2016 Chevrolet SPARK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
39,285 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 28 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 35.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 7.1% |
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 | 10 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Service Brakes: 10; Electrical System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Power Train: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Steering: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 6 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 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 6; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10885413 · 2016-07-18 (July 18, 2016)
ON THE WAY BACK TO MY SAN FRANCISCO HOME FROM THE NOVATO CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW BLACK 2016 CHEVROLET SPARK EV MY BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING. JUST COMING OFF THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, ON A SIGNIFICANT DOWNHILL GRADE, MY BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. AT FIRST THE BRAKES STARTED TO BE HARDER TO PUSH AND THEN WITH MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR, PROVIDED ALMOST NO STOPPING POWER. THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS DANGEROUSLY LONG. VERY DANGEROUS! JUST OVER 2 MILES.THERE WAS NO WAY FOR ME TO STOP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY. ONLY MINIMALLY . W…
Owner-reported narrative. 37 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128544 · 2018-09-10 (September 10, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE BEING OPERATED AT A LOW SPEED, THE BRAKES MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 1101 W STATE HIGHWAY 114, GRAPEVINE, TX) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED AND THE BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,659.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,659 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11022737 · 2017-09-11 (September 11, 2017)
CLUTCH WORE OUT ON 2016 CHEVROLET SPARK LS IN LESS THAN 11,000 MILES (JUST OVER 1 YEAR OLD). I AM AN EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION DRIVER WHO HAS DRIVEN OTHER CARS TO OVER 125,000 MILES WITHOUT NEEDING A NEW CLUTCH. CLEARLY DEFECTIVE CLUTCH BUT THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS A "WEAR ITEM". NO, IT WAS A DEFECTIVE ITEM. DON'T BUY CHEVROLET SINCE THEY DON'T STAND BY THEIR VEHICLES AND YOU WILL PAY HUGE REPAIR COSTS FOR THEIR DEFECTS/PROBLEMS.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 11022737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11258676 · 2019-09-28 (September 28, 2019)
I DID MY RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE BY CHEVEROLET DEALERSHIP AND ALL OF SUDDEN MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN BUSY TRAFFIC ON A BUSY ROAD. WOULD NOT TURN ON AT ALL, WOULD NOT GO OUT OF GEAR AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE TOAD BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. BUT BC GM IS ON STRIKE RECEIVED NO LOANER CAR. I'M DISABLED AND SO IS HUSBAND WHO HAS SEVERE BRAIN INJURY. I LIVE WAY OUT IN COUNTRY.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11258676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11078277 · 2018-03-09 (March 9, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SMOKE ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT THE FIRE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SUBSTANTIATE THE CLAIM. THE V…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11078277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11327712 · 2020-06-08 (June 8, 2020)
STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 50 MPH. NO WARNING WAS GIVEN BY THE CAR'S MONITORING SYSTEMS UNTIL THE EVENT HAPPEN AND THERE WAS NO OTHER PREVIOUS STEERING ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. ERROR CODES DID ILLUMINATE ONLY AFTER STEERING WAS GONE AND SHOWED A P 68 ERROR CODE. THE VEHICLE HAS 32,331 MILES ON IT, HAS NO ACCIDENT HISTORY OR MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL REPAIR HISTORY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 32,328 miles reported. Look up ODI 11327712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11388919 · 2021-01-19 (January 19, 2021)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EITHER A 'SERVICE STABILITRAK' OR 'SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST' WARNING LIGHT GOES ON ALONG WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND THE BRAKES LOSE THEIR POWER. IT FEELS LIKE THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT ONLY IT'S THE BRAKES. YOU HAVE TO PUSH WITH ALL OF YOUR POWER TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. ONCE YOU STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARS AND YOU CAN KEEP DRIVING. AFTER THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES WE BROUGHT THIS INTO PUTNAM CHEVROLET IN BURLINGAME AND SPENT $1583.97 TO HAVE THE BRAKES COMPLETE…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11388919 at NHTSA ↗