2016 Chevrolet SPARK

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Chevrolet SPARK has 36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: 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. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 1 crash report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

10 complaints

28%

• 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
• 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 BR
• AS I WAS DRIVING MY BRAKES GOT HARD PREVENTING ME FROM STOPPING ,I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO PICK MY SISTER UP AND AS I WENT TO STOP TO TURN INTO HER DRIVEWAY MY BRAKES ARE SUPER HARD AND I WAS UNABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP FOR ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET IT INSPECTED T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

5 complaints

14%

• 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!
• THE FRONT LIGHTS APPEAR TO HAVE A DEFECT IN THEM. WHEN I HAVE A BULB REPLACE IT GOES RIGHT OUT. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 11/19/2018. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED TWICE ALREADY AND THE OIL INDICATOR CONTINUES TO COME ON.
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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!”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

14%

• 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
• 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 FIR
• RANDOMLY WHEN I GET INTO MY CAR AND CRANK THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH,SCREEN WILL APPEAR- OTHER TIMES THEY WILL NOT. RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING SHE WILL JUST BE DRIVING NORMAL AND IMMEDIATELY SHE SHUTS DOWN AND OFF WITH NO WARNING SIGNS AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE PURC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

4 complaints

11%

• 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
• RANDOMLY WHEN I GET INTO MY CAR AND CRANK THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH,SCREEN WILL APPEAR- OTHER TIMES THEY WILL NOT. RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING SHE WILL JUST BE DRIVING NORMAL AND IMMEDIATELY SHE SHUTS DOWN AND OFF WITH NO WARNING SIGNS AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE PURC
• The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the transmission was slipping, and the cruise control was not operating correctly. Additionally, the RPM was elevated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagn

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

2 complaints

• 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".
• THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN. THE CAR WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE WIPER MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND PULLED TOO MUCH AMPERAGE THAT IT BURNED INTERNAL FUSE BOX RELAY. WIPER MOTOR AND FUSE BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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".”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 36 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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!
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)