Most common 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV problems
Share of the 14 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Spark EV complaints by model year
Best Spark EV years: 2014, 2015. Years to avoid: 2016. Compare all years →
2016 Chevrolet Spark EV recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV owners say
Brakes
I was driving on the freeway during evening rush hour, so it was stop-and-go traffic. I always leave plenty of room between myself and the car in front of me. The car ahead stopped suddenly, and I slammed on my brakes with a car and a half length distance between myself and the vehicle in front of me. I was going about 15 miles per hour and my car did not stop - I slid straight into the car in front of me. It was not icy and there was plenty of room to stop. The brakes failed. When I first purchased the vehicle, I remember hitting the brakes and saying to myself and my friend at the time, "man, it doesn't feel like this thing wants to stop all of the way." well, it doesn't stop all of the way and it is a major hazard.
Braking system inconsistent performance. Transition from regenerative braking to mechanical braking is sloppy and abrupt. When the mechanical braking system kicks in, it kicks in too strong causing the ABS system to activate as the wheels suddenly lock up.
Air bags
Gotten into a minor accident and the airbags did not deploy and the seat belt tensioner did not work. No injuries since it was under 15mph, but I am concerned that this was caused from the defect before the recall effort.
My vehicle has been recalled, and my local Chevrolet dealership has scheduled an appointment for 2 weeks from now. It is unacceptable to allow your customers to drive a vehicle that you designed with dangerous flaws for any amount of time. It is incomprehensible that this recall is not being taken with urgency and care. Someone has died because of this issue. In addition, GM appears to not feel any amount remorse for selling deathtrap vehicles to the American public.
2016 Chevrolet Spark EV engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 128 / 109 / 119 MPGe | 82 mi |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV a good car?
Based on 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Spark EV rates use caution: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Spark EV at the same age. It is one of the Spark EV years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV?
The brakes — 10 complaints, 71% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (3) and seats (1).
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV, the most recent from July 10, 2017 (sensor/control module-inactive). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Spark EV?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016. See the full Chevrolet Spark EV years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 3,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.