace both brake drums and brake shoes.

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