Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Spark EV.
The 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV is a compact all-electric passenger car, representing the final model year of its first-generation run. Powered solely by an electric motor, it delivered a zero-emission driving experience tailored for urban commuting. Within the model’s short 2014–2016 production history, the 2016 iteration stands out as the most reliable, recording the lowest number of owner complaints at 41, with service brakes cited as the primary issue, and it was subject to three recalls.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
| Battery | 88866037 |
| Front wiper blades | 95108156 alt 95108153 |
| Cabin air filter | 13503677 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 146.5 in |
| Overall width | 64.2 in |
| Overall height | 62.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 93.7 in |
| Curb weight | 2866 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 55.5 / 55.5 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 63/37 |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine DOT 3 brake fluid.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | DEXRON HP Automatic Transmission Fluid |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 3 |
| Power Steering Fluid | GM part number 89021185 |
| Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts | 37.0 ft-lbs |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 21; Rear: 21 / |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Front: 70; Rear: 41 /; Front: 70; Rear: 41 |
| ABS Sensor Torque | 6.6 / NS |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | 0.079 in |
| Minimum Shoe Thickness | 0.055 in |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: .827; Rear: .346 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish | Front: .866; Rear: .354 |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | .0008 |
| 1 | Install a new nut and tighten to 111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45 degrees, Step 3: 185.0 | 111 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 7,500 mi | Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake System (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant level) · Seat Belt System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) |
| Every 22,500 mi | Cabin Air Filter (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV sits at the tail end of a generation that shows a clear downward trajectory in both complaints and recalls: 2014 recorded 168 complaints and 8 recalls, 2015 dropped to 76 complaints and 7 recalls, and 2016 fell further to 41 complaints and just 3 recalls, while TSBs decreased from 1,539 in 2014 to 1,047 in 2016. This places 2016 at the lowest point of the arc for complaints, recalls, and service bulletins across the three-model span, indicating that GM addressed accumulated issues as the platform matured. However, NHTSA investigations rose from 1 in both 2014 and 2015 to 2 in 2016, a data point that does not specify the root cause but suggests ongoing regulatory scrutiny. Within the 2016 model year, Service Brakes dominate the complaint landscape at 18 instances, followed by Air Bags at 5, with Electrical System and Power Train contributing 3 and 2 respectively, while crash-related complaints total 3 and fire-related complaints total 1. The 2016 Spark EV represents the most refined and least problem-reported model of this generation, though the spike in investigations and the brake complaint concentration warrant attention during pre-purchase inspection. Given the substantial improvements in complaint and recall metrics, the 2016 model year offers the best risk profile within this generation, provided the Service Brake system is thoroughly evaluated.
All 41 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed…
Showing 5 of 1047 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIT3271Q | 2026-04-01 | Unknown Or Other | This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel… |
| PIP6104 | 2026-03-09 | Unknown Or Other | This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and… |
| PIP4902V | 2026-03-09 | Unknown Or Other | This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into… |
| PIP4902U | 2026-01-08 | Unknown Or Other | This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into… |
| PIT5214G | 2025-11-20 | Unknown Or Other | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about… |
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.