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2016 Chevrolet Spark Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Spark, most often about the brakes (36% of complaints, typically around 35,000 miles). It is 5th of 10 Spark model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2016 Chevrolet Spark problems
Brakes
10 complaints · 36%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles.
2016 chevy Spark EV - 35,233 miles. Driving straight on downhill city street. Stabilitrak failure message appeared, then brakes stopped responding. Steered car into curb to force it to stop. Brake alarm symbol displayed on screen. Car towed to dealership. Dealership said brake electronic control module was faulty &…
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…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 18%The head restraints are too far forward. If I adjust the seat to sit up straight, then my head is too far forward. So I have to lean back in my seat in order for my head to be straight. After only one month of driving, my back is killing me!
I did my recall for transmission control module by cheverolet dealership and all of sudden my car shut off while driving in busy traffic on a busy road. Would not turn on at all, would not go out of gear at all. Had to have toad back to the dealership. But bc gm is on strike received no loaner car. I'm disabled and so…
Electrical
5 complaints · 18%The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Spark. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the entertainment screen and instrument panel lighting failed without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown.…
The contact owned a 2016 Chevrolet Spark. While driving approximately 45-50 MPH, there was an abnormal smoke odor in the cabin of the vehicle. Suddenly, the vehicle caught fire. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact stated that the fire started from inside…
Transmission
4 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Clutch wore out on 2016 Chevrolet Spark ls in less than 11,000 miles (just over 1 year old). I am an experienced manual transmission driver who has driven other cars to over 125,000 miles without needing a new clutch. Clearly defective clutch but they wouldn't cover it under warranty because it was a "wear item". No…
Randomly when I get into my car and crank the lights on my dash,screen will appear- other times they will not. Randomly when driving she will just be driving normal and immediately she shuts down and off with no warning signs and no warning lights on dash. This issue has been ongoing since the purchase of her. It has…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Chevrolet Spark recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash with a frontal air bag deployment, an unbelted child in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began july 5, 2017. Owners may contact gm customer service at 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is 17199.
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain 2016-2017 chevrolet spark vehicles. In the event of a crash, if a young child is seated improperly and not wearing a seat belt while in the front passenger seat, deployment of the front passenger air bag may injure the occupant's neck. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor safety standard (fmvss) number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2016 Chevrolet Spark
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Spark?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (10 complaints, typically around 35,000 miles); other or unspecified (5 complaints); electrical (5 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Spark have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 9, 2017 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Chevrolet Spark?
- It is 5th of 10 Spark model years by number of complaints, with 28 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.