47 of the
759 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Spark
are about the braking system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2013.
Vehicle went into “limp mode” while merging onto a busy road, nearly causing a collision with both oncoming traffic and other vehicles attempting to merge onto the road. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the following: “Checked system codes. Found P0324 knock sensor module performance code. Found the attached TSB by GM. Believed to be the issue: engine has piston slap and would need rebuilt or replaced per TSB. Also discovered severe oil leak in front of engine.” Mechanic noted that the brakes were stuck as well. Engine scheduled to be replaced. Mileage: 72,503.
NHTSA complaint #11757548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My transmission has been acting up like other stated where it will rev the motor high and then jerk and shift hard. There are no recalls for it when there are known issues with the transmission for the 2017. I was driving down the road and went to stop and my brakes were very hard and almost had to stand on them to stop, almost hit a couple cars, very dangerous situation. This has happened twice to my 2017 spark and both time it was due to vacuum pump. I have taken my car to a mechanic for these issues and the mechanics have also told me they have seen both of these issues with the 2017 spark and that a recall needs done.
NHTSA complaint #11753620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving downhill with the car in L on a highway and brakes failed. I could not engage the brakes at all but somehow the car slowed to a stop and I managed to pull into a parking spot and park. Two lights came on: Service Intellitrak and Service Brake Assist. The car has been inspected by the Chevrolet dealership that sold the car to me as well as an independant shop. One technician at the Chevrolet dealership reported he got zero brake pressure and claims that the car needs a new brake pressure modulator. The independant shop reported that they could not replicate the poor brake performance. Two technicians from this shop reported that the car is working as intended.
NHTSA complaint #11549067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
vehicle brakes went out suddenly after hearing a loud POP sound...brakes wouldn't respond and pedal hard, ran off road and could only glide to a roll stop and not really then...fortunately a repair shop adjacent so drove their and rolled stop. initial look shop advised vacuum pump needs to be diagnosed...they came back with a 'caution on file #pip5598a which advised of known issue but no recall... they came back with a 479$ fee to diagnose exactly what's wrong (those pics enclosed) they are now staring they will not guarantee week or warranty and say engine must be replaced...they are still working up quote to repair vacuum pump, camshaft and timing chain but now are saying will be well over 2k to just SEE if will work and wont guarantee
NHTSA complaint #11520650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact's husband owns a 2018 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that the brake booster failed while driving at various speeds on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer yearly for the brake booster repair since the initial failure; however, the most recent failure occurred within six months. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11515828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
105000 miles: Lost Brakes extremely hard to push brake pedal. Lost vacuum, enabling to stop car safely. Took brake vacuum line off vacuum pump and plug pump so oil don’t leak out pump. Then join the line to an existing vacuum line. Problem solved no issues since. 205000 miles: Repeatedly theft mode, flickering dashboard, and dead battery issues. Battery was good charged, alternator charging right. To lead with fusebox circuit board needed to be re-soldered. Have no idea how it happened but no problem since. I still have all factory parts on car. This is a stick shift 5 speed. Get 40ish bit more miles a gallon. Keep oil changed as normal. I float gears when putting around. Leaving less stress for clutch issues. As I’m 208000 so miles still have few miles before replacing factory clutch brake pads belts plugs etc… I keep check at all wear clean up dust collected grease all joints every season. So can’t say much about car being a problem.
NHTSA complaint #11504019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brake system fails while driving. Brakes go soft on car while in use and unable to brake properly. Warning lights and abs brake light comes on the dashboard. This has occurred 4 different times. Each occurrence was followed with several months long repair visits to the dealer who says it’s the brake pump malfunctioning. I have lost control of brakes while driving. Two cases have been directly reported to General Motors.
NHTSA complaint #11484871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This is the third time while driving that my brakes have simply just gone out. It’s usually on the freeway while at high speeds and I’m nearly not able to stop. This is the third time in three years. No lights come on on the dashboard and no warnings happened at all the brakes just simply stopped working. It takes extreme pressure to try to stop and I’m usually told that it’s some part of the vacuum.
NHTSA complaint #11482383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Both Brake Assist and stabilitrack go out in conjunction with failure lights (no fore-warning). The vehicle was repaired by a Chevrolet dealership with qualified EV tech. Within two weeks that same brake system failures occurred. The issue greatly increases the force needed to press the brake pedal and lengthens braking distance significantly. it also causes a failure in the braking system while at a stop. so after about 16 seconds braking power is reduced to the point of the car rolling forward / backward while the brake pedal is fully depressed.
NHTSA complaint #11472968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have had my 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV in for repairs to three Chevy dealers for issues regarding random brake stuttering and complete brake failure resulting in running stop lights and stop signs going 30> MPH. Failure and issues are intermittent, but it appears to be an overly sensitive ABS/ regenerative braking system locking up the wheels and causing my brake peddle to become ineffective at stopping the car for brief periods of time. All dealerships have been at a loss for how to resolve this and have put me back on the road only to run more red lights after approaching at safe speeds. The rear right wheel makes odd clicking while this happens, leading the techs to believe it was a faulty sensor issue. However, all parts are out of stock for this car in the US and therefore I cannot get the vehicle repaired.
NHTSA complaint #11452434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11448075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EITHER A 'SERVICE STABILITRAK' OR 'SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST' WARNING LIGHT GOES ON ALONG WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND THE BRAKES LOSE THEIR POWER. IT FEELS LIKE THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT ONLY IT'S THE BRAKES. YOU HAVE TO PUSH WITH ALL OF YOUR POWER TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. ONCE YOU STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARS AND YOU CAN KEEP DRIVING. AFTER THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES WE BROUGHT THIS INTO PUTNAM CHEVROLET IN BURLINGAME AND SPENT $1583.97 TO HAVE THE BRAKES COMPLETELY REPLACED. THE MORNING AFTER WE PICKED THE CAR UP THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' WENT ON AND WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO PUTNAM CHEVROLET WHO SAID, 'ONE OF THE MODULES THAT WE REPLACED WENT BAD,' AND STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REDO THE BRAKES. THEY ALSO TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT WERE NOT FOUND IN THE INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE 'BODY CONTROL MODULE'. WE PICKED THE CAR UP IN OCTOBER. ON DECEMBER 9TH, 2020 THE 'SERVICE STABILITRAK' AND 'SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST' LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. HERE IS A VIDEO OF THE EVENT: [XXX]. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS CHEVY RISKS MY LIFE, MY PASSENGER'S LIFE, AND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11388919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2016 CHEVY SPARK BOUGHT ON JANUARY 2020. OVER THE LAST WEEK (JULY 15) AT 36,569 MILES MY BRAKES HAVE BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKER WHERE I'M PUSHING MY FOOT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHICH IS FAIRLY STEEP, MY BRAKES WON'T STOP MY CAR UNLESS PRESSED AS FAR POSSIBLE TO THE FLOOR. I THOUGHT MY PADS NEEDED CHANGING BUT UPON INSPECTION THEY STILL HAD 90 PERCENT OF LIFE LEFT IN MY PADS. MY BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR IS FULL AND I HAVE NO SIGNS OF OIL LEAKS ANYWHERE ON MY BRAKE LINES OR HOUSING. I HEAR ALMOST A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TRY TO APPLY MY BRAKES BUT MY ROTORS SHOW NO SIGNS OF GASHING OR SCRAPING. I DID RECEIVE AN ABS MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT THAT WENT AWAY ON ITS OWN WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH I OWNED THIS VEHICLE. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THAT DAY WAS HEAVY RAIN, BUT THAT NOTICE HAS YET TO RETURN ON MY DASH. I FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH EITHER THE COMPUTER OR ELECTRICAL PART OF THE BRAKING OR POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE CALIPERS. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED URGENTLY AS THIS CAN LEAD TO FUTURE WRECKS AND POSSIBLE DEATHS.
NHTSA complaint #11339557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY FIANCE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF NO WHERE (NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING)... THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP. THE PEDAL WAS HARD TO PUSH DOWN, IT WOULDN'T GO DOWN AT ALL. NO WAY TO STOP. WE WERE ON FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 65/70 MPH IN CHICAGO!! THEY TRAFFIC IS ALWAYS BUSY OVER THERE. SO SCARY WHEN YOUR CAR DOESN'T STOP AT ALL!!!! WE WERE DRIVING MOSTLY STRAIGHT UNTIL WE COULD SAGELY SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO GET OFF ON AN EXIT. ( WHICH WE HAD TO LET IT COAST DOWN TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR) THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ALERT, I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11338463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, (I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE), TRAVELING AROUND 50MPH. I WAS ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND, WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY, AND PROMPTLY DROVE AWAY. I SLAMMED MY BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SWERVED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID AN IMPACT. WITH BOTH OF MY FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR KEPT SLIDING LIKE IT WAS ON ICE FOR AROUND 80 FEET, BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED ME WERE THE 2 VEHICLES THAT WERE ILLEGALLY PARKED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. WHILE SKIDDING, I HIT THE CEMENT HIGHWAY DIVIDER (ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE). I THEN SLAMMED INTO THE 1ST PARKED CAR, WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO THE 2ND VEHICLE. I WAS SUBSEQUENTIALLY REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH FOLLOWED MY SAME PATH. ONLY THE STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE LEFT SIDE AIRBAG (1ST IMPACT) NEVER DEPLOYED, WHICH LEFT SIGNIFICANT BRUISING ON MY LEFT SHOULDER AND LEFT EAR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, BUT THE CABIN REMAINED MOSTLY INTACT. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY A BROKEN THUMB AND BRUISING THROUGHOUT MY BODY. IF THE ABS HADN'T FAILED, I WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO STOP SAFELY AND AVOID MULTI CAR COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #11331148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RANDOMLY WHILE PARKED ON INCLINE, START THE CAR, PUT IN REVERSE, AND START BACKING DOWN THE DRIVE WAY THE BRAKES WOULD TOTALLY FAIL AND NO AMOUNT OF PRESSING ON THE BRAKES WOULD STOP THE CAR. THE CAR GAVE NO BRAKE FAILURE WARNINGS.
NHTSA complaint #11329876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE FAILURE AFTER $560 BRAKE REPAIR. WHEN BACKING UP ON AN INCLINE BRAKES BECAME VERY HARD AND FAIL TO STOP THE CAR. HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO WARNING LIGHT. DEALER TALKED WITH GM, AND INFORMED ME IT MAY NOT BE FIXABLE. THE BRAKES SHOULD STOP THE CAR EVEN WITH A POWER ASSIST MALFUNCTION. POOR DESIGN. TOO UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY. TRADED IT IN. HOPE NHTSA INVESTIGATES THE BRAKES ON CHEVY SPARKS. THE TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES WAS VERIFIED ON FIRST SHOP TRIP BY CHEVY TECH. 1 DAY AFTER REPAIR, TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AGAIN. THIS TIME IT SET IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK, AWAITING GM RESPONSE. GM CASE NUMBER 9-6003224546 THIS IS THE SECOND BRAKE FAILURE COMPLAINT FOR THE CAR, BUT I ONLY HAVE THE SERVICE REPORT FOR THE ORIGINAL FAILURE AND REPAIR. DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED WITH THIS COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #11329920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR A FEW AGO WITH ZERO MILES AND BRAND NEW. 4 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN I BRAKE AND IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS NOT GOING TO STOP. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR 3 TIMES TO THE DEALER AND AFTER I DRIVE IT FOR 2 TO 3 MONTHS, THE PROBLEM STARTS AGAIN. I ONLY DRIVEN THIS CAR 15000 MILES SO AS YOU CAN SEE IS NOT LIKE I DRIVE IT A LOT. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE DEALER DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY. MY PARTNER WHO HAPPENS TO BE A US RETIRED MARINE DOESN'T EVEN WANT TO GET IN THE CAR OF FEAR OF HAVING A DEADLY ACCIDENT. I ASK FOR YOUR HELP PLEASE. THE DEALER IS: BOMIN AUTOMOTIVE CC LLC- HOMESTEAD 1075 SE 6 AVE, HOMESTEAD, FL 33034 PHONE # 786-298-2688 I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY INCLUDING SALES MANAGER [XXX]. MY NAME IS [XXX] AND MY CELL NUMBER IS [XXX] I AM ATTACHING THE LAST SERVICE WHERE IT SAYS THAT THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR ALMOST A WEEK BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I ASK THAT IF THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, I AM GIVEN A NEW CAR OR MY MONEY BACK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC
NHTSA complaint #11325997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11296788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. CAPITAL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF LEXINGTON (96 RADIO DR, LEXINGTON, NC 27292, (336) 248-5108) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,990.
NHTSA complaint #11291355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.