Chevrolet SPARK EV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
6,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 to 2016 model years. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 25 complaints (72.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 76.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 12.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 18 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seats | 1 |
Service Brakes: 18; Air Bags: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Power Train: 2; Seats: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 |
2016: 5; 2017: 14; 2018: 2; 2019: 4
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10936384 · 2016-12-20 (December 20, 2016)
THE BRAKES ON THE CAR STOPPED WORKING AT FULL POWER, IT TOOK 5X LONGER FOR THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. TOOK TO DEALER, DID RECALL REPAIRS. SAME SYMPTOMS RETURNED AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN THE BRAKES START TO LOOSE FULL BRAKING POWER THERE ARE MANY WARNING LIGHTS THAT APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IS AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE AT THE DEALER AWAITING DIAGNOSES. THE CAR IS UNDER FULL WARRANTY, IT HAS 26K MILES. I WAS GOING ABOUT 50MPH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10936384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10938668 · 2016-12-29 (December 29, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING MY SPARK EV TO THE DEALER AROUND 1:45PM ON 12/29/2016 FOR THEM TO FIX THE NON-FUNCTIONING HEAT, THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER RECALL, AND FAILURE TO FAST-CHARGE. I WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT AT ABOUT 25 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED I TRIED TO STOP BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. IN AN INSTANT I CHECKED TO BE SURE I WASN'T PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THEN PUSHED WITH ALL MY MIGHT EVEN HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED BUT ONLY AFTER COMING WITHIN AN INCH…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,790 miles reported. Look up ODI 10938668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11170477 · 2019-01-16 (January 16, 2019)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE I PLACE IT IN PARK WITHOUT ISSUE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON. ONCE I THEN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AN ERROR APPEARS STATING "SHIFT TO PARK. THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN IN PARK WITHOUT ANY ISSUE PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO FULLY SHUT DOWN, DRAINING THE ACCESSORY 12V BATTERY AS IT REMAINS CONNECTED TO BLUETOOTH, THE TAIL LIGHTS REMAIN ON, AND AN INTERIOR WARNING NOISE CONTINUES TO RING. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 12K MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11170477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11204223 · 2019-04-28 (April 28, 2019)
CONTEXT: IT WAS A WET EVENING HERE IN PORTLAND, OR (8:15PM PDT, APRIL 13TH) AND I WAS GETTING NEW TIRES THE FOLLOWING WEEK, SO I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE LONGEVITY OF THE TIRES. ALSO, WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS SOMETHING I READ ONLINE BEFORE BUYING THE SPARK. I MADE A LEGAL U-TURN TO GET TO THE ENTRANCE OF FRED MEYER (A KROGER STORE) AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR HARD ENOUGH (~60% THROTTLE) TO SPIN THE TIRES AND THE TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATED. I THEN SAW THE SEMI-HIDDEN ENTRANCE AND HIT THE BRAKES HARD MAKE A RIGHTHAND TURN INTO FRED MEYER. THE BRAKES E…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11204223 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 2