What 146 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Spark EV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING ERROR MESSAGE (CODE 95) DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,441.

NHTSA ODI 10920492

I WAS IN A VERY BAD CAR ACCIDENT AND NOT ONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED . IT IS SQUISHED IT WAS HIT IN THE FRONT VERY HARD WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE AIRBAGS TO POOF OUT AND HELP IN THESE SITUATIONS. I WAS HEADED DOWN AN OFF RAMP ONTO TURN PIKE AND A CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP SWERVED TO MERGE AND CAR INFANT OF ME DID THE SAME AND WE COLLIDED

NHTSA ODI 10914389

I TOOK MY CHEVY SPARK TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAFETY RECALL TO THE RADIO. DEALER COMPLETED RECALL AND THE NEXT DAY MY RADIO HAVING ISSUES. THE BUTTONS ON THE RADIO WERE NOT RESPONDING TO TOUCH. THE DEALER STATED THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY ISSUES. APPROX 1 MONTH LATER, I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A HARDWARE ISSUE. THE MANAGER AT DEALER STATED THAT THEY DONT HAVE ANY TESTS TO DETERMINE WHAT HARDWARE ISSUE THE RADIO WAS HAVING BUT STATED IT WASNT RELATED TO SAFETY RECALL. THE MANAGER ALSO ADVISED THAT GM WOULD NOT PAY FOR A NEW RADIO AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE IT. I USED A 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND FILED COMPLAINT WITH GM RISK MANAGEMENT. THE MANAGER FOR THE CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM SPOKE WITH LOCAL DEALER AND STATED THAT THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A HARDWARE ISSUE AND NOT RELATED TO RECALL. BOTH GM AND LOCAL DEALER UNABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY DOCUMENTS SUPPORTING THEIR CONCLUSION. GM ALSO STATED THAT RECALL WAS NOT A SAFTEY RECALL AND THAT RECALL WAS DONE FOR SIMPLE SOFTWARE ISSUES. DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THEY USED A FOREIGN OBJECT (USB) TO COMPLETE SOFTWARE UPDATE. NO ISSUES WITH RADIO BEFORE RECALL WORK. GM WONT REIMBURSE ME FOR $100 DEDUCTIBLE THAT WAS PAID DIRECTLY BY ME. EXTENDED WARRANTY PAID FOR REMAINDER OF RADIO REPLACEMENT. GM STATED THEY WONT REIMBURSE BECAUSE CAR IS PAST BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY

NHTSA ODI 10898330

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V422000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. WHILE RECIEVING THE RECALL REPAIR, THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER FAILED DUE TO THE WORK BEING PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10897717

CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 30 MPH IN A 50 MPH ZONE.... I HAD TO TURN MY HAZARDS ON AND WAS SCARED TO DRIVE IT ANY FURTHER. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS OR INDICATIONS OF ANY ISSUES PRIOR. COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BLUE! GOOGLED RECALLS AND THERE IS ONE ON DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS MAKE MODEL YEAR BUT NOT ON MY VIN...... DID THEY MISS ME?

NHTSA ODI 10884007

SLOWLY PULLED CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY. ENTERED THE GARAGE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. HALF WAY INTO GARAGE, THE ENGINE OVER ACCELERATED AND MADE THE CAR LUNGE FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES WENT INTO ABS MODE, WITH PULSATING. THE CAR RAMMED INTO SOME STORAGE TOTES AND ALSO MY SNOWBLOWER. THE OVER ACCELERATION OF THE ENGINE STOPPED. ALL OF THIS TOOK ABOUT 10 - 15 SECONDS. NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPED THIS CAR. NO, I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR WENT INTO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER 2 DAYS LATER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY RAN SOME TESTS, HAD IT UP ON A LIFT & EVEN HAD A MECHANIC TAKE IT OUT TO TRY TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THESE OVER & UNDER ACCELERATION PROBLEMS BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST! MY CAR HAS A FEW MINOR DENTS ON THE HOOD, FROM FALLING TOTES MY SNOWBLOWER IS SLIGHTLY DENTED BUT MY NERVES ARE SHOT. I AM REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10874275

TAKATA RECALL: I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE OCT 9 2015 WITH 56K MILES ON IT. FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED IT UP TO TODAY I HAVE BEEN HEARING A HUMMING/BUZZING/WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $500. THE NOISE CAN BE HEARD ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND RUNNING AND IT CAN BE HEARD INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPED OR MOVING. IT CAN BE HEARD FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND HAS ONLY GOT WORSE SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. I AM A PART TIME UBER DRIVER AND I OWN A MOBILE CELL PHONE REPAIR BUSINESS AND I AM IN MY RUNNING VEHICLE UP TO 15 HRS/DAY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND THERE ARE MANY THREDS AND BLOGS ONLINE WITH CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR CHARGES HAS THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING THIS NOISE SOON AFTER THE PURCHASE AND I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THIS NOISE HAS STARTED TO AFFECT ME MENTALLY AS THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO DROWN IT OUT. I IS ALSO STARTING TO AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP. "TAKATA RECALL" ALSO, SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE I HAVE NOTICED THE AC DOES NOT BLOW COLD AIR WHEN SITTING AT AN IDLE. I LIVE IN ARIZONA AND TEMPERATURES CAN REACH 120 DEGREES. AS I MENTIONED I AM IN MY VEHICLE UP TO 15 HRS/DAY AND MANY OF THOSE HOURS ARE SPENT SITTING IDLING WHILE I REPAIR MY CUSTOMERS CELL PHONES. WHEN I AM SITTING IN 120 DEGREE HEAT WITH BARELY COOL AIR BLOWING ON ME IT MAKES IT ABOUT 90 DEGREES IN MY VEHICLE WHICH CAN CAUSE HEALTH ISSUES AND WORST CASE SCENARIO DEATH. I AM AT THE VERGE OF SELLING THIS VEHICLE, OBTAINING A LAWYER, AND FILING A COMPLAINT OR LAW SUIT, ESPECIALLY IF MY HEALTH IS BEING AFFECTED. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI 10871896

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,280.

NHTSA ODI 10870082

ON TWO OCCASIONS THERE HAS BEEN A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENED AFTER MAKING A STOP AT A STOP SIGN/TRAFFIC LIGHT AT A MAIN HIGHWAY INTERSECTION. THE RPM'S WENT UP BUT THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION AT ALL (I WAS JUST BARELY COASTING MAYBE 3 MPH)! ONCE I WAS AT A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE ACCELERATION WAS FINE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT EACH TIME. THE DEALERSHIP SAID, BECAUSE THERE WERE NO CODES GIVEN WHEN THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND NO SERVICE BULLETINS POSTED, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION AND I HOPE THAT SOMEONE TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAPPENS!

NHTSA ODI 10861373

THE AIRBAGS ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING THERE IS A COMPUTER ISSUE I AM TOLD AND CHEVROLET NOR THE DEALERSHIP WILL ACCEPT THIS AS CA DEFAULT IN THEIR SYSTEM SO I HAVE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WITH NO WORKING AIRBAGS I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR THE 16 AIRBAGS IT HAD WELL THAT IS NOW USE LESS OF

NHTSA ODI 10860305

MY AIRBAG LIGHT WARNING CAME ON I TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND CONTACTED GM I WAS TOLD THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT IS DEFECTED AND CONTROLS THE AIRBAGS AT THIS POINT I WAS TOLD THE REPAIR IS 721.50 WHICH I WILL HAVE TO PAY IF I WANT WORKING AIRBAGS SO BASICALLY I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD REPLACE THIS MODULE THE SAFETY WAS THGE REASON I PURCHASED IN GOOD FAITH I NEED HELP THIS CAR WAS MANUFACTURED BY GM KOREA

NHTSA ODI 10855506

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE MASSIVE IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,607. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10854997

THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ALONG WITH THE BREAK LIGHT CONSTANTLY COME ON. I HAVE HAD MY CAR LOOKED AT TWICE AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT THESE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN I AM SITTING IDLE AND WHEN I AM DRIVING. SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME. MAKES ME THINK MY CAR IS GOING TO CUT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 10853621

I WAS GOING SOUTH ON I95 DOING 70 MILES AN HOUR ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED OFF AND ON TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON CAR LOST SPEED AND WILL NOT SHIFT HIGH RP NOT SPEED. WAS ALMOST IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10852151

AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A LIGHT AT 5MPH THE GEAR INDICATOR DISAPPEARED AND THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 2ND GEAR VERIFIED BY REVS VS. VEHICLE SPEED. RESULTED IN VERY SLOW ACCELERATION AND HIGH REVS. CYCLING THE GEAR SHIFTER DID NOT RESOLVE ISSUE. WOULD NOT EVEN SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. ISSUE NOT RESOLVED UNTIL CYCLING IGNITION. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO INDICATOR LAMPS. NO GEAR SELECTION INDICATOR ON DISPLAY.

NHTSA ODI 10850913

UNDER EMERGENCY BRAKING FROM 45MPH THE GEAR SHIFTER SLIT FORWARD TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT OPERATOR INPUT.

NHTSA ODI 10850916

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK LOCK FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V298000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,500.

NHTSA ODI 10823026

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL ACCELERATION POWER. IT RAN 5K RPMS TO GO 55 MPH AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON AND THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT WAS BLINKING. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A WEEK AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND SOMETIMES THEY GO OFF EVEN THOUGH I CONTINUE TO HAVE LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND RIDICULOUSLY HIGH RPMS TO TRAVEL 35-55MPH.

NHTSA ODI 10819881

NOT EVEN 10,000 MILES IN I HAD A TIRE GETS A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER IT OR SWAP IT OUT SAYING IT COULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO HITTING A POTHOLE OR CURB. 15,000 MILES IN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HEAR A LOUD BANG AND THE AC DOESN'T WORK. I TAKE IT IN AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS I COULD HAVE HIT ROAD DEBRIS AND WOULD NOT COVER ANY WORK ON THE AC, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL ABOUT THE AC RECALL AND FIND OUT MY COMPRESSOR EXPLODED ON THE INSIDE DUE TO FAULTY PARTS. 20,000 MILES IN AND THE CAR WAS EATING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2-3 DAYS AND STILL DRAINING IT AND RAN ROUGH. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP IN WHAT THEY CALLED "LOOKING FOR PROBLEMS THAT CAN'T BE REPRODUCED". THEN NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER I GET A LETTER ABOUT THE RECALL AND HOW I NEED TO BRING IT IN AS QUICK AS I CAN BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE 'MAY' BE EXPERIENCING EXCESS OIL CONSUMPTION, DUE TO FAULTY PARTS. 40,000 MILES IN I'M GETTING THE TCS LIGHT ON WITH THE CEL FLASHING AT ME AND THE CAR STUTTERS AND LOOSES POWER ALL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. GIVES THE CODE OF P0324 (KNOCK CONTROL SYSTEM ERROR). DEALERSHIP SAYS IT COULD BE DUE TO BEING DRIVEN ROUGH AND IT IS MY FAULT. I SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING 80 IN A CHEVY SPARK (THE HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN TEXAS). THE ENGINE HAS A LOUD LIFTER TICK IN THE HEADS. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO OPEN THEM WITHOUT A FAULT CODE THAT INDICATES A HEAD ISSUE. 47,000 MILES IN I HAVE MORE MISFIRES AND ERROR CODES. TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THEIR EXCUSE IS THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10816850

HAVE A 2013 CHEVY SPARK. IT HAS ALREADY HAD AN ENGINE REPLACED AT JUST OVER 20,000 MILES AND CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS BEFORE THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. IT CONTINUOUSLY GOES BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER, YET "NO ISSUES OR CODES" ARE EVER FOUND. TO ME THIS CAR IS A POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN. IT CONTINUOUSLY SHOWS THE ENGINE LIGHT...BLINKING AWAY...ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL THAT FREQUENTLY IS ON WITH IT. IT THEN REVS EXTREMELY HIGH AND YOU CAN'T GO OVER 20 MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE OF FEAR THE CAR WILL EXPLODE. IT ALSO SHAKES DURING ALL OF THIS. THESE ARE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE CAR HAS HAD SINCE BEFORE THE FIRST ENGINE DECIDED TO JUST BLOW...ON A HIGHWAY...JUST OVER 20,000 MILES. PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE RECALLS, FOR THIS CAR AS WELL. CUTE CAR...BUT IT ENDS THERE. IT'S A DEATH TRAP ON WHEELS!! THERE SHOULD BE A MAJOR RECALL AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON THESE CARS!

NHTSA ODI 10816898

DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, ON A LOCAL STREET, ON A CLEAR DAY; I HEARD A HISSING SOUND.I KNEW I HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE THE CAR WAS DRIVING LUMPY SO I KNEW I HAD A FLAT. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, THE SIDE OF MY TIRE WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT. I HAVE ALWAYS CHECKED MY TIRES TO MAKE SURE THE TIRE PRESSURE IS JUST RIGHT, AND HAVE THEM ROTATED. ON STAR ALSO ALERTS ME WHEN AND IF THE PRESSURE GO LOW. MY TIRES WERE STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS DAMAGE OCCURRED. IT LOOKED AS IF SOMEONE TOOK A GIANT CAN OPENER AND OPENED MY TIRE.

NHTSA ODI 10781281

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY STARTED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,800. MA 10/19/2015 *CN

NHTSA ODI 10760363

I WILL SHUT MY CAR OFF AND GET OUT AND MY RADIO WILL TURN ITSELF ON WHILE THE CAR IS OFF. SO WHEN I GO TO LEAVE FOR WORK MY BATTERY WILL BE DEAD. I'VE TRIED TO TURN THE RADIO OFF BEFORE GETTING OUT AND IT WILL STILL TURN ON. I CALLED CHEVY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME OVER $90 JUST TO "SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT." THE CAR IS 2013 AND ONLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT. IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. SO NOT IMPRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 10731608

YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF BUT THE KEY DOES NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I TOOK IT TO BOB BELL, THEY COULD NOT GET IT OUT EITHER. THEY ORDER A NEW ONE AND REPLACED IT ON MAY 28TH. I HAD TO PAY SOME KIND OF DEDUCTIBLE(100.00, WHICH I THINK IS RIDICULOUS) AND GM WAS GOING TO PAY THE REST. JUNE 6, SAME THING HAPPENED TWICE IN THE SAME DAY. I COULD NOT CALL BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THE SERVICE DEPT IS CLOSED. I WILL BE CALLING AGAIN TODAY. PROBABLY WILL GET SOME KIND OF RUN AROUND.

NHTSA ODI 10723915

STARTED CAR, DROVE TO WORK AT VARYING SPEEDS. ENGINE REVVED HIGH DURING ENTIRE 30 MINUTE DRIVE. PARKED, ENGINE OFF FOR 8 HOURS. WHEN I CAME OUT TO GO HOME, CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. I HAVEN'T HAD ANOTHER EPISODE SINCE.

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