Chevrolet Spark Hatchback Recalled Because Hood Could Suddenly Open
There already have been 22 crashes and one injury related to this issue
Chevrolet is recalling more than 120,000 Spark and Spark EV hatchbacks from the 2013 through 2015 model years because their hoods could open while the car is in motion, obstructing the driver’s view. Some of these vehicles were already recalled for a similar problem in 2014 but will need another free repair.
The problem is due to a faulty secondary hood latch that may rust prematurely and not engage as a result. If the primary hood latch is not secured or fails, the hood could open while driving. Although many of these latches were already replaced, the replacement latches also were prone to corrosion and may fail as a result.
In documents Chevrolet provided to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the automaker says it is aware of 276 instances of the hood latch failing, including 22 crashes and one injury that it says was “minor.”
The Details
Vehicles Recalled
• Chevrolet Spark hatchbacks manufactured between Sept. 19, 2011, and Sept. 9, 2015
• Chevrolet Spark EV hatchbacks manufactured between Aug. 8, 2012, and Nov. 11, 2015
The problem: The secondary hood latch may corrode prematurely and not engage. If both the primary and secondary latches fail, the hood could open and block the driver’s view of the road. These hood latches may have already been replaced as part of an earlier recall in 2014 (NHTSA number 14V593) but still need to be replaced again.
The fix: Chevrolet dealers will replace the faulty hood latches, free of charge.
How to contact the manufacturer: Chevrolet will contact owners of affected vehicles by mail starting Oct. 10, 2022. Owners may also contact Chevrolet at 800-222-1020.
NHTSA campaign number: 22V640. Chevrolet’s own number for this recall is A222359300.
Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.
If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, it means your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend checking back regularly to see whether your vehicle has had a recall issued.
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