2017 Chevrolet Spark Brakes Problems

My transmission has been acting up like other stated where it will rev the motor high and then jerk and shift hard. There are no recalls for it when there are known issues with the transmission for the 2017. I was driving down the road and went to stop and my brakes were very hard and almost had to stand on them to stop, almost hit a couple cars, very dangerous situation. This has happened twice to my 2017 spark and both time it was due to vacuum pump. I have taken my car to a mechanic for these issues and the mechanics have also told me they have seen both of these issues with the 2017 spark and that a recall needs done.

NHTSA ID

11753620

Incident

Jun 18, 2025

vehicle brakes went out suddenly after hearing a loud POP sound...brakes wouldn't respond and pedal hard, ran off road and could only glide to a roll stop and not really then...fortunately a repair shop adjacent so drove their and rolled stop. initial look shop advised vacuum pump needs to be diagnosed...they came back with a 'caution on file #pip5598a which advised of known issue but no recall... they came back with a 479$ fee to diagnose exactly what's wrong (those pics enclosed) they are now staring they will not guarantee week or warranty and say engine must be replaced...they are still working up quote to repair vacuum pump, camshaft and timing chain but now are saying will be well over 2k to just SEE if will work and wont guarantee

NHTSA ID

11520650

Incident

May 4, 2023

105000 miles: Lost Brakes extremely hard to push brake pedal. Lost vacuum, enabling to stop car safely. Took brake vacuum line off vacuum pump and plug pump so oil don’t leak out pump. Then join the line to an existing vacuum line. Problem solved no issues since. 205000 miles: Repeatedly theft mode, flickering dashboard, and dead battery issues. Battery was good charged, alternator charging right. To lead with fusebox circuit board needed to be re-soldered. Have no idea how it happened but no problem since. I still have all factory parts on car. This is a stick shift 5 speed. Get 40ish bit more miles a gallon. Keep oil changed as normal. I float gears when putting around. Leaving less stress for clutch issues. As I’m 208000 so miles still have few miles before replacing factory clutch brake pads belts plugs etc… I keep check at all wear clean up dust collected grease all joints every season. So can’t say much about car being a problem.

NHTSA ID

11504019

Incident

Mar 12, 2019

MY FIANCE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF NO WHERE (NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING)... THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP. THE PEDAL WAS HARD TO PUSH DOWN, IT WOULDN'T GO DOWN AT ALL. NO WAY TO STOP. WE WERE ON FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 65/70 MPH IN CHICAGO!! THEY TRAFFIC IS ALWAYS BUSY OVER THERE. SO SCARY WHEN YOUR CAR DOESN'T STOP AT ALL!!!! WE WERE DRIVING MOSTLY STRAIGHT UNTIL WE COULD SAGELY SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO GET OFF ON AN EXIT. ( WHICH WE HAD TO LET IT COAST DOWN TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR) THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ALERT, I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11338463

Incident

Jul 8, 2020

Mileage

87,100 mi

DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, (I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE), TRAVELING AROUND 50MPH. I WAS ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND, WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY, AND PROMPTLY DROVE AWAY. I SLAMMED MY BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SWERVED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID AN IMPACT. WITH BOTH OF MY FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR KEPT SLIDING LIKE IT WAS ON ICE FOR AROUND 80 FEET, BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED ME WERE THE 2 VEHICLES THAT WERE ILLEGALLY PARKED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. WHILE SKIDDING, I HIT THE CEMENT HIGHWAY DIVIDER (ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE). I THEN SLAMMED INTO THE 1ST PARKED CAR, WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO THE 2ND VEHICLE. I WAS SUBSEQUENTIALLY REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH FOLLOWED MY SAME PATH. ONLY THE STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE LEFT SIDE AIRBAG (1ST IMPACT) NEVER DEPLOYED, WHICH LEFT SIGNIFICANT BRUISING ON MY LEFT SHOULDER AND LEFT EAR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, BUT THE CABIN REMAINED MOSTLY INTACT. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY A BROKEN THUMB AND BRUISING THROUGHOUT MY BODY. IF THE ABS HADN'T FAILED, I WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO STOP SAFELY AND AVOID MULTI CAR COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331148

Incident

Oct 31, 2019

Mileage

34,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. CAPITAL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF LEXINGTON (96 RADIO DR, LEXINGTON, NC 27292, (336) 248-5108) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,990.

NHTSA ID

11291355

Incident

Dec 25, 2019

Mileage

54,990 mi

I HAD TAKEN MY SPARK FOR A OIL CHANGE IN APRIL 2017, I HAD ASKED TO CHECK , REPLACE FILTERS, CHECK AND TOP OFF ALL FLUIDS, TIRE ROTATION. AFTER ALL THIS , I NOTICED MY BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING WHEN I MOVE FORWARD SLOWLY. IT WAS RECENTLY RECALL FOR IT'S PASSENGER AIR BAG. I'M AFRAID MY BRAKES WILL BE DEFECTED.

NHTSA ID

11020218

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

Mileage

5,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A PARKED BULLDOZER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE INJURY, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ID

11010588

Incident

Jul 20, 2017

Mileage

2,000 mi