Engine. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

3 reports

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3,000 miles · Jun 29, 2014

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I LOST ACCELERATION, I HEARD A LOUD BOOM, AND WAS PROPELLED FORWARD WITH SUCH FORCE I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER. I AM NERVOUS TO DRIVE THE CAR IN TRAFFIC NOW. 2014 CHEVY SPARK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606768

60 miles · May 20, 2014

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

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A WEEK AFTER I GOT THE CAR I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND IT JUST STOPPED. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS CONSISTENTLY FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS NOW. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I AM AT A STOP SIGN OR A RED LIGHT, BUT IT IS ALWAYS AFTER I HAVE ALWAYS STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAVE COME TO A STOP. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANY CODE AND HAS SUGGESTED I USE A HIGHER OCTANE BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN I PUT ON THE BREAK IT WILL ACCELERATE AND THEY THINK IT IS "STARVING ITSELF". I HAVE TRIED HIGHER OCTANE GAS AND IT STILL TURNS ITSELF OFF!! SOMETIMES IT WON'T RESTART RIGHT AWAY WHICH SCARES ME BECAUSE WHAT IF THE COMPUTER TURNS ITSELF OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING AND I HAVE NO CONTROL!!! I HAVE FOUND OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR! THERE IS A YOU-TUBE VIDEO OF A SPARK OWNER SHOWING HIS CAR TURNING ITSELF OFF!! I HAVE A MANUAL SO IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME TO VIDEO AND DRIVE AT THE SAME TIME!! ALSO, THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT AND I WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO HAVE THAT FIXED BUT I CAN NOT FIND THIS RECALL ANYWHERE? DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS RECALL? THE DEALER SAID THE UNIT WAS TURNING ITSELF ON? IT SEEMS SCARY TO ME THAT THE COMPUTER ON THIS VEHICLE TURNS ITSELF OFF AND NOW IS TURNING ON THE AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT ON IT'S OWN!! THIS SOUNDS MORE LIKE A COMPUTER PROBLEM THAN AN AIR CONDITIONER UNIT PROBLEM!! ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592909

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2014

Engine And Engine Cooling

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24 HOURS AFTER PURCHASE OF A 2014 CHEVY SPARK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR IS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON WHEN ARRIVING AT DEALERSHIP, BUT THE DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED A KNOCK SENSOR CODE. THEY DECIDED IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP AS THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED UP THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THEY SENT ME HOME. THE NEXT MORNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR OVER A WEEK BECAUSE THE KNOCK SENSOR WAS ON BACKORDER. IT WAS REPLACED AND LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. THEY TOLD ME THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN A BRAND NEW CAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR 2/2/14. IT IS NOW 3/10/14, THE CAR ONLY HAS 300 MILES ON IT, AND HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR OVER 30 DAYS. I AM NOW WORKING WITH SOMEONE FROM GM AND ASKING THEM TO BUY IT BACK FROM ME UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568207

Official recalls

22V640000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Aug 25, 2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark EV vehicles. The secondary hood latch may corrode at the latch pivot, preventing the hood latch from properly engaging.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A hood latch failure can result in the vehicle's hood opening unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the hood striker assembly and hood latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 12, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A222359300. This recall supersedes and expands NHTSA recall number 14V-593. Vehicles previously repaired under 14V-593 will need to have the new remedy performed.

16V422000 · Electrical System:software; Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

Jun 10, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.

Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

16V257000 · Electrical System:software; Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

Apr 28, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

15V416000 · Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

Jun 30, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 20, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured June 18, 2014, to June 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, equipped with the base radio and OnStar, the radio may lock up due to a software issue, causing the display to go blank and all audio functions to cease. Because of this, there may be no warning chimes such as the reminder to buckle the seat belt and the key being left in ignition when the driver goes to exit the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 "Occupant Crash Protection", and 114 "Theft Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft. If a driver or front passenger does not buckle their seat belt, there would be no chime to remind them to fasten their seat belts. If a driver or passenger does not buckle their seat belt there is an increased risk that they will be injured in a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15504.

14V593000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Sep 24, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured January 17, 2012, to July 29, 2014. The secondary hood latch may prematurely corrode at the latch pivot causing the striker to get stuck out of position, preventing it from properly engaging the hood latch.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the secondary hood latch corrodes causing the latch to be stuck out of position, and the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the striker with a new part which has superior corrosion protection, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14456.

14V440000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Jul 21, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Spark vehicles manufactured from May 7, 2014, to May 26, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the left and right lower control arm attaching bolts in the front suspension may not be tightened to specification.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the lower control arm bolts are not tightened properly, the lower control arm may separate from the steering knuckle while driving, causing a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are instructed NOT to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Owners should call a Chevrolet dealer immediately to arrange for their vehicle to be transported free of charge for servicing. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right lower control arm attaching bolts to make sure that they are tightened to the proper specification, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14453. Note: Owners are advised not to drive the vehicle until the repairs have been completed.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.