2016 Chevrolet SPARK: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10873642 · 2016-06-10 (June 10, 2016)
THE HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE TOO FAR FORWARD. IF I ADJUST THE SEAT TO SIT UP STRAIGHT, THEN MY HEAD IS TOO FAR FORWARD. SO I HAVE TO LEAN BACK IN MY SEAT IN ORDER FOR MY HEAD TO BE STRAIGHT. AFTER ONLY ONE MONTH OF DRIVING, MY BACK IS KILLING ME!
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873642 at NHTSA ↗
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 10936779 · 2016-12-21 (December 21, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENTERTAINMENT SCREEN AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10936779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10944321 · 2017-01-11 (January 11, 2017)
2016 SPARK VEHICLES BUILD WITH CONVEX MIRROR IN THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS GIVE YOU A FALSE IMAGE OF VEHICLES, AND WHEN YOU SWITCH LANE VEHICLES ARE CLOSER THAT THEY APPEAR. ALSO PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR DON'T HAVE THE LEGEND: "OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR".
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10944321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947068 · 2017-01-23 (January 23, 2017)
TL-
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947068 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 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 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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V307000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2017-05-09 (May 9, 2017)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Spark vehicles. In the event of a crash, if a young child is seated improperly and not wearing a seat belt while in the front passenger seat, deployment of the front passenger air bag may injure the occupant's neck. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: In the event of a crash with a frontal air bag deployment, an unbelted child in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17199.
NHTSA campaign record ↗