2016 Chevrolet Spark: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 42 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes (47% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jul 2017
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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 well as an independant shop. One technician at the Chevrolet dealership reported he got zero brake pressure and claims that the car needs a new brake pressure modulator. The independant shop reported that they could not replicate the poor brake performance. Two technicians from this shop reported that the car is working as intended.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Oct 2023
“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 also causes a failure in the braking system while at a stop. so after about 16 seconds braking power is reduced to the point of the car rolling forward / backward while the brake pedal is fully depressed.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2022
“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 contact stated that the transmission fluid was flushed and replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2022
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“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 in 5pm traffic, a very small town in non on sunday after church.”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2021
“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.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Nov 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 report · Steering · May 2020
“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 report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2019
“2016 chevy spark ev - 35,233 miles. Driving straight on downhill city street. Stabilitrak failure message appeared, then brakes stopped responding. Steered car into curb to force it to stop. Brake alarm symbol displayed on screen. Car towed to dealership. Dealership said brake electronic control module was faulty & needed replacement and reprogramming. This is 2nd brake related issue. Prior issue was less than 1 month after leasing in oct 2016. Brakes also failed completely.”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Aug 2019
“There were two incidents involving the same problem. While driving the vehicle on the highway and then on a main road the brakes locked and I had to use the emergency brake to bring the vehicle to complete stop. My mechanic replaced the engine brake vacuum pump after both incidents. The pump was broken in pieces on both occasions leading to metal parts falling into the engine during repair and needing to be retrieved to prevent engine damage.”Owner report · Engine · May 2019
“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 they said my brake booster was out and when they took it off the brake booster vacuum also had to be replaced they said this rarely ever happens but there is also been multiple complaints of it and that there is no warning signs”Owner report · Service Brakes · Apr 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.
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."
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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.
How other years compare
Check your exact Spark by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Spark reliable?
NHTSA has 42 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2016 Chevrolet Spark. The most complained-about area is service brakes (47% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Spark problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 16,030 miles or less.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Spark have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning seat belts:pretensioner. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.