What 146 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Spark EV

VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. NOT ONLY IS THIS VERY DANGEROUS, BUT IT IS RUINING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH AT RANDOM TIMES, AND COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND HAS BEEN VERY RUDE TO MY WIFE. I HAVE BEEN A LIFELONG CHEVY GUY, BUT I THINK I'M FINALLY DONE. A TOYOTA OR HONDA IS SOUNDING REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW! *TR

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 3 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THEY STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SO SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. SHE SAID THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STIFF AND DID NOT MOVE, ALSO, DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE FRONT WHEELS WERE PULSATING AND MOVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITHOUT HER MOVING STEERING WHEEL. SHE PULLED UP EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING CAR. WHAT SHOULD WE DO? *TR

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IN RUSH HOUR AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO HESITATE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WITH VERY SLUGGISH ACCELERATION I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER AND THEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. I WAS UNABLE TO START IT AND HAD IT TOWED HOME. BATTERY CHECKS OUT OK AND EVERYTHING IS FINE AS FAR AS I CAN TELL WITH MY TROUBLE SHOOTING BUT ALL THE REVIEWS I READ POINT TO CHEVY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTOR SEIZING ON THE CHEVY SPARKS AND THE MOTOR NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. I WILL BE TALKING TO THE DEALER TODAY, JUST WONDERING WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE YET. IF CONTACTED, I WILL UPDATE THE NHTSA ON THIS SITUATION. IF MY 20 YR OLD DAUGHTER WHO JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR 3 MONTHS AGO HAD BEEN DRIVING IT AT THE TIME I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH THE MOTOR JUST STOPPING ON HER...VERY DISTURBING! THANK YOU *TR

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MAY HAVE BEEN HAPPENING BEFORE ABOVE DATE BUT DID NOT REALIZE IT....ON DASHBOARD THERE IS NO INDICATION OF WHICH GEAR I AM IN(IE P D N R) AND CAR HAS NO PICKUP EVEN WHEN PEDDLE TO FLOOR...WHEN IT DOES START MOVING IT IS VERY, VERY, VERY SLOW....NOTICED THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND WHEN IT WENT IN FOR HOOD LATCH RECALL ASKED THEM TO CHECK....OF COURSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE(RECALL WAS NOT DONE AS TO LACK OF PARTS) STILL WAS OCCURRING OCCASIONALLY .....WENT BACK AGAIN FOR RECALL LATCH WORK(DONE THIS TIME 3-11-15) WHEN LEAVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON...WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT I SHOWED THEM THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT INDICATING GEAR...LEFT IT WITH THEM THEY R&R PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH WHICH THEY STATED WAS FILLED WITH WATER.....THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO ME, AT FIRST I COULD EITHER TURN CAR OFF AND RESTART TO SEE INDICATOR ON DASH OR RUN THRU THE GEARS, BUT RIGHT BEFORE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I COULD DO NONE OF THIS/HAVE READ ABOUT THIS NUMEROUS TIMES ON A SITE CALL CARCOMPLAINTS.COM.......THANK YOU *TR

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ON 02-09-15 THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE WITH THE CURRENT WARRANTY & AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD LOW MILEAGE AT PURCHASE DATE. PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE WE REVIEWED THE VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT AND MENTIONED ONLY A HOOD LATCH REPAIR AND DID NOT MENTION 09-04-14 A RECALL REPAIR ON THE PCV VALVE #4 SPARK, REPLACEMENT AND REPROGRAMMING. AS WE STARTED OFF ON OUR TRIP THE DASH WAS READING 39 MPG, THAT WAS GREAT! FURTHER INTO THE TRIP BEFORE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. WE CHECK THE TIRES THEY WERE FINE. THINKING IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE COLD WEATHER PER THE MANUAL. WE CONTINUED ON TO OUR TRIP. ON THE WAY BACK HOME THE MPG WAS AT 34 AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WENT IN TO LOW GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY! THE TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A NUMBER OF OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON. WE HAD TO RIDE THE SHOULDER UNTIL WE GOT TO AN EXIT AND DROVE INTO A GAS STATION. CALLING ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A ENOUGH POWER TO DRIVE ONTO THE TOW TRUCK. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED AT THE CAR DEALER (NOT THE ONE WE PURCHASED FROM) THE REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE ON THE VEHICLE AND NOT DISCLOSED TO US WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE DEFECT WAS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. THE RECALL REPAIR ON THE PCV HAD OTHER MANUFACTURE DEFECTS. IT'S BEEN 10 DAYS AND THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. I HAD CONTACTED GM AND ASKED WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE I CURRENTLY HAVE AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD. THEY WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND TOLD ME THEY WILL CREATE A SERVICE REQUEST FILE AND TO CALL THEM WHEN A DIAGNOSTICS IS COMPLETED, IN SHORT THEY DID NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION. THEY ALREADY HAD RECORD OF THE FIRST REPAIR ON THE PCV RECALL. THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR IS LOCATED TOLD US THE PISTONS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE DONE. A LOANER WAS GIVEN SO WE COULD GET BACK HOME 200+ MILES. OUR FIRST PAYMENT IS DUE & NO CAR. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUTTER AND ATTEMPTED TO STALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

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MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THIS AS A CERTIFIED PRE OWNED VEHICLE FOR HER TO DRIVE FROM A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER ON 1/24/15. WE FELT OKAY ABOUT THE HIGH MILES WITH THE VEHICLE BEING CPO AND HAVING GMS 12 MONTH / 12,000 MILE WARRANTY AND 5 YR / 100,000 POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. WE ONLY EXPECTED TO BE PUTTING 12,000 MILES A YEAR ON THE VEHICLE SO WE THOUGHT WE'D HAVE A LONG TROUBLE FREE OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE WITH IT. THAT ALL CHANGED 6 DAYS LATER. WE'D ONLY DRIVEN IT PROBABLY 100 MILES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED AND ON 1/30/15 WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS LIT UP AND WE LOST ALL POWER. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER (NOT THE ONE WE PURCHASED IT FROM). THE NEXT MORNING WE WENT TO THE DEALER TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM AND PICK UP A LOANER. THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY RELATED TO THE PCV RECALL AND HIS BEST GUESS WAS THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE RECALL WORK BEING DONE. I WONDER IF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN / SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING TESTED AS PART OF THEIR CPO PROCESS. WE GOT A CALL ON 2/3 FROM THE SERVICE GUY TELLING US THEY ORDERED A NEW ENGINE AND HE HOPPED IT WOULD BE IN BY 2/5 AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR US TO PICK UP SHORTLY AFTER THAT. I'M PRETTY NERVOUS AFTER READING ALL THE ISSUES THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THAT THIS COULD BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND EVEN WITH A NEW ENGINE WE MAY HAVE THE SAME OR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. TIME WILL TELL I GUESS. *TR

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V593000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES ) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

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WENT TO CHEVY DEALER FOR 2 RECALLS IN AUGUST 2013. RECALL 14110 RESOLVED, BUT RECALL 14456 (HOOD LATCH) WAS NOT. PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. HAVING NEVER RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THAT PARTS WERE RECEIVED, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TONIGHT AND MY HOOD FLEW UP AND SHATTERED MY WINDSHIELD. NOW MY WINDSHIELD IS SHATTERED, MY HOOD IS DENTED AND BOTH FRONT QUARTER PANELS ARE BENT WHERE THEY MEET THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE DODGING TRAFFIC, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE IN FRONT OF ME AND DROP THE HOOD BACK DOWN AND MAKE SURE IT WAS LATCHED BEFORE DRIVING ANOTHER 15 MILES HOME. WILL CHEVROLET COVER ALL DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE?? CALLED MY INSURANCE TONIGHT AND HAVE TO TALK TO AN ADJUSTER IN THE MORNING. *TR

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THE CODE 95 COMES ON WHEN BOTH FRONT SEATS ARE OCCUPIED. WE WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY GAVE US AN OFF THE WALL ANSWER ABOUT USING A JELLY TO PUT ON THE AIR BAG CONNECTION TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT DIDN'T DO IT.WE HAVE SINCE TOOK IT BACK AND NOW THEY WANT US TO PAY FOR A NEW AIR BAG SYSTEM BECAUSE IT IS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NO ACCIDENTS OR AIR BAG PROBLEMS BEFORE.THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS CHEVY'S PROBLEM NOT MINE .ACCORDING TO BLOGS OTHER SPARKS AND CRUZES HAVE SAME ISSUE. *TR

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. DJR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 63 MPH, THE HOOD LATCH FRACTURED AND SHATTERED THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V593000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

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STARTED HARD THEN WHEN DRIVING IT WOULDN'T SHIFT GEARS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS DONE THIS. *TR

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH AND A SUV RUNS A STOP SIGN AND PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY. I HIT THE SUV. THE SUV FLEES THE ACCIDENT. MY CAR CATCHES ON FIRE ON IMPACT AND MY AIRBAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY. IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH AT IMPACT. MY CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED. *TR

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2013 GM THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY PREMATURELY CORRODE AT THE LATCH PIVOT CAUSING THE STRIKER TO GET STUCK OUT OF POSITION AND PREVENTING THE STRIKER FROM PROPERLY ENGAGING THE HOOD LATCH. *MW

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THE CAR HAS BEEN HAVING CLUTCH ISSUES. SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP CAUSES THE WHOLE CAR TO SHAKE. THIS HAPPENS AFTER MAINLY LONG DRIVES. DRIVING BACK FROM BOSTON MA, THERE WAS VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC WHICH REQUIRED ME TO STOP AND START FREQUENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY. EACH TIME I HAD TO START, THE CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND FELT AS IT WERE GOING TO STALL. THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE SAFELY, AS IT DOES THIS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AS WELL. DEALER SAID THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THE CAR IS NEW AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS DOCUMENTED IN MANY ONLINE FORMS AS "INTERMITTENT CLUTCH SHUDDER" . *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V593000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ODI 10660913

OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE FOR A VISIT FROM COLLEGE. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE SO SHE PULLED OVER JUST AS THE CAR'S ENGINE TURNED ITSELF OFF. SHE TRIED TO RE-START THE CAR AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT STARTED BUT WAS SHAKY AND ALL LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. WE HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER, THEY TOLD US THE ENGINE FAILED AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. SHE WAS GIVEN A RENTAL, AFTER APROX. TWO WEEKS SHE PICKED HER CAR UP AGAIN WITH THE NEW ENGINE. DROVE LESS THEN 10 MILES ON THE NEW ENGINE AND ONCE AGAIN SHE WAS ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ANOTHER TRIP HOME WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP NEAR HER SCHOOL. THE PEOPLE AT BROWN & BROWN WERE/ARE BEING VERY HELPFUL HOWEVER I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED FOR MY DAUGHTER'S SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

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CAR STALLS WILL PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND WILL NOT ADVANCE. IT WILL START TO MOVE SLOW AFTER A WHILE NOT REACHING FULL SPEED. TRANSMISSION GEAR DISPLAY WILL BE BLANK IN DASH CONSOLE. CAR MOVES AT A VERY HIGH RPM READING. TRANSMISSION WILL KICK IF SET ON NEUTRAL AND THEN SHIF TO DRIVE. THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE OWE THE CAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TWICE TO THE DEALER BUT IS WORKING FINE AT SUCH TIME SO THEY CAN NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM. FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN MY WIFE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN IT HAPPEN TO ME I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR

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CAR HAS EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION. IT IS PRESENTLY GETTING ONLY 24.9 MILES TO THE GALLON. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL HAVE A VERY STRONG SULFUR ODOR COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. I SHOULD BE AVERAGING ABOUT 34 MILES PER GALLON WITH DRIVING PATTERN WHICH IS A MIX OF CITY AND HIGHWAY MILEAGE. *TR

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CAR HAS EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION. IT IS PRESENTLY GETTING ONLY 24.9 MILES TO THE GALLON. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL HAVE A VERY STRONG SULFUR ODOR COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. I SHOULD BE AVERAGING ABOUT 34 MILES PER GALLON WITH DRIVING PATTERN WHICH IS A MIX OF CITY AND HIGHWAY MILEAGE. *TR

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I GET THIS LOUD ANNOYING HIGH PITCHED RINGING SOUND COMING FROM BACK WHEELS. THE SOUND IS SO LOUD AT TIMES THAT PEDESTRIANS CAN HEAR IT AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. IT DOES THIS AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE. ONCE THE RINGING SOUND STARTS IT WILL NOT STOP NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I'M GOING OR WHETHER I AM SITTING IN IDOL, PARK OR IN ANY GEAR. CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP REPAIR DEPARTMENT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT SAID IT MAY BE THE FUEL PUMP. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR DEPARTMENT WILL NOT AT LEAST CHECK THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE THIS AS THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM. IT DEFINITELY IS NOT A FUNCTIONAL SOUND AND IT MAY BE DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN IT IS MAKING THIS SOUND. *TR

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 20 MPH. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO FUNCTION AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. DJR

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