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4.3

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,550 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Chevrolet Spark brakes problems

brakes problem

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2016 Chevrolet Spark Owner Comments

problem #10

Oct 022023

Spark

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Daly City, CA, USA

problem #9

Jun 302022

Spark

  • miles
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.

- Rio Rancho, NM, USA

problem #8

Feb 152022

Spark

  • miles
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.

- Crawfordville, FL, USA

problem #7

Dec 092020

Spark

  • 31,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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).

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #6

Jul 152020

Spark

  • 36,569 miles
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.

- Kyle, TX, USA

problem #5

Aug 082019

Spark

  • 35,233 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 & needed replacement and reprogramming. This is 2nd brake related issue. Prior issue was less than 1 month after leasing in Oct 2016. Brakes also failed completely.

- Claremont, CA, USA

problem #4

May 152019

Spark

  • 68,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

There were two incidents involving the same problem. While driving the vehicle on the highway and then on a main road the brakes locked and I had to use the emergency brake to bring the vehicle to complete stop. My mechanic replaced the engine brake vacuum pump after both incidents. The pump was broken in pieces on both occasions leading to metal parts falling into the engine during repair and needing to be retrieved to prevent engine damage.

- Chepachet, RI, USA

problem #3

Apr 252019

Spark

  • 85,000 miles
As I was driving my brakes got hard preventing me from stopping, I was driving on my way to pick my sister up and as I went to stop to turn into her driveway my brakes are super hard and I was unable to come to a complete stop for about a quarter of a mile when I took my car in to get it inspected they said my brake booster was out and when they took it off the brake booster vacuum also had to be replaced they said this rarely ever happens but there is also been multiple complaints of it and that there is no warning signs

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #2

Jan 252017

Spark

  • 9,659 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Spark. While being operated at a low speed, the brakes made an abnormal noise without warning. The vehicle was taken to classic Chevrolet (located at 1101 w state highway 114, grapevine, tx) where it was diagnosed that the brakes needed to be adjusted and the brake wheel cylinder was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was approximately 9,659.

- Galvenston, TX, USA

problem #1

Jul 172016

Spark

  • 37 miles
On the way back to my san francisco home from the novato Chevrolet dealer where I had just purchased a new black 2016 Chevrolet Spark ev my brakes stopped functioning. Just coming off the golden gate bridge, on a significant downhill grade, my brakes stopped functioning properly. At first the brakes started to be harder to push and then with my foot to the floor, provided almost no stopping power. The stopping distance was dangerously long. Very dangerous! just over 2 miles.there was no way for me to stop the car immediately. Only minimally. With my foot to the floor, I was able to slow the car enough that 2 miles later, I was finally able to pull over and come to a stop. On the display panel, there were warning lights continuously on: - "service break assist" - "brake" warning light - "ABS" warning light - "tcs" warning light I was lucky to pull over with no (fatal) accident, and then waited almost 3 hours from dusk to night in the dark to have GM tow it back to the dealer, then get a cab, paying out of pocket to go home. The odometer read 37 miles.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

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