2016 Chevrolet Spark Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
22/100
#8 most-complained of 10 Spark years
The 2016 Chevrolet Spark ranks 8th out of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 22 and a "Best" verdict relative to other Spark years. It had 28 complaints, 1 recall, 1 fire, and 1 crash, with brakes as the top problem area.
- Complaints
- 28
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 34
- 31 city / 40 hwy
Top 2016 Chevrolet Spark problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes10 (36%)
- Electrical System6 (21%)
- Other5 (18%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (14%)
- Airbags2 (7%)
- Engine2 (7%)
- Fuel System2 (7%)
- Steering2 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (7%)
What owners report
- Owners report brakes going hard or unresponsive, sometimes requiring the emergency brake to stop the vehicle.
- A vehicle caught fire while driving around 45-50 mph after an abnormal smoke odor was noticed in the cabin.
- The driver-side curtain airbags reportedly deployed about one minute after a T-bone crash instead of immediately.
- The entertainment screen and instrument panel lighting failed without warning while driving around 30 mph and recurred after a dealer visit.
- A clutch reportedly wore out in less than 11,000 miles despite normal manual-transmission driving habits.
- The engine reportedly cut off repeatedly after braking hard at an intersection, continuing to stall during a 15-minute drive.
2016 Chevrolet Spark recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 17V307000May 9, 2017Airbags55,068 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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."
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.
Remedy: 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.
2016 Chevrolet Spark fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 31 MPG
- Highway
- 40 MPG
- Combined
- 34 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,900
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other Spark years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Chevrolet Spark reliable?
- Compared to other Spark model years, the 2016 has a complaint index of 22 and ranks 8th worst out of 10 years tracked, earning a "Best" verdict relative to the rest of the lineup.
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Spark?
- Brakes are the top problem area, making up 36% of complaints (10 of 28), followed by the electrical system at 21% (6 complaints) and transmission/powertrain at 14% (4 complaints).
- Does the 2016 Chevrolet Spark have any recalls?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 17V307000) covers the passenger airbag module, which GM replaces free of charge if a young child is seated improperly in the front passenger seat.
- How does the 2016 Spark compare to other Spark years?
- The 2016 Spark's complaint index of 22 is much lower than the 2014 Spark's index of 100 and the 2013 Spark's index of 89, both rated "Avoid," making 2016 one of the better years.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Chevrolet Spark?
- The 2016 Spark gets 34 mpg combined (31 city / 40 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,900 according to the EPA.