2015 Chevrolet Spark

INCIDENT SUMMARY In February 2025, while driving on the freeway, my vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of power. The battery rapidly depleted without warning, causing the vehicle to decelerate dangerously in moving traffic. A Stabilitrak warning appeared on the display. I was fortunate to reach the shoulder safely, but this failure created an extremely hazardous situation that could have resulted in serious injury or death. Following this incident, the vehicle became completely inoperable and required towing to Stewart Chevrolet for diagnosis. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS Stewart Chevrolet performed a diagnostic evaluation (cost: $700) and provided the following official findings: Problem Identified: Battery 1 with voltage variance beyond specifications Variance Measured: In excess of 0.07V discrepancy in battery cells GM Document Referenced: #17-NA-131 Recommended Repair: Labor operation 9102972 - Drive Motor Replacement and Shipping Preparation (high voltage battery replacement) Estimated Cost: $10,000-12,000

Vehicle: 2015 Chevrolet Spark, odometer <79,000 miles Component that failed: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) – pulley damage causing complete loss of propulsion.What happened: While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost all motive power with no ability to accelerate. The transmission would not engage in any gear and the car became inoperable in traffic. This is the exact failure described in GM Special Coverage Bulletin N192271110 (pulley damage in 2014–2015 Spark CVT). Safety risk: Complete and unexpected loss of propulsion created an immediate safety hazard. The vehicle could not accelerate from a stop or maintain speed, placing my 15-year-old son and other motorists at risk of rear-end collision or stranding in active traffic lanes.Dealer confirmation: RK Chevrolet in Virginia Beach, VA has inspected the vehicle and confirmed the failure matches N192271110 – full transmission replacement required (quote $6,637.19). Vehicle remains at the dealership and is available for inspection.Warning lamps/symptoms: Check-engine light and reduced-power message appeared at time of failure. No prior warnings before the sudden loss of power event. Failure occurred approximately October 2025 – only four months after GM’s 10-year/120,000-mile Special Coverage N192271110 expired on 06/11/2025.The failed transmission is still in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request.

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN VERY SLUGGISH SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY IN THE HEAT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES WHEN I'M AT A COMPLETE STOP AND THE CAR WON'T GO WHEN I HAVE THE GAS PEDAL FLOORED. I HAVE HAD 3 CLOSE CALLS AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, WHEN THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AMPLE TIME TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BASED ON THE DISTANCE BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE DONE DIAGNOSTICS AND SUPPOSEDLY DRIVEN IT, BUT COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BUSY CITY STREETS, AT ON-RAMPS GETTING ONTO THE FREEWAY, AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS GOING STRAIGHT AND TURNING BOTH DIRECTIONS, AND ON LOW GRADE HILLS, I HAVE TO FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL TWO OR THREE TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WILL MOVE. THE PROPULSION INCREASES AT A VERY SLOW, UNSAFE RATE OF SPEED.

CHEVROLET SPARK 2015 THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND AFTER STOP, OR WHEN TURNING AND THE SPEED IS REDUCED. IT TAKES TOO LONG TO ACCELERATE AGAIN..I ALMOST HAD TWO ACCIDENTS FOR THIS PROBLEM.I BOUGHT THE CAR AT AUTOMALL MIAMI LAKES ON SEPT 13 FROM CARLOS MORALES, MASTER ESPECIALIST . ON SEPT 19 I PICKED UP THE CAR, BUT NEXT DAY WHEN I GET TO MY JOB, THE TIRE ICON WAS SIGNALING, THEN I WENT BACK TO SERVICE, ON SEPT 21, THE SAME TIRE SIGNAL, SERVICE PUT AIR AND SAID THERE WAS NO MORE PROBLEM, BUT I KEEP INFORMING THE ACCELERATOR SITUATION THAT ALMOST PUT ME IN 2 ACCIDENTS, ONE WHILE I WAS TURNING, WITH SUFFICIENT TIME, AND THE SECOND WHILE I WAS AT A STOP.LIGHT ON SEPT 24 HE CAR HAD THE TIRE ICON AGAIN I ASKED CARLOS THE CARFAX WHO SENT ME TO MANAGER ALEXANDER WHO GAVE ME IT, AND SHOWS THE CAR HAD AN ACCIDENT IN 2015.I SIGNED IT, BUT THE MANAGER REFUSED TO SIGN HIS PART. I ASKED MARCIO FOR AN OFFICIAL REPORT LIST OF ALL THE DAYS I'VE BEEN THERE FOR THE TIRE ICON TOO. HE TOLD ME THE TIRE ICON IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE REPORTED. THAT TIRES ARE NOT PART OF THE CAR WARRANTY. I MADE A CLAIM WITH CHEVROLET HEADQUARTER ON SEPT 26, CLAIM 8-46665524641 THE CAR WARRANTY EXPIRES ON OCT 25 2018. CARLOS MORALES,MASTER ESPECIALIST, WHO SOLD ME THE CAR DID NOT GIVE TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO THE CARFAX REPORT, SAYING THAT THOSE ARE SMALL ACCIDENTS, THAT THE CAR IS STILL GOOD. BUT I TOLD HIM THAT IF I KNEW IT, MY DECISION WOULD BE NOT BUYING IT. HE TOLD ME THAT THE AGENCY WILL HELP ME IF I FIND ANOTHER CAR IN AUTOMALL ANNOUNCES OR IN THE INTERNET. IN SEPT 26, I WENT TO SEE CARLOS AGAIN AND SHOW HIM OTHER SPARK ONLINE IN AUTOMALL THAT CAN BE CHANGED FOR THE ONE THAT I BOUGHT, OR TO GET MY MONEY BACK. HE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO PAY AT LEAST THE FIRST MONTH, THEN ADD THAT I NEED TO PAY 2 MONTHS BEFORE THEY CONSIDER TO CHANGE THE CAR I BOUGHT.

THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, STABILITY LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IT IS HAVING RANDOM MISFIRES. THE DEALERSHIP IS WANTING ME TO PAY AROUND $350 TO HAVE THE CARBON CLEANED OUT BUT THEY CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT WILL FIX IT. THEY SAID MY WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT. THEN I ASKED IF I GO THAT ROUTE AND IT DOESN'T FIX IT, WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS. THEY SAID TO TAKE THE ENGINE OUT AND CLEAN IT BY HAND, ROUGHLY $1000, AND THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER THAT EITHER. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR RESPONSE AND AFTER READING PAGES AND PAGES OF THE SAME ISSUE IN FORUMS AND NO ONE MENTIONING THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH THESE STEPS HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE IT IS ONLY PUTTING A BANDAID ON THE ISSUE. I DIDN'T BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY JUST TO HAVE TO DOLE OUT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS.

ON MAY 15, 2015, AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 15 FREEWAY MILES, I TOOK THE FREEWAY OFF RAMP. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 1/2 MILE, AFTER EXITING, THE "PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN ALTHOUGH I'M PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR FOR MORE POWER. AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR MOVED VERY SLOWLY EVEN WHEN I'M FLOORING THE ACCELERATOR. I FINALLY MADE IT TO THE CHURCH PARKING LIGHT WITH THE VEHICLE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE, ABOUT 17 MILES AWAY. THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS USING THE FREEWAY. THE "PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED" WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON THE FOLLOWING DAY WHEN THE POWER WAS TURNED ON. HOWEVER, THE "SERVICE THE VEHICLE SOON WARNING LIGHT " CAME ON THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE ON 5/26/15.