What 146 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Spark EV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO START AND HESITATED UPON CHANGING GEARS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENTILATION CONTROLS FAILED TO ACTIVATE THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER OVER FIVE TIMES AND THE FAILURES WERE UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ODI 10640903

I WAS GOING TO PARK IN A PARKING SPACE AND 4 PEOPLE WENT CROSS IN FRONT OF ME AND I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ME AND I ALMOST HIT THEM.I HIT THE BRAKE AGAIN AND IT STOPPED JUST IN TIME.TWO DAYS LATER MY WIFE WAS BEHIND A TRUCK AND SHE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKE AND IT DID THE SAME THING TO HER AND SHE BROKE HER 4TH TOE AND SPRAINED HER ANKLE AND HURT HER HIP.THE ONLY WAY SHE GOT IT STOPPED WAS SHOVING IT INTO PARK.I HAD THE DEALER AT CREWS CHEVROLET TO TOE IT IN AND THEY SAY THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG.I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I AM AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.I WANT GM TO TAKE IT BACK AND REFUND MY MONEY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10640351

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO DISPLAY THE CORRECT SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ODI 10639051

I WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER AND ISSUED A FIX IT TICKET BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE OFFICER NEITHER OF MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. I MIGHT ADD THAT THE OFFICER FOLLOWED ME FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS AND SAW ME STOP AT LEAST 4 TIMES BEFORE PULLING ME OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10631284

THIS THE 3RD TIME I WAS DRIVING SLOW, COMING TO A STOP BUT DIDN'T HAVE TO STOP, WENT TO PROCEED AND REALIZED THE CAR HAD SHUT DOWN. EACH TIME I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, SO I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC AROUND ME, BUT HAD I BEEN ON THE STREET IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. EACH INCIDENT I RESTARTED WITH NO PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621723

I WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY SON PULLING INTO MY YARD WHICH IS AT AN INCLINE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THEY FAILED AND THE CAR CRASHED INTO MY BRICK HOUSE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED OUT AND THE HOUSE HAS STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. ALL THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER, MY SON HAD NO INJURIES AND I WALKED AWAY WITH SIGNIFICANT BRUISING AND LACERATIONS ON MY LEGS. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING MY CLAIM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621388

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND LACK OF ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE A KNOCKING SOUND WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND AN EXCESSIVE LOSS OF MOTOR OIL FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE HAD REOCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 10620860

MY DAUGHTER & NIECE STOPPED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE, LOCKED THE CAR, CAME BACK OUT AND CAR WOULDN'T START. CALLED ONSTAR AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. A MODULE FAILED THAT LOCKED OUT THE ENGINE AS IT WOULD IF VEHICLE WAS STOLEN. DEALER GOT THE MODULE QUICKLY, BUT COULDN'T GET THE KEYS TO REPROGRAM. THIS HAPPENED 60 MILES AWAY, I HAVE GOTTEN A LOANER FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BUT MY DAUGHTER COULDN'T AS SHE'S 20 YEARS OLD. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SO I HAD SAFE, DEPENDABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR MY DAUGHTER. WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY! DEALER SAID THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THIS HAPPENING ON ANY TYPE GM VEHICLE IN THE PAST. IT'S SIX DAYS AND COUNTING, STILL NO CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10619207

ENGINE LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS GOING 65 MILES PER HR , LUCKILY I WAS ON THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL SAFETY ON THE SHOULDER AND DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENT . BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AND THIS CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. FIND OUT FROM OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINS THAT ENGINE LOSE POWER IS CAUSE BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE BY THE ENGINE. I HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE FEBRUARY 2014 BUT I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THERE IS NO VISIBLE OIL LEAKAGE., I DO NOT BELIEVE ENGINE WAS CHECKED FOR THAT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10616334

HAD TO ADD ALMOST 3 QUARTS OF OIL... 2,000 PRIOR TO SCHEDULED SERVICE. 2,00 MILES BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10615649

THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM CYCLES OFF FOR ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS DURING NORMAL OPERATION FOR NO APPARENT REASON. GM HAD A RECALL ON IT WHERE THEY REPLACED SOME PARTS. EVEN AFTER THE RECALL, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP (AUTO NATION, GREENACRES, FL) THAT GM DESIGNERS TOLD THEM THAT THE A/C WAS DESIGNED TO WORK THAT WAY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD "FIX." SO I'M FORCED TO LIVE WITH A POORLY PERFORMING A/C SYSTEM IN A BRAND NEW 2013 VEHICLE. REALLY??? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10614987

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ENAGAGING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE CRASH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR WHO INDICATED THAT NO DEFECT WAS FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 09/11/14*LJ UPDATED 12/17/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10598853

MY HUSBAND WAS PULLING THE CHEVY SPARK INTO A PARKING PLACE WHEN FOUR PEOPLE DECIDED TO CROSS OVER IT. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO ALLOW THEM TO SAFELY PASS, THE CAR ACCELERATED INSTEAD. THE BRAKES PRESSED BACK AGAINST HIS FOOT HE SAID AND CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED. WE WERE BOTH CONFUSED, SURPRISED AND AFRAID! THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN AGAIN UNTIL I TOOK IT OUT TWO DAYS LATER. IT HAPPENED ONCE MORE WHEN I WAS BRAKING AT A RED LIGHT BEHIND A LARGE TRUCK AT A VERY LOW SPEED. I PRESSED THE BRAKE HARDER A SECOND TIME AND THEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THIS TIME THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED EVEN AFTER MY FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE. I SHOVED THE CAR INTO PARK TO GET IT TO STOP. I SUSTAINED A BROKEN TOE AND FRACTURED ANKLE FROM THE FORCE OF TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THIS, WHEN APPLYING THE GAS, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT TWO CONSECUTIVE RED LIGHTS. ENGINE WAS VERY SLOW AND CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO THE SPEED LIMIT AND HESITATED ALL THE WAY HOME. THE CAR HAS A FACTORY RECALL ON THE AIR CONDITIONER RIGHT NOW AS WELL, WHICH WE RECEIVED FROM GM. WE ARE TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOT KNOWING IF THESE DEFECTS WILL CONTINUE! THE CAR IS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT A BUY BACK FROM GM. WE BOUGHT THE SPARK AUGUST 30, 2013, SO IT IS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD. I HAVE DONE A SEARCH FOR OTHERS WHO MAY BE HAVING THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES. THERE ARE REPORTS OF VERY SIMILAR INCIDENTS ON SITES FOR COMPLAINTS FOR BOTH ISSUES OF BRAKE ACCELERATION AND THE GAS PEDAL HESITATION ALSO REPORTS OF THE SPARK ENGINE STOPPING IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING AND DANGEROUS. WE HOPE THIS IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10595783

VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD WHILE IN GEAR. VEHICLE ALSO WILL SURGE IN NEUTRAL CAUSING RPMS TO RISE. THIS OCCURS AFTER INITIALLY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. DOES NOT MATTER IF THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN STARTED FOR A LONG OR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGES IT SEEMS TO BE AT 1/4 THROTTLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10595232

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE SPEEDOMETER READING FLUCTUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE RADIO STAYED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE DOOR WAS OPENED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ODI 10588644

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, IT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER WAS OUT OF ROUND. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10586665

CHEVROLET SPARK WOULD NO SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR WHEN ACELERATING ON TO FREEWAY. THE CAUSE IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR DTC ERROR CODE P0705. KNOWN SERVICE BULLETIN (#PIP-5101). THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. EXTREME LIFE THREATING PROBLEM WHEN A VEHICLE IS MERGING THE FREEWAY AND WILL NOT ACELERATE TO THE SPEED OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC!!!!!!!! CHEVROLET DEALER HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10583357

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACTS STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 10576875

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR AND PARKED IT. WHEN I HAVE RETURNED TO THE CAR IT WILL NOT START. ON STAR DIAGNOSTICS TELLS ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ANTI BRAKE SYSTEM AND THAT I AM TO GET IT TO THE DEALER/REPAIR IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE I CAN GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE I AM IN AN AREAS WITHOUT PHONE OR CELL RECEPTION TO CALL FOR HELP. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY UNTIL THEY CAN REPLICATE THE PROBLEM - THEY CANNOT FIX IT. FINALLY WITH THIS LAST (4TH) VISIT THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM TWICE. BUT I WAS INFORMED THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE PROBLEM IS COMING FROM AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. THEY WILL RETURN THE CAR TO ME AFTER 9 DAYS AS IS WITH NO FIX. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE ACROSS COLORADO FOR FEAR I WILL BE STRANDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10576970

THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS ARE NOT BACKLIT AND I ACCIDENTALLY SET CRUISE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE CITY. DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE CONTROLS ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10576058

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACTS STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSE BY THE FLOOR MAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,374. PM *TR

NHTSA ODI 10567572

THE HEADLIGHT REMAINS ON DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT, THE DRIVER GETS THE IMPRESSION THAT THE LIGHTS ARE ON . BUT THE REAR LIGHTS REMAIN OFF. ONE HAS TO MANUALLY TURN ON THE REAR LIGHTS.. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON A MINI SMALL SPARK CAR. AS A SAFETY ON A SMALL MINI CAR . THE REAR LIGHTS MUST ALSO BE TURNED ON AS A DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FEATURE.

NHTSA ODI 10567346

UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION LIGHT LIT UP. THE CAR WAS IN PARK ON A FLAT AND PAVED SURFACE. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE, THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND DID THE SAME AS I PUT IT INTO DRIVE. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WAS UP TO 3000 RPMS AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, NO LIGHTS LIT UP AND IT PERFORMED FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THEY ONLY FOUND A CODE FOR MISFIRING COILS. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY BELIEVE THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE I AM HAVING BUT DUE TO CHEVROLET WARRANTY, THEY COULD NOT LOOK INTO IT WITHOUT A CERTAIN CODE TO POP UP IN THE SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10563429

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN BUT THE TIRES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CEMENT BARRIER AND A WOODEN POST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,600.

NHTSA ODI 10562922

AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR, THE ENGINE WILL REV AS THOUGH THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL AND THE CAR NO LONGER MOVES FORWARD (NO POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.) THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE SLIPPING. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HAS OCCURRED DURING ALL WEATHER AND VEHICLE TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED AS I MOVE FORWARD FROM A DEAD STOP AND AS I AM ENTERING THE FREEWAY ON THE ONRAMP. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE ON FIVE OCCASIONS YET EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS RETURNED, THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURS WITHIN A WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10561861