2015 Chevrolet SPARK EV
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2015 Chevrolet SPARK EV has 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (50% of all complaints), specifically: there was a "service stabiltrac" warning followed immediately by a "service brake assist" warning message. immediately afterwards there was a total brake failure while in motion on a highway (approx. 50-60 mph)..
10
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
BRAKES
5 complaints- • THERE WAS A "SERVICE STABILTRAC" WARNING FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING MESSAGE. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY (APPROX. 50-60 MPH).
- • TWO WARNINGS FLASHED: "SERVICE STABILITRAC" FOLLOWED BY "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST." IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. LUCKILY WE WERE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND THERE WASN'T MUCH TRAFFIC SO WE WERE ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT
- • THERE WAS A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING THAT FLASHED AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A BRAKE FAILURE WHILE IN MOTION. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND WE WERE UNABLE TO STOP ON A CITY STREET.
“THERE WAS A "SERVICE STABILTRAC" WARNING FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING MESSAGE. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY (APPROX. 50-60 MPH).”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
3 complaints- • WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY, THE "SERVICE STABILITRAC" WARNING APPEARS FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING. THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRES EXTREME EFFORT TO SLOW OR STOP THE CAR. THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING IS ALSO DISABLED. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, THE CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK
- • ON STATIONARY CAR START, SIMULTANEOUSLY RECEIVED A SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING AND SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING.
- • 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 ENTRANC
“WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY, THE "SERVICE STABILITRAC" WARNING APPEARS FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING. THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRES EXTREME EFFORT TO SLOW OR STOP THE CAR. THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING IS ALSO DISABLED. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, THE CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
1 complaints- • ON STATIONARY CAR START, SIMULTANEOUSLY RECEIVED A SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING AND SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING.
“ON STATIONARY CAR START, SIMULTANEOUSLY RECEIVED A SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING AND SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
1 complaints- • 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 ENTRANC
“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 ENTRANC”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 10 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐BRAKES: THERE WAS A "SERVICE STABILTRAC" WARNING FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING MESSAGE. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY (APPROX. 50-60 MPH).
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY, THE "SERVICE STABILITRAC" WARNING APPEARS FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING. THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRES EXTREME EFFORT TO SLOW OR STOP THE CAR. THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING IS ALSO DISABLED. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, THE CAR CAN BE TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: ON STATIONARY CAR START, SIMULTANEOUSLY RECEIVED A SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING AND SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: 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 ENTRANC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet SPARK EV — Year Comparison
How does 2015 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 10
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2015 Chevrolet SPARK EV