What 146 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Spark EV

AFTER START UP THE ENGINE LIGHT IS FLASHING AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A CLUNK. AFTER A MIN OR SO HAS PASSED THE LIGHTS GO AWAY. IF YOU GO IN REVERSE AFTER THIS HAS OCCURRED, SWITCHING THE GEARS, THERE WILL BE A CLUNK. AS YOU CHANGE THE GEARS TO DRIVE THE CAR WILL NO GO MORE THAN A CERTAIN MILE PER HOUR. AROUND 20.

NHTSA ODI 11204312

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND IN DRIVE STALLED UNSAFE TO DRIVE 140,000 MILES HAD TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION ALL FREEWAY MILES UNSAFE. IF GOING FROM A STOP GIVE IT GAS AND TRANSMISSION WOULD ALL OF SUDDEN JUST GO AND WOULD ALMOST HIT CAR IN FRONT OF YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11163607

ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY CAR, WHILE DRIVING, STARTED ACTING UP. MY ODOMETER WOULD FLUCTUATE AND NOT GIVE ME MY SPEED, MY LOWER TIRE PRESSURE CAME ON, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING WOULD GO IN AND OUT, AND ACCELERATION WOULD FLUCTUATE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT, AFTER 3 DAYS OF HEARING NOTHING I CALLED AND THEY TOLD ME SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ONSTAR MODULE. AFTER 4 DAYS OF HAVING MY CAR BACK, SAME PROBLEMS. BROUGHT IT BACK IN, THEY CALLED AN ENGINEER IN SINCE THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON AND A WEEK LATER I GOT MY CAR BACK. 4 DAYS LATER I AGAIN HAD TO BRING IT IN FOR THE SAME STUFF AND AFTER 9 DAYS OF PLAYING PHONE TAG THEN GAVE IT BACK. I HAVE HAD MY CAR BACK FOR 2 WEEKS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, TODAY WHILE 35 MILES AWAY FROM HOME EVERY SINGLE LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASH BOARD. MY ODOMETER DIDNT WORK AT ALL AND I COULD ONLY GO 30 MILES PER HOUR. I STOPPED MY CAR, SHUT IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND NOTHING CHANGED. THE NEWEST ORDEAL IS MY BREAK LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND BEEP AT ME ANYWHERE FROM 3 SECONDS TO 5 MINUTES. WITH IT BEING THE HOLIDAYS AND HAVING TO WORK ALL WEEK I SEE NO POINT IN BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR NOTHING TO BE FIXED FOR A 4TH TIME AND BEING WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE I'M ONLY 20 FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG WHEN I HAVE A JOB TO GET TO THAT'S ONLY 5 MINUTES AWAY. I'M AM SO BEYOND IRRITATED AND WANT TO THROW THIS CAR INTO A TRASH CAN.

NHTSA ODI 11162975

AFTER SETTING THE "CHILD PROTECTION" ON BOTH REAR DOORS BECAUSE OF MY NEW GRANDBABY I NO LONGER NEEDED IT SINCE HE WAS NO LONGER A BABY I DECIDED TO TAKE "CHILD PROTECTION" OFF. DOORS STILL WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. LEFT DOOR OUTSIDE HANDLE BROKE AS WELL SO IT COULD NOT OPEN AT ALL. HAVING EXTENDED WARRANTY I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS TIME FOR OIL CHANGE AND NEEDING OTHER PROBLEMS REPAIRED AS WELL. LEFT DOOR REPAIRS WERE"HANDLE SEPARATED"AND "REPLACED OUTSIDE HANDLE" WHICH WARRANTY COVERED. RIGHT DOOR WAS DECLINED COVERAGE BECAUSE IT WAS "THE CLIP FOR INSIDE CABLE TO HANDLE HAD SEPARATED". COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WAS? CLIP VS HANDLE?? SERVICE CONSULTANT WAS PUZZLED AS WELL? NEEDLESS TO SAY DOOR STILL ONLY OPENS FROM OUTSIDE. HAVING MANUAL LOCKS FIGURED I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS IN FUTURE. NEVER FIGURED A "MANUAL CHILD PROTECTOR" WOULD CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS. DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS DOOR STILL IS UNREPAIRED. I KNOW THAT IN SOME INCIDENTS IT ONLY TAKES ONE SPLIT SECOND BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. GOD FORBID SOMEONE LOOSES THERE LIFE BECAUSE OF A SPLIT SECOND TOO LATE. MAYBE YOU COULD EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE AND IF OTHERS ARE HAVING ANY PROBLEMS AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11151392

MY ENGINE STARTED SHAKING WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON. THE CAR WOULDN'T LET ME GET OUT OF GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11133186

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD INDEPENDENTLY OPEN AND CLOSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PLATTNER'S ARCADIA CHEVROLET BUICK (210 S BREVARD AVE, ARCADIA, FL 34266, (863) 869-2228), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11105199

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM NOT FIXABLE BY CHEVROLET

NHTSA ODI 11099123

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN AND THE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN HIESTER CHEVROLET (3100 N MAIN ST, FUQUAY VARINA, NC 27526) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT DUE TO A FAILURE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,214.

NHTSA ODI 11090161

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD HIGH PITCH SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SPEED TO GO PAST 20 MPH. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THE FAILURE WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11081331

MY SPARK HAS 32K MILES ON IT. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND CODE 95 (SERVICE AIRBAGS) SHOWS ON THE DISPLAY WHENEVER SOMEONE IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THERE ARE MANY CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND GM REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I WISH NHTSA WOULD LOOK INTO THIS AND MANDATE A REPAIR AT GM'S EXPENSE.

NHTSA ODI 11080207

THE LEFT FRONT SPEAKER IN MY 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK STARTED TO SPORADICALLY GO OUT AND HAS NOW GONE OUT COMPLETELY. THIS MEANS I HAVE NO WARNING CHIMES. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I HAVE THE CAR STATIONARY OR MOVING.

NHTSA ODI 11079152

CAR LOST POWER AND WILL NOT GO OVER 5 MILES PER HOUR WHILE IN DRIVE. I WAS ON A CITY STREET WHEN THIS OCCURED.

NHTSA ODI 11071775

THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION OF THE CRUISE AND COMMUNICATION CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS DRIVING AT NIGHT AS THERE IS NO WAY TO SEE THE CONTROLS AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11061336

ENGINE REMAINS RUNNING AFTER IGNITION IS TURNED OFF WHEN PARKED AFTER DRIVING MORE THAN 20 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY. DAUGHTER REPORTS THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST SIX MONTH. THE ENGINE IS GROWLING WHEN DRIVING INDICATING SOME TYPE OF FAILURE OF COMPONENTS. THIS OCCURRED ON OUR STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. .

NHTSA ODI 11022892

2013-2015 CHEVY SPARKS HAVE ISSUES WITH THE KR12B WINDSHIELD WIPER RELAY INTERNAL TO THE UHFB TO BE INOPERABLE. NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE FUSE-BLOCK. IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT ONLY ROSNER CHEVY IN MELBOURNE FL IS THE ONLY AUTO STORE IN THE STATE YOU CAN BUY PARTS FOR THIS VEHICLE. ROSNER CHEVY ONLY ALLOWS SHEEP TO VISIT THEM. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIX YOUR VEHICLE YOURSELF THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE. THEY ALSO CHARGE OVER $100.00 JUST TO TELL YOU WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEN THEY MARK UP THE PRICE OF THE PART IF YOU GET IT FIXED WITH THEM AND CHARGE YOU FOR LABOR. YOU CAN ONLY BUY ONE MANUEL FOR THIS VEHICLE FROM HELMS AND IT IS FOR MECHANICS. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT ONLY ONE COMPANY KNOWS HOW TO FIX. ROSNER CHEVY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT GIVE INFORMATION OUT BECAUSE IT IS TOP SECRET GM INFORMATION THAT WE AS CONSUMERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE. THIS IS ILLEGAL AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THERE SHOULD BE MANUALS AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT DON'T COST $200.00. HAYNES PLEASE MAKE A MANUEL FOR CHEVY SPARKS SINCE GM WON'T. HAVING ONLY 27661 MILES ON A 2013 CHEVY SPARK THERE SHOULD NOT BE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED GM TO GET AWAY WITH AND IT NEEDS TO STOP. GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX ALL KR12B WINDSHIELD WIPER RELAY FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THEY SOLD US FAULTY ONES. BECAUSE THERE IS NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE CONSUMER. I REPLACED A WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT BAD BECAUSE WHEN TESTED BY A MECHANIC IT TESTED BAD BUT REALLY IT WAS THE WIPER RELAY THAT WAS BAD.

NHTSA ODI 11019319

I LIVE IN FLORIDA FIRST OF ALL. IT RAINS LIKE EVERY DAY. I PURCHASED A 2013 CHEVY SPARK ON 10/19/2015 WITH ONLY 11,053 MILES. NOW IT IS 8/14/2017 WITH ONLY 27,273 MILES AND THE FRONT WIPER BLADES STOPPED WORKING. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND EVEN REPLACED THEM STILL DOES NOT WORK. THE MOTOR FOR THE WIPER BLADES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 27,000 MILES. TRIED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY 89.99 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM IT IS MOST LIKELY THE MOTOR FOR THE FRONT WIPER BLADES. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS TO BE FIXED. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED WORKING THIS EARLY. I CAN'T EVEN ORDER THIS PART FROM THE PARTS STORES I HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALER. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO DRIVE AROUND WITH NO WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I WAS ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM HOME WHEN THE FRONT WIPERS STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11015112

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-222-1020 AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11011928

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHOTTENKIRK CHEVROLET (755 W HICKMAN ROAD, WAUKEE, IA 50263 (515) 987-8575) TO HAVE A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE SERVICE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS PERFORMING THE TASK OF BLEEDING THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE BLEEDER VALVE WAS INOPERABLE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BLEEDER VALVE ON THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 10993824

CAR WILL START TO JERK WHEN ACCELERATING AND LOOSE POWER AND NOT SHIFT. ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES AND SOMETIMES TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAYS ON AS WELL DURING THIS. IF YOU SHUT OFF ENGINE WAIT FOR FEW MINUTES THEN START IT'S OK. HAPPENS WHEN EVER. JUST HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND TODAY.

NHTSA ODI 10992824

USED CAR W/36,000 MILES AND/OR 1 YR WRNTY. UNDER A YR, BUT OUTSIDE OF MILEAGE, CHECK ENG LIGHT STARTS COMING ON TO THE DAY, FROM FEB 28, 2017 TO MAY 28, 2017. FROM FEB 28 TO MAR 27 TO APRIL 27 HAVE HAD TO DO OIL CHANGE. CHECK ENG LIGHT WOULD NO LONGER BE ON AFTER OIL CHANGE. THEN CAR STARTED MAKING EXCESSIVELY LOUD NOISE AT 77,000 MILES SO LOUD NO ONE COULD HEAR ME WHILE ON MY BLUE TOOTH. CHEVY DEALER & A SHOP RAN A DIAGNOSTIC BUT NO ERROR CODES IN APRIL & MAY. SHOP TELLS ME TIRES ARE CUPPING, I NEED NEW TIRES THAT WERE PRETTY MUCH NEW AT USED CAR DEALER. CHEVY DEALER TELLS ME NO ERROR CODES ON DIAGNOSTIC PLUS I NEED WHEEL HUB BEARINGS, TIRE SHOP TELLS ME THE TIRES NEED REPLACING, DOES A THOROUGH INSPECT WHILE CAR IS ON LIFT, SAYS PROBLEM IS STRUTS IN FRONT NEED REPLACING IMMEDIATELY & SHOCKS NEED REPLACING SOON ON BACK THEN SAYS WHEEL HUB BEARINGS ARE FINE, IT'S THE HUB BRACKET THAT IS LOOSE & MAKING RATTLING NOISE ALONG WITH BAD TIRE NOISE. THIS IS AT 80,000 MILES. GOT TIRES, NO MONEY TO DO OTHER WORK. SMALL LOCAL SHOP NEAR HOME CONFIRMS BIG O IS CORRECT, TIRES ARE CUPPED & IT'S DUE TO BAD FRONT SHOCKS. HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR 80,000 MILES MAY 3 DEALER LOOKS AT REASON FOR DECELERATION WHICH STARTED END OF APRIL, SLOWING TO ALMOST A CRAWL ON FREEWAY WHILE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR, DEALER SAYS THEY DROVE CAR, CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. COULDN'T BE, MILEAGE ON CAR SAME WHEN PICKED UP AS WHEN DROPPED OFF. MAY 28, 2017 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, CAR STARTED KNOCKING, GOT TO WORK 70 MILES FROM HOME, NOTICED ON A FULL TANK OF GAS, CAR WAS USING FUEL AT RAPID PACE SITTING ON IDLE IN PARKING LOT. STARTED WITH 214 MILES TO DRIVE ON FULL TANK OF GAS, INDICATOR SHOWS 104 MILES LEFT OFF 70 MILE TRIP THEN DROPPED TO 96 WHILE SITTING IDLE FOR A LESS THAN A MINUTE IN PARKING LOT! MOTHER TELLS ME TURN OFF ENGINE. SAID CHECK TO SEE IF FUEL IS DRIPPING UNDER CAR. IT IS NOT.

NHTSA ODI 10991990

MY 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK LS AC STARTED TO HAVE VERY INSUFFICIENT AC LAST SUMMER IN 2016. THEN THE AC STARTED TO STOP WORKING NOW IN APRIL 2017 (WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION). IT'S GOING TO BE INTOLERABLE IN THE SUMMER TIME WITHOUT AC. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE 2013 CHEVY SPARK. THE GM COMPANY DOES NOT WANT TO HELP ME GET IT FIXED AFTER ME CONTACTING THEM SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10980233

MY DAUGHTER IS DRIVING HER 2013 CHEVY SPARK ON A STATE HIGHWAY, SHE'S STARTING TO BRAKE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. THE AIR BAGS -STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE DEPLOY. THIS CAUSES HER TO REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, BRUISING HER LEGS AND THIGHS. THERE WAS TROUBLE BREATHING DUE TO THE CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM THE AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ODI 10958471

THIS CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN EVEN WHEN CLUTCH IS ON. ALSO THE MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE IT GOING TO BLOW OUT ON ITS OWN AND STOPS AND GOES AS FAST IT CAME. THIS CARS HAS ONLY 53000 MILES AND HAS BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 10957964

THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR A SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WHICH WAS REPAIRED IN EARLY FALL, SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2016. THE PART WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE SAME PART FAILED A SECOND TIME, FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY 2017. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS THE SAME PART THAT FAILED. AFTER THREE DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE PLASTIC AT THE END OF THE CABLE WAS ALSO BROKEN. WHEN I ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN THEY HAD NO ANSWERS. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TALKED TO A MECHANIC AND HAD HIM SHOW ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS BROKEN. THIS CAR HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND, ALSO THE PART THAT HE SHOWED ME WAS NOT BROKEN WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP HAD BROKE IT, BUT THIS PARTICULAR MECHANIC WAS AFRAID OF LOSING HIS JOB. THIS DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY $100 FOR THE REPAIR. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR FOUR WEEKS WITH NO ETA ON THE PART. IF THERE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT PART IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HOW COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE A WHERE AND TEAR ITEM? THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THE HOOD LATCH COULD LET GO AND THE HOOD COULD FLY UP AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE HOOD LATCH LET GO. WHEN I SHOWED UP AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS AND INSTRUCTED ME TO COME BACK WHEN THE PART CAME IN. I WAS HORRIFIED THAT THEY WANTED ME TO DRIVE AWAY WITH THIS CAR AND REQUESTED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DID GIVE ME A LOANER CAR. THEY ARE NOT GOOD ABOUT ANSWERING THE PHONE AND DO NOT CALL ME BACK. I'VE HAD TO PHYSICALLY SHOW UP TO EVEN SPEAK TO SOMEBODY.

NHTSA ODI 10950036

TAKATA RECALL ENGINE IDLES HIGH TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES DOES NOT SHIFT

NHTSA ODI 10946893