2013 Chevrolet Spark Electrical Problems

Vehicle stalls when started, after vehicle is up to temp the rpm’s fluctuate and vehicle misfires. I was driving down the road when all of a sudden the car went into limp mode I couldn’t do anything and me and my son almost got run off the road but after a few minutes of pressing the gas pedal it finally started to move. Dealership is unable to fix problem because they can’t even figure out what it is $7000.00 later and no one can figure out the problem. This is a lemon and Chevy should be recalling all Chevy spark before someone gets hurt.

NHTSA ID

11642223

Incident

Dec 16, 2024

My Spark's alarm kept going off. They replaced a module, Bob McCosh Dealer. They also said my radio was bad and had to be replaced. 615$. I said "Just disconnect the radio, I don't need it". Problem solved...I thought. When they did disconnected it, I noticed that I lost my "CHIME"...for Seat belt, keys left in ignition and lights left on. They reprogrammed the car to the new module, and the radio was working, and chimes were present. Next day, my battery is dead, because of the radio drained it. I am taking it to the dealer again, after I get a jump.THE ONLY OPTION IS, TO DISCONNECT THE RADIO they said. After researching, According to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard: These (2) FAILED. * 208 (occupant crash protection) * 114 (Theft protection) NHTSA ID # : 16V422000 #: 16V257000 GM RECALL(s) : #45340 # 17130 I thank you for your Review! It's Important to me, and I'm sure Chevrolet, that these Safety Features CANNOT BE IGNORED! I am praying that after your Reviewing, You are able to Provide a Recall for the Radio Software on my 2013 Chevy Spark! I bought the car last year, and it's getting very expensive to keep it running Safely. Thank you

NHTSA ID

11618469

Incident

Aug 23, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Spark. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V257000 (Equipment, Electrical System) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.

NHTSA ID

11594252

Incident

Jun 13, 2024

The locks will lock and unlock very quickly. I got out of the vehicle but the vehicle quickly locked back locking my son([XXX] who was strapped in his carseat) in there. i pressed unlock but it immediately kept locking back as soon as i pressed unlock. i was finally able to quickly open it and get him out. my concern would be what if the day was hotter? time is of the essence and my son could have been stuck in there and likely killed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11589275

Incident

May 16, 2024

I'm coming to a stop or slowing down the car shuts off. Even when making a turn in front of another car across traffic my car has turned off in the middle of crossing the street and I almost got hit twice now. This affects the cruise control coming on as well the speedometer fluctuates back and forth the whole time I'm driving. This happens every day and at most times when I'm coming to a stop or coming out of a stop. I just have to test the gas before I make a turn in front of oncoming traffic to cross the road to make sure that I have power and then I go as fast as I can across so that hopefully I'll gain enough speed so that the car doesn't shut off again. So usually it's every time I come to a red light which is at least at the very least from my work to home is four lights and at every light it will do it. Oftentimes I cross traffic and it will do it. I just had to be very careful

NHTSA ID

11501467

Incident

Jan 12, 2023

The key is a problem. Personally mine has broken 4 times. The fob & base of the key is too big for the key itself. I know other Chevrolet models have had key recalls for the same reason, so I am not sure why they have not recalled the Chevy Spark keys because they are the same format as other models. It would be convenient if they separated the fob and the key. Currently my key is super glued because the dealership has this key on back order. I just replaced this key two years ago and it just keeps breaking.

NHTSA ID

11428753

Incident

Aug 10, 2021

ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY CAR, WHILE DRIVING, STARTED ACTING UP. MY ODOMETER WOULD FLUCTUATE AND NOT GIVE ME MY SPEED, MY LOWER TIRE PRESSURE CAME ON, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING WOULD GO IN AND OUT, AND ACCELERATION WOULD FLUCTUATE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT, AFTER 3 DAYS OF HEARING NOTHING I CALLED AND THEY TOLD ME SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ONSTAR MODULE. AFTER 4 DAYS OF HAVING MY CAR BACK, SAME PROBLEMS. BROUGHT IT BACK IN, THEY CALLED AN ENGINEER IN SINCE THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON AND A WEEK LATER I GOT MY CAR BACK. 4 DAYS LATER I AGAIN HAD TO BRING IT IN FOR THE SAME STUFF AND AFTER 9 DAYS OF PLAYING PHONE TAG THEN GAVE IT BACK. I HAVE HAD MY CAR BACK FOR 2 WEEKS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, TODAY WHILE 35 MILES AWAY FROM HOME EVERY SINGLE LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASH BOARD. MY ODOMETER DIDNT WORK AT ALL AND I COULD ONLY GO 30 MILES PER HOUR. I STOPPED MY CAR, SHUT IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND NOTHING CHANGED. THE NEWEST ORDEAL IS MY BREAK LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND BEEP AT ME ANYWHERE FROM 3 SECONDS TO 5 MINUTES. WITH IT BEING THE HOLIDAYS AND HAVING TO WORK ALL WEEK I SEE NO POINT IN BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR NOTHING TO BE FIXED FOR A 4TH TIME AND BEING WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE I'M ONLY 20 FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG WHEN I HAVE A JOB TO GET TO THAT'S ONLY 5 MINUTES AWAY. I'M AM SO BEYOND IRRITATED AND WANT TO THROW THIS CAR INTO A TRASH CAN.

NHTSA ID

11162975

Incident

Nov 5, 2018

Mileage

65,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD INDEPENDENTLY OPEN AND CLOSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PLATTNER'S ARCADIA CHEVROLET BUICK (210 S BREVARD AVE, ARCADIA, FL 34266, (863) 869-2228), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11105199

Incident

Mar 13, 2018

2013-2015 CHEVY SPARKS HAVE ISSUES WITH THE KR12B WINDSHIELD WIPER RELAY INTERNAL TO THE UHFB TO BE INOPERABLE. NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE FUSE-BLOCK. IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT ONLY ROSNER CHEVY IN MELBOURNE FL IS THE ONLY AUTO STORE IN THE STATE YOU CAN BUY PARTS FOR THIS VEHICLE. ROSNER CHEVY ONLY ALLOWS SHEEP TO VISIT THEM. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIX YOUR VEHICLE YOURSELF THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE. THEY ALSO CHARGE OVER $100.00 JUST TO TELL YOU WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEN THEY MARK UP THE PRICE OF THE PART IF YOU GET IT FIXED WITH THEM AND CHARGE YOU FOR LABOR. YOU CAN ONLY BUY ONE MANUEL FOR THIS VEHICLE FROM HELMS AND IT IS FOR MECHANICS. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO HAVE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT ONLY ONE COMPANY KNOWS HOW TO FIX. ROSNER CHEVY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT GIVE INFORMATION OUT BECAUSE IT IS TOP SECRET GM INFORMATION THAT WE AS CONSUMERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE. THIS IS ILLEGAL AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THERE SHOULD BE MANUALS AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT DON'T COST $200.00. HAYNES PLEASE MAKE A MANUEL FOR CHEVY SPARKS SINCE GM WON'T. HAVING ONLY 27661 MILES ON A 2013 CHEVY SPARK THERE SHOULD NOT BE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED GM TO GET AWAY WITH AND IT NEEDS TO STOP. GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX ALL KR12B WINDSHIELD WIPER RELAY FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THEY SOLD US FAULTY ONES. BECAUSE THERE IS NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE CONSUMER. I REPLACED A WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT BAD BECAUSE WHEN TESTED BY A MECHANIC IT TESTED BAD BUT REALLY IT WAS THE WIPER RELAY THAT WAS BAD.

NHTSA ID

11019319

Incident

Aug 12, 2017

Mileage

27,661 mi

THIS CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN EVEN WHEN CLUTCH IS ON. ALSO THE MOTOR SOUNDS LIKE IT GOING TO BLOW OUT ON ITS OWN AND STOPS AND GOES AS FAST IT CAME. THIS CARS HAS ONLY 53000 MILES AND HAS BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID

10957964

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING ERROR MESSAGE (CODE 95) DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,441.

NHTSA ID

10920492

Incident

Jul 9, 2016

Mileage

59,441 mi

I TOOK MY CHEVY SPARK TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAFETY RECALL TO THE RADIO. DEALER COMPLETED RECALL AND THE NEXT DAY MY RADIO HAVING ISSUES. THE BUTTONS ON THE RADIO WERE NOT RESPONDING TO TOUCH. THE DEALER STATED THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY ISSUES. APPROX 1 MONTH LATER, I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A HARDWARE ISSUE. THE MANAGER AT DEALER STATED THAT THEY DONT HAVE ANY TESTS TO DETERMINE WHAT HARDWARE ISSUE THE RADIO WAS HAVING BUT STATED IT WASNT RELATED TO SAFETY RECALL. THE MANAGER ALSO ADVISED THAT GM WOULD NOT PAY FOR A NEW RADIO AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE IT. I USED A 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND FILED COMPLAINT WITH GM RISK MANAGEMENT. THE MANAGER FOR THE CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM SPOKE WITH LOCAL DEALER AND STATED THAT THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A HARDWARE ISSUE AND NOT RELATED TO RECALL. BOTH GM AND LOCAL DEALER UNABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY DOCUMENTS SUPPORTING THEIR CONCLUSION. GM ALSO STATED THAT RECALL WAS NOT A SAFTEY RECALL AND THAT RECALL WAS DONE FOR SIMPLE SOFTWARE ISSUES. DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THEY USED A FOREIGN OBJECT (USB) TO COMPLETE SOFTWARE UPDATE. NO ISSUES WITH RADIO BEFORE RECALL WORK. GM WONT REIMBURSE ME FOR $100 DEDUCTIBLE THAT WAS PAID DIRECTLY BY ME. EXTENDED WARRANTY PAID FOR REMAINDER OF RADIO REPLACEMENT. GM STATED THEY WONT REIMBURSE BECAUSE CAR IS PAST BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY

NHTSA ID

10898330

Incident

Aug 23, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V422000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. WHILE RECIEVING THE RECALL REPAIR, THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER FAILED DUE TO THE WORK BEING PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10897717

Incident

Aug 22, 2016

I WAS GOING SOUTH ON I95 DOING 70 MILES AN HOUR ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED OFF AND ON TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON CAR LOST SPEED AND WILL NOT SHIFT HIGH RP NOT SPEED. WAS ALMOST IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10852151

Incident

Mar 12, 2016

Mileage

83,645 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY STARTED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,800. MA 10/19/2015 *CN

NHTSA ID

10760363

Incident

Aug 21, 2015

Mileage

32,800 mi

I WILL SHUT MY CAR OFF AND GET OUT AND MY RADIO WILL TURN ITSELF ON WHILE THE CAR IS OFF. SO WHEN I GO TO LEAVE FOR WORK MY BATTERY WILL BE DEAD. I'VE TRIED TO TURN THE RADIO OFF BEFORE GETTING OUT AND IT WILL STILL TURN ON. I CALLED CHEVY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME OVER $90 JUST TO "SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT." THE CAR IS 2013 AND ONLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT. IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. SO NOT IMPRESSED.

NHTSA ID

10731608

Incident

Jun 10, 2015

Mileage

45,000 mi

CAR STALLS WILL PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND WILL NOT ADVANCE. IT WILL START TO MOVE SLOW AFTER A WHILE NOT REACHING FULL SPEED. TRANSMISSION GEAR DISPLAY WILL BE BLANK IN DASH CONSOLE. CAR MOVES AT A VERY HIGH RPM READING. TRANSMISSION WILL KICK IF SET ON NEUTRAL AND THEN SHIF TO DRIVE. THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE OWE THE CAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TWICE TO THE DEALER BUT IS WORKING FINE AT SUCH TIME SO THEY CAN NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM. FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN MY WIFE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN IT HAPPEN TO ME I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652102

Incident

Aug 23, 2013

Mileage

2,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO START AND HESITATED UPON CHANGING GEARS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENTILATION CONTROLS FAILED TO ACTIVATE THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER OVER FIVE TIMES AND THE FAILURES WERE UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ID

10640903

Incident

Nov 1, 2013

Mileage

4,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO DISPLAY THE CORRECT SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ID

10639051

Incident

Dec 17, 2013

Mileage

14,000 mi

I WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER AND ISSUED A FIX IT TICKET BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE OFFICER NEITHER OF MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. I MIGHT ADD THAT THE OFFICER FOLLOWED ME FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS AND SAW ME STOP AT LEAST 4 TIMES BEFORE PULLING ME OVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631284

Incident

Sep 5, 2014

Mileage

9,811 mi

MY DAUGHTER & NIECE STOPPED AT A CONVENIENCE STORE, LOCKED THE CAR, CAME BACK OUT AND CAR WOULDN'T START. CALLED ONSTAR AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. A MODULE FAILED THAT LOCKED OUT THE ENGINE AS IT WOULD IF VEHICLE WAS STOLEN. DEALER GOT THE MODULE QUICKLY, BUT COULDN'T GET THE KEYS TO REPROGRAM. THIS HAPPENED 60 MILES AWAY, I HAVE GOTTEN A LOANER FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BUT MY DAUGHTER COULDN'T AS SHE'S 20 YEARS OLD. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SO I HAD SAFE, DEPENDABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR MY DAUGHTER. WHAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY! DEALER SAID THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THIS HAPPENING ON ANY TYPE GM VEHICLE IN THE PAST. IT'S SIX DAYS AND COUNTING, STILL NO CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10619207

Incident

Jul 31, 2014

Mileage

24,163 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE SPEEDOMETER READING FLUCTUATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE RADIO STAYED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE DOOR WAS OPENED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ID

10588644

Incident

Dec 17, 2013

Mileage

14,000 mi

CHEVROLET SPARK WOULD NO SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR WHEN ACELERATING ON TO FREEWAY. THE CAUSE IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR DTC ERROR CODE P0705. KNOWN SERVICE BULLETIN (#PIP-5101). THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. EXTREME LIFE THREATING PROBLEM WHEN A VEHICLE IS MERGING THE FREEWAY AND WILL NOT ACELERATE TO THE SPEED OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC!!!!!!!! CHEVROLET DEALER HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10583357

Incident

Apr 16, 2014

Mileage

30,000 mi

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR AND PARKED IT. WHEN I HAVE RETURNED TO THE CAR IT WILL NOT START. ON STAR DIAGNOSTICS TELLS ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ANTI BRAKE SYSTEM AND THAT I AM TO GET IT TO THE DEALER/REPAIR IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE I CAN GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE I AM IN AN AREAS WITHOUT PHONE OR CELL RECEPTION TO CALL FOR HELP. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY UNTIL THEY CAN REPLICATE THE PROBLEM - THEY CANNOT FIX IT. FINALLY WITH THIS LAST (4TH) VISIT THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM TWICE. BUT I WAS INFORMED THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THE PROBLEM IS COMING FROM AND THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. THEY WILL RETURN THE CAR TO ME AFTER 9 DAYS AS IS WITH NO FIX. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE ACROSS COLORADO FOR FEAR I WILL BE STRANDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576970

Incident

Nov 22, 2013

Mileage

2,200 mi

THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. I'VE HAD IT TO THE DEALERS 6 TIMES SINCE JULY. IT DOES NOT BLOW COLD AIR. THE COMPRESSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED; THE EXPANSION VALVE HAS BEEN REPLACED; THE SYSTEM WAS DRAINED AND RECHARGED. NOTHING HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548279

Incident

Jul 5, 2013

Mileage

2,277 mi