2016 Chevrolet Spark problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (10) · Electrical System (3) · Visibility/Wiper (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Spark model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-05-09 · campaign 17V307000 · 55,068 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (756)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-21 · PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pi to help diagnose a/c concern
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 756 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-12-10 · Fuel/Propulsion System“while driving in early 2025, my 2016 chevrolet spark ev suddenly lost all ability to accelerate. the vehicle remained powered on but would not respond to the accelerator, and i was unable to fully shut it off. this created a safety hazard because i could not properly control or secure the vehicle, and it required towing. i replaced the 12v battery…”
2025-05-11 · Unknown Or Other“i am the owner of a 2016 spark ev, and the driver was my family member. the vehicle was charged and had a remaining driving range of 51 miles when the vehicle suddenly shut down on a major city road without any prior warning or symptoms of a problem. the vehicle did not restart immediately, and other drivers behind had to push the vehicle to the si…”
2023-10-20 · Air Bags · 44,813 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owned a 2016 chevrolet spark. the contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle was t-bone crashed into on the driver's side by a second vehicle. during the crash, the driver-side curtain air bags did not immediately deploy. the contact indicated that the air bag deployed approximately one minute after the crash ha…”
2023-10-09 · Service Brakes“i was driving downhill with the car in l on a highway and brakes failed. i could not engage the brakes at all but somehow the car slowed to a stop and i managed to pull into a parking spot and park. two lights came on: service intellitrak and service brake assist. the car has been inspected by the chevrolet dealership that sold the car to me as wel…”
2022-07-20 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:fluid/Lubricant · 85,000 mi“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 diagnosed; however, no failure was determined. the cont…”
2022-07-08 · Service Brakes“both brake assist and stabilitrack go out in conjunction with failure lights (no fore-warning). the vehicle was repaired by a chevrolet dealership with qualified ev tech. within two weeks that same brake system failures occurred. the issue greatly increases the force needed to press the brake pedal and lengthens braking distance significantly. it a…”
2022-02-17 · Service Brakes“i have had my 2016 chevrolet spark ev in for repairs to three chevy dealers for issues regarding random brake stuttering and complete brake failure resulting in running stop lights and stop signs going 30> mph. failure and issues are intermittent, but it appears to be an overly sensitive abs/ regenerative braking system locking up the wheels and ca…”
2021-03-01 · Steering · 96,777 mi“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 purchase of her. it has been on a interstate highway …”
2021-01-19 · Service Brakes · 31,000 mi“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…”
2020-12-15 · Visibility/Wiper · 49,500 mi“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.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.