2016 Chevrolet Spark EV

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 substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

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. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND HIT A POT HOLE WHICH RESULTED IN THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS DEPLOYING. THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO TIRE OR CAR

NHTSA ID

11099255

Incident

May 31, 2018

Mileage

18,031 mi

I WAS DRIVING A 2016 CHEVROLET SPARK EV ON A CITY ROADWAY WHEN I HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE AND ALMOST WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AT THE START OF MY COMMUTE, I TURNED THE VEHICLE ON WHICH WAS PARKED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PULSATING. AS I PULLED OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY THE PULSATING AND THE LOUD SOUND CONTINUED AS A SET OF WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE (ABS WARNING, STABILITRAK AND SERVICE BRAKES). I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN TO APPROX. 30 MPH IN A 50 MPH ZONE AS I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION. AS I CAME TO A BUSY INTERSECTION I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING. I FORCEFULLY PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MAXIMUM FORCE POSSIBLE AS THE VEHICLE BARELY SLOWED DOWN. I ALSO HAD TO PUT THE SELECTOR TO "L" WHICH HELPED THE VEHICLE SLOW AS I STOPPED APPROX. 3 FEET PAST THE LIMIT LINE. IF I WERE GOING 10MPH FASTER AND IF THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT THE RED LIGHT I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A TRAFFIC COLLISION DUE TO THE COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. AFTER, I DROVE THE VEHICLE (5MPH) INTO A PARKING LOT AS THE LIGHTS AND BRAKES WERE STILL NOT OPERATING. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR 5 MINUTES THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON. WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE ON EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AS THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS AND THE BRAKES WORKED LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. CONDITIONS DURING THIS TIME WAS A TYPICAL CALIFORNIA SUNNY DAY AND THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL CONDITIONS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME EXPERIENCING A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME TAKING THE CHEVY SPARK IN FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. ON 10/3/2016 THE BRAKE MODULES WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE PULSATING PROBLEMS HOWEVER THE BRAKES DID NOT FAIL THE FIRST TIME. MY VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER AS OF THE DATE OF THIS COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ID

11034167

Incident

Oct 7, 2017

Mileage

11,000 mi

THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND WAS HIT FROM THE REAR ON A CITY STREET. THE IMPACT SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 15MPH (ESTIMATED). THE DRIVER SEAT SLID BACK UPON IMPACT AND APPEARED TO DERAIL AND WAS STOPPED BY THE REAR SEAT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT WOULD NOT SLIDE FORWARD. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A MAJOR VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED..

NHTSA ID

11033389

Incident

Oct 10, 2017

Mileage

14,029 mi

SUDDEN AND STRONG BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATIONS OCCASIONALLY RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PEDAL TRAVEL, SIGNIFICANTLY LESS BRAKING FORCE, AND SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES THAN TYPICALLY EXPERIENCED DURING SIMILAR BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATIONS. EACH EVENT OCCURRED ON WARM, DRY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STREETS DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, TRAVELING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. ON EACH OCCASION, THE BRAKES -- INCLUDING REGENERATION -- FUNCTIONED AS EXPECTED JUST PRIOR TO AND JUST AFTER THE EVENT, AND THE BATTERY WAS IN A STATE OF PARTIAL DISCHARGE, BUT DURING EACH EVENT THE PEDAL FEEL WAS SIMILAR TO THE FEEL EXPERIENCED JUST AFTER CHARGING TO 100% (WHEN REGENERATIVE BRAKING IS NOT YET AVAILABLE.) I SUSPECT THAT ON EACH OF THESE OCCASIONS, THE CAR'S REGENERATIVE BRAKING WAS UNEXPECTEDLY DEACTIVATED FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, AND THE SUBSEQUENT MECHANICAL-ONLY BRAKE APPLICATION (ON COLD PADS) RESULTED IN THE PEDAL FEEL/BRAKING FORCE/STOPPING DISTANCE CHANGES. NOTE THAT I NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS IN TWO YEARS OF DRIVING A FIAT 500E ON THE SAME ROUTE, IN THE SAME WAY, YET THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH MY CHEVROLET SPARK EV ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS AS OF SEPTEMBER 1ST 2017.

NHTSA ID

11022827

Incident

Sep 1, 2017

4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING, 1 TIME WHILE STATIONARY, THE CAR'S BRAKE ASSIST (POWER BRAKING SYSTEM) HAS GONE OUT. EACH TIME, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT TO A STOP. THERE WAS A "SERVICE STABILITRAK" WARNING FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING. CONCURRENTLY, THE ABILITY TO BRAKE IS EXTREMELY DIMINISHED. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES MOST OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING CAPACITY. IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO POWER BRAKES, ONLY MANUAL BRAKES THAT REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT. EACH OF THE FIRST THREE TIMES IT WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THEY FULLY REPLACED THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. AS OF THE FOURTH TIME IT WENT IN (JAN 13), WHERE IT STILL IS NOW (JAN 23), THEY WERE STILL UNSURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR HOW TO FIX IT. #1: OCT 23, 2016 ~7:51PM LIGHT RAIN, ~50+ DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD BUT NOT DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC TIME, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~10-15MPH #2: DEC 9, 2016 ~7:51PM LIGHT RAIN, ~50+ DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD BUT NOT DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC TIME, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~10-15MPH #3: DEC 21, 2016 ~11:37AM LIGHT SPRINKLING, ~50+ DEGREES, HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~25-30MPH #4: JAN 12, 2016 ~2:50PM SUNNY AFTER RAIN EARLIER IN THE DAY, ~60 DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD COMING TO STOP AT INTERSECTION TO TURN LEFT AT GREEN LIGHT, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~5-10 MPH #5: JAN 12, 2016 ~3:07PM SUNNY AFTER RAIN EARLIER IN THE DAY, ~60 DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFERENT, AS THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. AFTER MANEUVERING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED, I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE OFF, AND SO I MOVED THE CAR INTO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. AT THIS POINT, THE ALARMS TURNED ON AGAIN, AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD UNTIL I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10947113

Incident

Jan 12, 2017

Mileage

3,006 mi

4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING, 1 TIME WHILE STATIONARY, THE CAR'S BRAKE ASSIST (POWER BRAKING SYSTEM) HAS GONE OUT. EACH TIME, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT TO A STOP. THERE WAS A "SERVICE STABILITRAC" WARNING FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING. CONCURRENTLY, THE ABILITY TO BRAKE IS EXTREMELY DIMINISHED. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES MOST OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING CAPACITY. IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO POWER BRAKES, ONLY MANUAL BRAKES THAT REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT. EACH OF THE FIRST THREE TIMES IT WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THEY FULLY REPLACED THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. AS OF THE FOURTH TIME IT WENT IN (JAN 13), WHERE IT STILL IS NOW (JAN 23), THEY WERE STILL UNSURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR HOW TO FIX IT. #1: OCT 23, 2016 ~7:51PM LIGHT RAIN, ~50+ DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD BUT NOT DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC TIME, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~10-15MPH #2: DEC 9, 2016 ~7:51PM LIGHT RAIN, ~50+ DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD BUT NOT DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC TIME, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~10-15MPH #3: DEC 21, 2016 ~11:37AM LIGHT SPRINKLING, ~50+ DEGREES, HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~25-30MPH #4: JAN 12, 2016 ~2:50PM SUNNY AFTER RAIN EARLIER IN THE DAY, ~60 DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD COMING TO STOP AT INTERSECTION TO TURN LEFT AT GREEN LIGHT, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~5-10 MPH #5: JAN 12, 2016 ~3:07PM SUNNY AFTER RAIN EARLIER IN THE DAY, ~60 DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFERENT, AS THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. AFTER MANEUVERING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED, I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE OFF, AND SO I MOVED THE CAR INTO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. AT THIS POINT, THE ALARMS TURNED ON AGAIN, AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD UNTIL I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10947111

Incident

Jan 12, 2017

Mileage

3,006 mi

4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING, 1 TIME WHILE STATIONARY, THE CAR'S BRAKE ASSIST (POWER BRAKING SYSTEM) HAS GONE OUT. EACH TIME, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT TO A STOP. THERE WAS A "SERVICE STABILITRAK" WARNING FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING. CONCURRENTLY, THE ABILITY TO BRAKE IS EXTREMELY DIMINISHED. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES MOST OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING CAPACITY. IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO POWER BRAKES, ONLY MANUAL BRAKES THAT REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT. EACH OF THE FIRST THREE TIMES IT WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THEY FULLY REPLACED THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. AS OF THE FOURTH TIME IT WENT IN (JAN 13), WHERE IT STILL IS NOW (JAN 23), THEY WERE STILL UNSURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR HOW TO FIX IT. #1: OCT 23, 2016 ~7:51PM LIGHT RAIN, ~50+ DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD BUT NOT DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC TIME, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~10-15MPH #2: DEC 9, 2016 ~7:51PM LIGHT RAIN, ~50+ DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD BUT NOT DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC TIME, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~10-15MPH #3: DEC 21, 2016 ~11:37AM LIGHT SPRINKLING, ~50+ DEGREES, HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~25-30MPH #4: JAN 12, 2016 ~2:50PM SUNNY AFTER RAIN EARLIER IN THE DAY, ~60 DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD COMING TO STOP AT INTERSECTION TO TURN LEFT AT GREEN LIGHT, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~5-10 MPH #5: JAN 12, 2016 ~3:07PM SUNNY AFTER RAIN EARLIER IN THE DAY, ~60 DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFERENT, AS THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. AFTER MANEUVERING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED, I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE OFF, AND SO I MOVED THE CAR INTO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. AT THIS POINT, THE ALARMS TURNED ON AGAIN, AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD UNTIL I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10947110

Incident

Dec 21, 2016

Mileage

2,741 mi

4 TIMES WHILE DRIVING, 1 TIME WHILE STATIONARY, THE CAR'S BRAKE ASSIST (POWER BRAKING SYSTEM) HAS GONE OUT. EACH TIME, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT TO A STOP. THERE WAS A "SERVICE STABILITRAC" WARNING FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A "SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST" WARNING. CONCURRENTLY, THE ABILITY TO BRAKE IS EXTREMELY DIMINISHED. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES MOST OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING CAPACITY. IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO POWER BRAKES, ONLY MANUAL BRAKES THAT REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT. EACH OF THE FIRST THREE TIMES IT WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THEY FULLY REPLACED THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. AS OF THE FOURTH TIME IT WENT IN (JAN 13), WHERE IT STILL IS NOW (JAN 23), THEY WERE STILL UNSURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR HOW TO FIX IT. #1: OCT 23, 2016 ~7:51PM LIGHT RAIN, ~50+ DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD BUT NOT DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC TIME, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~10-15MPH #2: DEC 9, 2016 ~7:51PM LIGHT RAIN, ~50+ DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD BUT NOT DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC TIME, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~10-15MPH #3: DEC 21, 2016 ~11:37AM LIGHT SPRINKLING, ~50+ DEGREES, HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~25-30MPH #4: JAN 12, 2016 ~2:50PM SUNNY AFTER RAIN EARLIER IN THE DAY, ~60 DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD COMING TO STOP AT INTERSECTION TO TURN LEFT AT GREEN LIGHT, CAR IN MOTION, ESTIMATED SPEED ~5-10 MPH #5: JAN 12, 2016 ~3:07PM SUNNY AFTER RAIN EARLIER IN THE DAY, ~60 DEGREES, MAIN BOULEVARD. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFERENT, AS THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. AFTER MANEUVERING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED, I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE OFF, AND SO I MOVED THE CAR INTO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. AT THIS POINT, THE ALARMS TURNED ON AGAIN, AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD UNTIL I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10947106

Incident

Dec 9, 2016

Mileage

2,613 mi

PI to help diagnose A/C concern

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support.