What 168 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV

Électronic car brakes stopped working while driving. Had to push hard on break pedal to stop the car. (And i was driving at max 10km/h) After 2 or 3 restart, the break pedal start working again.

NHTSA ODI 11448075

WHEN MY ALTERNATOR FAILED IT CAUSED AN OVER CURRENT THROUGH THE ABS RELAY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS MELTING THE BRACKET AND BREAKING ONE OF THE CLIPS THE OTHER CLIP BROKE WHEN THE GMC DEALER WAS DOING THEIR INSPECTION. I'M WORKING WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT DOESN'T BELIEVE THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE ALTERNATOR AND NOT THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI 11296788

I DROVE FROM SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, TO SAN FRANCISCO, CA (8 MILES). THE CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. AS I APPROACHED THE 6TH ST. EXIT, I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO MY CAR. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE; THE BRAKES FELT 'LOCKED' UNDER MY FOOT, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR WAS MOVING RAPIDLY FORWARD AT FREEWAY SPEED, AND I HAD NO WAY TO SLOW IT DOWN. I THEN SAW THE DISPLAY HAD A WARNING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF 'SERVICE BRAKES SOON.' I WAS TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR AND VERY AFRAID OF A COLLISION DUE TO NOT HAVING ANY MEANS TO STOP. THE 6TH ST. EXIT HAD A HIGH RAMP, AND THERE WAS STILL NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR SLOWED ENOUGH GOING UP THE RAMP TO AVOID A COLLISION, AND I COASTED TO THE FIRST INTERSECTION WHERE I PULLED OVER TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL, AND I TURNED OFF THE CAR. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE, I TURNED THE CAR ON AGAIN, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS WORKING AGAIN. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE DISPLAY. I SAFELY PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND CONTINUED FOR ABOUT HALF A MILE BEFORE PARKING TO MEET MY HUSBAND. APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER, I STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN, AND IT APPEARED TO WORK; THERE WAS STILL NO WARNING SIGNAL AT ALL ABOUT SERVICING BRAKES. I BEGAN TO MAKE MY WAY BACK DOWN THE STREET WHEN, TWO BLOCKS INTO THE DRIVE, THE WARNING SIGNAL CAME ON AND I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE SLOWLY MOVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED MY HUSBAND, WHO CAME IN HIS CAR TO HELP ME. WE CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND MY HUSBAND SAW TO IT THAT THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO SERRAMONTE CHEVROLET IN DALY CITY WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED (COST: $3727.91, MILES: 34,136). THE CHEVY SPARK EV DOES NOT HAVE A HANDBRAKE TO MANUALLY STOP THE CAR, PUTTING THE DRIVER AT EXTREME DISADVANTAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11281897

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, REGEN STOPPED WORKING AND BRAKING STOPPED FUNCTIONING TO A POINT OF ALMOST CRASHING. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE REGEN ISSUES, THE SERVICE STABILITRACK WARNING DISPLAYED ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS GOING ON. EVEN AT LESS THAN 5MPH IN A PARKING LOT TO REACH THE TOW TRUCK, TRYING TO STOP WAS A LESSON IN FEAR AND FRUSTRATION. THIS IS NOW THE 3RD TIME THIS VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS CATASTROPHIC PROBLEM. 1ST TIME WAS MARCH 2018 WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 2ND TIME FEBRUARY 2019 AND NOW APRIL 2019.

NHTSA ODI 11195540

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE BRAKES LOCKED UP BY THEMSELVES AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP WAITING FOR A MASTER CYLINDER FOR 4 MONTHS. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. THE DEALER SAID THE MASTER CYLINDER LOCKED UP THE BRAKES. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN BACK ORDERED FOR 4 MONTHS .

NHTSA ODI 11042067

I WAS DRIVING MY SPARK EV TO THE DEALER AROUND 1:45PM ON 12/29/2016 FOR THEM TO FIX THE NON-FUNCTIONING HEAT, THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER RECALL, AND FAILURE TO FAST-CHARGE. I WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT AT ABOUT 25 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED I TRIED TO STOP BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. IN AN INSTANT I CHECKED TO BE SURE I WASN'T PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THEN PUSHED WITH ALL MY MIGHT EVEN HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED BUT ONLY AFTER COMING WITHIN AN INCH OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR SOUNDED A WARNING "DING," AND THE DASH ILLUMINATED THE SERVICE LIGHT, THE STABILITRAK LIGHT, AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT, AND THE MESSAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DISPLAY SAID "SERVICE STABILITRAK MODULE." SEE ATTACHED IMAGE FOR WHAT WAS DISPLAYED. I PUT THE CAR INTO LOW AND MOVED IT INTO THE PARKING STRIP. IT WAS STILL INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO STOP. I POWER CYCLED THE CAR AND WITHIN 5 SECONDS OF STARTING UP THE SAME ERROR WAS DISPLAYED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NEARLY USELESS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL CHEVY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY HAD ME WAIT 90 MINUTES IN THE COLD WITH A CAR WITH NO HEAT FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE. I WAS ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM WHERE I WOULD HAVE BEEN GETTING ON THE FREEWAY. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY THEN I AM CERTAIN THAT SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WOULD HAVE RESULTED. THE CAR IS NOW AT WENTWORTH CHEVY IN PORTLAND, OR. I HAVE HAD OTHER BRAKE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BEFORE. LAST YEAR THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WAS FAILING TO RELEASE ON ONLY ONE WHEEL, WHICH WOULD BECOME EVIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE CAR WOULD START SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND ONE REAR WHEEL WOULD GET VERY HOT. IT TOOK 3-4 VISITS FOR THE DEALER TO REPAIR IT, MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME THE FIRST FEW VISITS.. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10938668

THE BRAKES ON THE CAR STOPPED WORKING AT FULL POWER, IT TOOK 5X LONGER FOR THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. TOOK TO DEALER, DID RECALL REPAIRS. SAME SYMPTOMS RETURNED AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN THE BRAKES START TO LOOSE FULL BRAKING POWER THERE ARE MANY WARNING LIGHTS THAT APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IS AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE AT THE DEALER AWAITING DIAGNOSES. THE CAR IS UNDER FULL WARRANTY, IT HAS 26K MILES. I WAS GOING ABOUT 50MPH

NHTSA ODI 10936384

THIS VECHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND SPEED. WHEN I BRAKE IT'S SOMETHING COMING UP UNDER MY FEET AND THEN THE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON, :SLIPPERY WHEN IT'S WET LIGHT" ON THE PANEL. NOW, I HAD TAKEN IT TO BOB BELL TWICE AND THEY KEEP SAYING THEY FIXED IT, BUT MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SAME CONDITIONED. I WANT SOMETHING DONE BEFORE I LOSE MY LIFE.

NHTSA ODI 10846379

I WAS DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE NEAR WEST PALM BEACH AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. THE BRAKES WAS NOT WORKING AND THE STEERING LOCKED ON ME PREVENTING ME TO TURN THE WHEEL RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO THE GRASS TO A GUARD RAIL. ALSO THE AIR BAGS IN THE FROM DID NOT DEPLOY. ONLY THE SIDE AIR BAGS. I INJURED MY HEAD AND HAD TO GET STITCHES BECAUSE OF THIS.

NHTSA ODI 10788298

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS AGGRESSIVELY DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE RPMS RAPIDLY INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI 10672135

AFTER FULLY CHARGING UP THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE, GOING DOWN HILL AT APPROX 40MPH, LOST ALL POWER IN BRAKES, STEERING CONTROL AND THE FORWARD PROPULSION SYSTEM. DUE TO LOSS OF POWER VEERED OUT OF CONTROL ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT RESPONDING TO PUMPS. AFTER PULLING ON STEERING WHEEL HARD FINALLY GOT VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND PULLED TO THE SIDE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DID NOT HAVE VEHICLE AND DID NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE MORE THAN 30 MILES BEFORE INCIDENT HAPPENED. 2014 CHEVY SPARK ELECTRIC VEHICLE. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP PERMANENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10594700

HOLA MY CARRO CHERVOLET SPARK 2014 E TENIDO MUCHISIMO PROBLEMA CUANDO MANEJO CASI ME A CHOCADO I ENBOLUCRADO EN UN ACCIDENTE TIENE MUCHO PROBLEMA CON ACELERAR VOY MANEJANDO REGULAR AVESE CUANDO ASELERO COMO QUE NO ME QUIERE ACELERAR SE TRABA O SE TRATA DE AHOGAR EL MOTOR Y NO HACELERA EL CARRO QUE QUEDA EN MEDIO DE LA CALLE HASTA QUE SE LE ANTOJA EL CARRO DARME ACELERAR AVESE ESTOY ESPERANDO POR LA LUZ Y EL CARRO CUANDO LA LUZ SE PONE VERDER EL CARRO COMO SE AHOGA Y NO ME QUIERE ACELERA Y ESO EN MUY PELIGROSO YA ESTOY CANSADO EL CARRO COMO QUE SE PONE BOBO Y AVECE ESTOY EN EL FREEWAY VELOCIDAY 60 MPH Y TRATO DE SIEMPRE QUE DARME Y TRATO DE SEGUIR LA VELOCIDA Y COMO QUE SE BOBA EL CARRO Y CUESTA MUCHISIMO QUE SUBA LA VELOCIDA YA LO LLEVE A DEALER ME DIJIERO QUE NO ENCUENTRA NADA YA ESTOY CANSADO TENDO DOS NIO Y TENGO MUCHISIMO MIEDO QUE ALGUIEN ME PUEDA PEGAR POR QUE EL CARRO NO ME DEJA ACELERAR REGULAR SE ATORA EL MOTOR Y NO MUEVE SI ME LLAMA LE EXPLICO MEJOR POR FAVOR AYUDEMEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10588424