diff -ruN spack-src/examples/nvector/CMakeLists.txt spack-src-patched/examples/nvector/CMakeLists.txt
--- spack-src/examples/nvector/CMakeLists.txt	2022-04-22 16:55:14.000000000 +0000
+++ spack-src-patched/examples/nvector/CMakeLists.txt	2022-08-03 16:34:47.789320825 +0000
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@
 
 # Build the nvector test utilities
 add_library(test_nvector_obj OBJECT test_nvector.c)
+if(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
+  # need PIC when shared libs are used since the example executables will link to the shared lib
+  set_property(TARGET test_nvector_obj PROPERTY POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE TRUE)
+endif()
 target_link_libraries(test_nvector_obj PRIVATE sundials_nvecserial)
 
 if(ENABLE_MPI AND MPI_C_FOUND)
@@ -33,6 +37,9 @@
   add_subdirectory(mpiplusx)
   # Build the mpi nvector test utilities
   add_library(test_nvectormpi_obj OBJECT test_mpinvector.c)
+  if(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS)
+    set_property(TARGET test_nvectormpi_obj PROPERTY POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE TRUE)
+  endif()
   target_link_libraries(test_nvectormpi_obj PRIVATE MPI::MPI_C sundials_nvecparallel)
 endif()
 add_subdirectory(manyvector)