What 76 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Chevrolet Spark EV

Transmission issue. During heavy traffic at stop lights car wouldn't shift into drive to move forward. Was stuck in the middle of the road with a passenger. Engine light came on but it's not an engine problem. Car was smoking under the hood. I burned my hand when popping the hood. When the car cooled the engine light went out and car would shift gears and it's drivable again. This has happened 3 times. Mechanic pulled up at P0700 Code on computer. It's the CVT transmission but not sure which part. I can't get the car to the dealership to inspect transmission. It won't drive that far.

NHTSA ODI 11670713

Car fire in the engine compartment. Columbus fire inspector called it an electrical fire. On July 10 around 1:30 am, owner heard car alarm honking, saw big orange flames rising from the right front wheel well, called 911. Fire extinguished by F.D. upon arrival. The entire engine compartment burned out, everything not metal burnt away or remains as melted plastic slag on the driveway. Car was last driven 2 days before the fire, so the engine and exhaust were cold. There were no fluid leaks under the hood. Battery was 10 months old. No crash damage. No prior electrical issues. It was a good, reliable, heroic car. Had the car not been honking, owner may have been delayed becoming aware of the fire, leaving it time to spread to the dwelling where it was parked.

NHTSA ODI 11602966

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SPARK M300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH INTO TRAFFIC COLLIDING WITH A VEHICLE. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. . THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11307537

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 7TH 2018. CURRENTLY E-SURANCE BELIEVES MY CAR IS TOTALED. I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH WHEN AN SUV TURNED INTO ME. NOT ONE OF THE 10 AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 11166463

I WAS HEADING EAST ON I40 TOWARDS RALEIGH NC DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT WHEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR CAME UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. AT FIRST I DIDNT REALIZE WHAT IT WAS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND THATS WHEN I SAW THAT IT WAS THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I SHUT THE HOOD AND CHECKED TO SEE IF IT WAS LATCHED. IT STAYED LATCHED SO I CONTINUED HOME. THERE WERE SMALL PIECES OF GLASS EVERYWHERE. IT HAPPENED ABOUT AN HOUR INTO MY DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 10906108

I WAS DRIVING A CHEVY SPARK 2015 TO MY LOCAL SUPERMARKET, LESS THAN 3 OR SO MILES FROM MY HOME. I WAS SEVERAL MILES UNDER THE 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT. I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE OF A TWO LANE ROAD. I COULD SEE STOPPED TRAFFIC QUITE A WAYS AHEAD OF ME ' ALSO IN THE RIGHT LANE. THERE WERE AT LEAST 6-7 CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND A TRUCK IN FRONT OF THE CARS. I COULD SEE THE CARS/TRUCK WERE STOPPED FOR THE STOPLIGHT BUT THEY WERE QUITE A WAYS AHEAD OF ME. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE LEFT LANE SO I DECIDED TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE AS THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM AHEAD OF ME TO DO SO. THE NEXT THING I KNEW I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR AND IT SEEMED TO ACCELERATE AND SLAMMED HARD INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE POLICE OFFICER CALLED TO THE SCENE SAID I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MAKING A LANE CHANGE BECAUSE I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I EXPLAINED TO HIM SEVERAL TIMES THAT I WAS DEFINITELY MAKING A LANE CHANGE BUT I COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE ACCIDENT OR HOW I HAD HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE POLICE OFFICER TOLD ME I MUST HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED. I TOLD THE OFFICER I WAS DEFINITELY NOT DISTRACTED AND WAS VERY AWARE OF MY SURROUNDINGS AND THE OTHER VEHICLES. THE OFFICER AGAIN TOLD ME I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MAKING A LANE CHANGE SINCE I HIT THE CAR STRAIGHT ON. IT WAS ACTUALLY THE POLICE OFFICERS' ASSERTION THAT I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MAKING A LANE CHANGE THAT LATER MADE ME LOOK ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT CHEVY SPARKS. I DISCOVERED DRIVER COMPLAINTS ABOUT STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. I WASN'T CERTAIN ABOUT ANYTHING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT EXCEPT THAT IT MADE NO SENSE GIVEN THE FACT THAT I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A LANE CHANGE JUST BEFORE I HIT THE OTHER CAR. HOWEVER, I AM NOW CONVINCED THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF MY CONTROL AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH BOTH THE ACCELERATOR A WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP.

NHTSA ODI 10894265

I WAS A FRONT-SEAT PASSENGER IN THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED. THE DRIVER OF OUR VEHICLE HAD BRAKED BUT WAS STILL MOVING AT APPROX 25-30 MPH; THE CAR THAT HIT US WAS LIKELY GOING 55-60 MPH. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT APPROX. 4:25 PM ON APRIL 29, 2016 ALONG NORTHBOUND I-5, JUST PAST LACEY, WA. THE SKY AND AIR WERE CLEAR AND THE HIGHWAY SURFACE WAS DRY. THE WA STATE TROOPERS RESPONDED AND CITED THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE; OUR VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, AND OUR DRIVER WAS NOT CITED. I AM NOT AWARE OF THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT HIT US OR TO ITS OCCUPANTS; A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. BOTH FRONT SEATS IN THIS 2015 CHEV SPARK FAILED OR BROKE UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SEAT BACK BROKE, AND CAME UP AND SLAPPED THE DRIVER HARD IN THE BACK. SHE SAID THE WIND WAS KNOCKED OUT OF HER AND SHE COULD NOT BREATHE. SHE HAS A BRUISE ON THE BACK OF HER HEAD WHERE THE HEADREST HIT HER, AND SHE HAS A CONCUSSION. SHE DID NOT IMPACT THE STEERING WHEEL. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHE MAINTAINED AN UPRIGHT POSITION AND MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH HER SEAT HAD FAILED. MY SEAT (FRONT PASSENGER SEAT) BROKE AND SLAMMED FORWARD ON THE RUNNERS. I WAS SLAMMED INTO THE DASHBOARD, BRUISING MY CHEST AND MY LOWER FRONT LEGS, AND ALSO HAVE DEEP BRUISING FROM SEAT BELT IMPACT. THE METAL RUNNERS ON THE SEAT SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF MY LEGS, LEAVING VERY LARGE AND PAINFUL HEMATOMA ON THE BACKS OF BOTH MY LOWER LEGS. THE SEAT BACK DROPPED AND I FELL BACKWARD.

NHTSA ODI 10864075