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2019 Chevrolet Sonic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2019 Sonic.

Transmission Automatic (S6)

The 2019 Chevrolet Sonic pairs its S6 automatic transmission with EPA ratings of 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, and requires 4.2 quarts of 5W-30 or 0W-30 oil for service. Within the model’s 2011–2020 lifespan, this model year generated only eight owner complaints—with “Unknown Or Other” cited as the top complaint area—and zero recalls. That figure contrasts sharply with the 353 complaints logged for the 2012 model year, positioning the 2019 Sonic among the most reliable iterations of the generation.

Model year2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 0W-30OEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy26/34/29 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 55593191. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP195/65R15 89HOEM · verified

Wheel / rim6; Optional: 6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	55593191 alt 55565385
Engine air filter	96950990
Spark plug	12681656
Battery	88866291 alt 88866115
Front wiper blades	42495284 alt 95228810
Serpentine belt	55595700
Thermostat	55565619 alt 25200455
Cabin air filter	13503677

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	174 in
Overall width	68.5 in
Overall height	59.8 in
Wheelbase	99.2 in
Curb weight	2848 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.4 / 59.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	26 / 34 / 29 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	91 cu ft
Cargo volume	12 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sonic of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.50 sec — 2019 LT RS 5-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2019	LT RS 5-door Hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	8.50 sec	16.60 sec	138 hp	FWD
2014	RS Turbo Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-4	8.20 sec	16.40 sec	138 hp	FWD
2014	RS Turbo Sedan 1.4L Turbo I-4	8.70 sec	16.70 sec	138 hp	FWD
2013	RS Turbo 5-door Hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	8.10 sec	16.30 sec	138 hp	FWD
2013	RS Turbo 5-door Hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	8.10 sec	16.40 sec	138 hp	FWD
2012	LTZ Turbo 5-door Hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	7.80 sec	16.20 sec	138 hp	FWD
2012	LTZ Turbo 5-door Hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	8.10 sec	16.10 sec	138 hp	FWD
2012	LTZ Turbo 5-door Hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	8.10 sec	16.40 sec	138 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 / 0W-30 engine oil, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	DEXRON®-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	4.2-6.3
Brake Fluid	Dot 3
Clutch Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	Ethylene Glycol DEX-COOL
Engine Coolant Capacity	6.9 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · 0W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	6.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	6.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	71 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	31.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	18.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	15.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	6.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug	22.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Torque	18 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.0-1.6 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Capacity	3.07 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50.0-94.0 Measured at the Fuel Rail
RPM	43.0-58.0 @ Idle rpm
Engine Compression	Cranking Speed
Engine Oil Pressure	22.0 at idle psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	55-94 3000 rpm – 3500 rpm
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in
Exhaust Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	30.0
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	74.0
ABS Sensor Torque	Front: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.197 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: .905; Rear: .393
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish	Front: .945; Rear: .402
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	.0008

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

128°

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages

37.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 60°

37 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

18 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45°.

18 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts

1	26.0 ft. lbs.	26 ft. lbs
2	180 degrees	180 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

26 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 180°.

26 ft. lbs

Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

26.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 30° Step 3: 15°

26 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45°, Step 3: 15°.

44 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

5.9 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5.9

5.9 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 mi	Windshield Wiper Blade (replace)
Every 22,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 75,000 mi	Hood Hinge (inspect)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2019 Chevrolet Sonic sits at the mature tail end of a generation that showed a dramatic and consistent downward trend in federal complaints and recalls from its troubled early years. Complaints peaked at 353 with 7 recalls and 2 investigations in 2012, then declined steadily each subsequent year, reaching just 8 complaints with zero recalls or investigations by 2019 — a figure consistent with the adjacent 2018 (14 complaints, 1 recall) and 2020 (10 complaints, 0 recalls) model years, confirming a stable low-complaint plateau rather than a statistical fluke. The 2019's top complaint areas are thinly distributed across "Unknown or Other" (3), "Engine & Engine Cooling" (2), and single complaints touching electrical, engine, and fuel/propulsion systems — no cluster points to a systemic defect, and the data does not specify root causes for any of these. Notably, there were zero crash-related and zero fire-related complaints recorded for this model year, and TSB volume (577) continued its gradual decline from a high of 1,725 in 2013, suggesting the manufacturer had largely worked through the generation's technical issues by this point. For a buyer considering a used 2019 Sonic, the federal record makes a strong case: this is the lowest-complaint, zero-recall year in the entire generation and represents the safest pick within the Sonic's production run.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

577

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18’19’20

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Unknown Or Other3

Engine & Engine Cooling2

Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1

Engine1

Fuel/Propulsion System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 577 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT6425D	2026-03-02	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue…
PIT6425C	2026-01-16	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sonic. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 47 battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt Engine oil filter 55593191 Engine air filter 96950990 Spark plug 12681656 Battery 88866291

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2019 Sonic take?

4.2 qt of All Temperatures: 5W-30; Temperatures below -20°F 0W-30 should be used., per the factory manual.

Does the 2019 Sonic have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sonic get?

EPA figures are 26 city / 34 highway / 29 combined mpg.