Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
Introduction 3
Danger, Warning, and
Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this,” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M: Shown when the owner ’s
manual has additional instructions
or information.
*: Shown when the service
manual has additional instructions
or information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.” Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. See the
features in this manual for
information.
u:
Air Conditioning System
G:Air Conditioning Refrigerant Oil
9:Airbag Readiness Light
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
9:Dispose of Used Components
Properly
P: Do Not Apply High Pressure
Water
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
_: Flame/Fire Prohibited
H:Flammable
[:Forward Collision Alert
R: Fuse Block Cover Lock
Location
+: Fuses
j:ISOFIX/LATCH System Child
Restraints
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
In Brief 13
If necessary, move the seat
belt out of the way to access
the lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release
the lever to lock the seatback
in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
To return the seatback to an upright
position: 1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback, and the seatback
returns to the upright position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
See Reclining Seatbacks 058.
Second Row Seats
The rear seatbacks can be folded
down to increase cargo space.
See Rear Seats 060.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraints
for all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
To achieve a comfortable seating
position, change the seatback
recline angle as little as necessary
while keeping the seat and the head
restraint height in the proper
position.
See Head Restraints 055 and Seat
Adjustment 056.
Seat Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
seat belts properly:
.
Seat Belts 062
. How to Wear Seat Belts Properly
063
. Lap-Shoulder Belt 065
. Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) 089
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
54 Seats and Restraints
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . 57
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Front Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
How to Wear Seat BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 69
Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . 72
When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Passenger Sensing System . . . 76
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 80
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . 81
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Infants and Young Children . . . . 84
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . 86
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . 88
Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) . . . . 89
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the
Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the
Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
56 Seats and Restraints
Rear Seats
The vehicle's rear seats have
adjustable head restraints in the
outboard seating positions.
The height of the head restraint can
be adjusted. Pull the head restraint
up to raise it. Try to move the head
restraint to make sure that it is
locked in place.To lower the head restraint, press
the button, located on the top of the
seatback, and push the head
restraint down. Try to move the
head restraint after the button is
released to make sure that it is
locked in place.
If you are installing a child restraint
in the rear seat, see
“Securing a
Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System” underLower
Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) 089.
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment
Manual Seats
{Warning
You can lose control of the
vehicle if you try to adjust a driver
seat while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust the driver seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
Seats and Restraints 57
To adjust a manual seat:1. Pull up on the handle at the front of the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the
handle.
3. Try to move the seat back and forth to be sure it is locked in
place.
Seat Height Adjuster
If available, move the lever up or
down to manually raise or lower
the seat.
Power Seat Adjustment
{Warning
The power seats will work with
the ignition off. Children could
operate the power seats and be
injured. Never leave children
alone in the vehicle.
To adjust a power seat, if equipped:
.Move the seat forward or
rearward by sliding the control
forward or rearward. .
Raise or lower the front part of
the seat cushion by moving the
front of the control up or down.
. Raise or lower the entire seat by
moving the rear of the control up
or down.
To adjust the seatback, see
Reclining Seatbacks 058.
To adjust the lumbar support, see
Lumbar Adjustment 057.
Lumbar Adjustment
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
60 Seats and Restraints
If equipped, the controls are on the
climate control system. To operate,
the engine must be running.
Press
MorLto heat the driver or
passenger seat. The indicator light
on the control turns on when this
feature is on. Press the control
again to turn this feature off.
The passenger seat may take
longer to heat up.
Remote Start Auto Heated
Seats
If equipped and turned on, when it is
cold outside the heated seats can
be turned on automatically during a
remote vehicle start. The heated
seats will be canceled when the
ignition is turned on. Press the
heated seat controls to use the
heated seats after the vehicle is
started. The heated seat indicator lights do
not turn on during a remote start.
The temperature performance of an
unoccupied seat may be reduced.
This is normal.
See
Vehicle Personalization 0132
and Remote Vehicle Start 038.
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Reminder
If equipped, the message REAR
SEAT REMINDER LOOK IN REAR
SEAT displays under certain
conditions indicating there may be
an item or passenger in the rear
seat. Check before exiting the
vehicle.
This feature will activate when a
second row door is opened while
the vehicle is on or up to 10 minutes
before the vehicle is turned on.
There will be an alert when the
vehicle is turned off. The alert does
not directly detect objects in the rear
seat; instead, under certain
conditions, it detects when a rear
door is opened and closed,
indicating that there may be
something in the rear seat.
The feature is active only once each
time the vehicle is turned on and off,
and will require reactivation by
opening and closing the second row
doors. There may be an alert even
when there is nothing in the rear
seat; for example, if a child entered
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
Seats and Restraints 63
Warning (Continued)
passengers to ride in any area of
the vehicle that is not equipped
with seats and seat belts.
Always wear a seat belt, and
check that all passenger(s) are
restrained properly too.
This vehicle has indicators as a
reminder to buckle the seat belts.
See Seat Belt Reminders 0114.
Why Seat Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travel
as fast as the vehicle does. If the
vehicle stops suddenly, you keep
going until something stops you.
It could be the windshield, the
instrument panel, or the seat belts!
When you wear a seat belt, you and
the vehicle slow down together.
There is more time to stop because
you stop over a longer distance and,
when worn properly, your strongest
bones take the forces from the seat
belts. That is why wearing seat belts
makes such good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Seat Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
seat belt?
A: You could be—whether you are
wearing a seat belt or not. Your
chance of being conscious
during and after a crash, so you
can unbuckle and get out, is
much greater if you are belted. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why
should I have to wear seat
belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental
systems only. They work with
seat belts —not instead of them.
Whether or not an airbag is
provided, all occupants still have
to buckle up to get the most
protection.
Also, in nearly all states and in
all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing seat belts.
How to Wear Seat Belts
Properly
Follow these rules for everyone's
protection.
There are additional things to know
about seat belts and children,
including smaller children and
infants. If a child will be riding in the
vehicle, see Older Children 082 or
Infants and Young Children 084.
Review and follow the rules for
children in addition to the following
rules.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
66 Seats and Restraints
The lap-shoulder belt may lock
if you pull the belt across you
very quickly. If this happens, let
the belt go back slightly to
unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a
passenger belt is pulled out all
the way, the child restraint
locking feature may be
engaged. If this happens, let
the belt go back all the way
and start again.If the webbing locks in the latch
plate before it reaches the
buckle, tilt the latch plate flat to
unlock.
3. Push the latch plate into thebuckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to
make sure it is secure. If the
belt is not long enough, see
Seat Belt Extender 068.
Position the release button on
the buckle so that the seat belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary. 4. If equipped with a shoulder belt
height adjuster, move it to the
height that is right for you. See
“Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster”
in this section for instructions
on use and important safety
information.
5. To make the lap part tight, pull
up on the shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull
stitching on the seat belt
through the latch plate to fully
tighten the lap belt on smaller
occupants.