Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
2625–50K
2450–75K
1775–100K
13100–150K
1150K+
122 reports with mileage · 50 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
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
What owners actually said
172 reports
21,036 miles · Feb 9, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
FROM MAY 2015 TO SEPT. 2015, MY VEHICLE HIGH-REVVED AND DIED ON THE HIGHWAY THREE TIMES... THE SAME THREE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON: TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. DUE TO THE TIMING OF INCIDENTS, AUTONATION REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT WAS WARRANTIED. I CALLED GM CORPORATE AND EXPLAINED THAT THIS W…
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FROM MAY 2015 TO SEPT. 2015, MY VEHICLE HIGH-REVVED AND DIED ON THE HIGHWAY THREE TIMES... THE SAME THREE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON: TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. DUE TO THE TIMING OF INCIDENTS, AUTONATION REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT WAS WARRANTIED. I CALLED GM CORPORATE AND EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A DANGER TO THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND JEOPARDIZED MY LIFE, AND THEY MADE ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AT HAND.. AUTONATION CALLED AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THEY DID NOT SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ON A DAY OFF FROM WORK, I TOOK IT TO THE SAME AUTONATION TO HAVE THEM RUN DIAGNOSTICS, AND THE TURNED ME AWAY. THIS HAPPENED A DOCUMENT THREE TIMES. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER CHEVY HOUSE, AND THEY ALSO REFUSED THE CAR. DRIVING IT ENDANGERED MY LIFE AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS. FAST FORWARD A COUPLE MONTHS, I FIND OUT THE THROTTLE BODY IS BAD, AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN PUT OUT. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, CONDENSATION HAD BEGUN ON THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, MY FLOORBOARDS WERE SOPPING WET, AND WATER BEGAN TO FILL THE CAB OF MY CAR. AUTONATION DID FIND THAT A HOSE HAD BEEN CUT AND HAD BEEN LEAKING FLUID THROUGHOUT THE CAB. TODAY, 2-9-16 AT APPX. 0426, MY VEHICLE BEGAN FILLING THE CAB WITH NOXIOUS FUMES AND SMOKING UPON PARKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON. NO LIGHTS OR CHIMES INITIATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE COULD HAVE SET FIRE AT ANY MOMENT HAD I KEPT DRIVING. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND THOSE AROUND, AND NO ONE AT AUTONATION TAKES IT SERIOUSLY. I HOPE BY ADVANCING MY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2014 CHEVY SPARK WILL STEER POTENTIAL BUYERS THE OTHER WAY, AND I ALSO HOPE THAT GM WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND BUY THE CAR BACK. WHEN A CAR DIES ON THE MOST DANGEROUS HIGHWAY IN TEXAS FOR NO REASON AND STARTS SMOKING, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG.
NHTSA ODI #10825214
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2015
Service BrakesSteeringSuspensionCrashInjury
I WAS DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE NEAR WEST PALM BEACH AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. THE BRAKES WAS NOT WORKING AND THE STEERING LOCKED ON ME PREVENTING ME TO TURN THE WHEEL RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO THE GRASS TO A GUARD RAIL. ALSO THE AIR BAGS IN THE FROM DID NOT DEPLOY. ONLY THE SIDE AIR BAGS. I INJURE…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE NEAR WEST PALM BEACH AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. THE BRAKES WAS NOT WORKING AND THE STEERING LOCKED ON ME PREVENTING ME TO TURN THE WHEEL RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO THE GRASS TO A GUARD RAIL. ALSO THE AIR BAGS IN THE FROM DID NOT DEPLOY. ONLY THE SIDE AIR BAGS. I INJURED MY HEAD AND HAD TO GET STITCHES BECAUSE OF THIS.
NHTSA ODI #10788298
45,000 miles · Oct 31, 2015
Electrical System
WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE RADIO LOCKED AND SCREEN WENT BLANK ALL RADIO FUNCTIONS STOPPED WORKING. ALL WARNING CHIMES STOPPED WORKING. I PURCHASED THE CAR FOR MY NEWLY LICENSED DAUGHTER 6 MONTHS AGO, AND THIS IS THE SECOND PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR AND I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE FOR HER TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY WIL…
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WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE RADIO LOCKED AND SCREEN WENT BLANK ALL RADIO FUNCTIONS STOPPED WORKING. ALL WARNING CHIMES STOPPED WORKING. I PURCHASED THE CAR FOR MY NEWLY LICENSED DAUGHTER 6 MONTHS AGO, AND THIS IS THE SECOND PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR AND I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE FOR HER TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF MY VIN # EVEN THOUGH I SAW A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM, STATING THAT I HAVE TO COME OUT MY POCKET TO FIX IT. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM/CHEVROLET. CAR AGAIN, THEY ARE A PIECE OF CRAP!
NHTSA ODI #10787420
27,000 miles · Oct 9, 2015
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
NHTSA ODI #10781044
11,200 miles · Sep 15, 2015
Air BagsSteeringUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 45 MPH. IT WAS AT NIGHT. AS SOON AS I WENT THROUGH THE FIRST GREEN LIGHT, I ACCELERATED (PUSHED ON THE GAS). WHEN I CAME UPON THE SECOND LIGHT, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I TRIED APPLYING THE …
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 45 MPH. IT WAS AT NIGHT. AS SOON AS I WENT THROUGH THE FIRST GREEN LIGHT, I ACCELERATED (PUSHED ON THE GAS). WHEN I CAME UPON THE SECOND LIGHT, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I TRIED APPLYING THE BRAKES, BUT IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I COULD NOT STEER RIGHT OR ANYTHING. I HIT TO CURBS AND KNOCKED DOWN TO CITY SIGNS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH EMS GOT ME OUT OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA ODI #10764029
Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2015
Seats
2014 CHEVROLET SPARK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HEAD REST WERE UNCOMFORTABLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DESIGN OF THE HEAD REST, CAUSE HER NECK PAIN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10760545
4,000 miles · Aug 28, 2015
Structure
I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE RECAL NUMBER 2014456 (2014 CHEVY SPARK EV) SECONDARY HOOD LATCH CORROSION WHERE THE LATCH CAN RUST AND BREAK AND HOOD CAN OPEN WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TRIED TO SCHEDULE WITH MY DEALER IN CONROE TX SEVERAL TIMES NO ONE EVER CALLS BACK. WHEN I CALL TO FOLLOW UP THEY DONT…
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I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE RECAL NUMBER 2014456 (2014 CHEVY SPARK EV) SECONDARY HOOD LATCH CORROSION WHERE THE LATCH CAN RUST AND BREAK AND HOOD CAN OPEN WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TRIED TO SCHEDULE WITH MY DEALER IN CONROE TX SEVERAL TIMES NO ONE EVER CALLS BACK. WHEN I CALL TO FOLLOW UP THEY DONT CALL BACK. I HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH CHEVY VOLT RECAUL. TWO RECALLS ON VOLT CAR, THE FIRST TIME I TOOK VOLT DEALER DID NOT FIX IT AND NEVER FOLLOWED UP EVEN THOUGH THEY TOLD ME THEY FIXED IT. GM LIKES TO SEND ALL THESE NOTIFICATION BUT THEY NEVER FIX THE ISSUES ON THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10759978
1,500 miles · Aug 15, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine
THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY REV AND STALL. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIR ON FIVE OCCASIONS DEALERS DRIVE IT FOR MAYBE 30 MILES AND SAY ISSUE CAN NOT BE FOUND.
NHTSA ODI #10748908
4,100 miles · Jul 27, 2015
Power Train
2014 CHEVY SPARK WITH JUST OVER 4 K MILES WITH SEVERE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FROM A STOP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER HAD TO LEARN MY DRIVING STYLE THIS WAS WITH ABOUT 2K MILES DRIVEN. THEN ON JUNE 11, 2015 I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AGAIN WITH THE SAME COMPLIANT THIS TIME THEY DID A DRIV…
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2014 CHEVY SPARK WITH JUST OVER 4 K MILES WITH SEVERE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS FROM A STOP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER HAD TO LEARN MY DRIVING STYLE THIS WAS WITH ABOUT 2K MILES DRIVEN. THEN ON JUNE 11, 2015 I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AGAIN WITH THE SAME COMPLIANT THIS TIME THEY DID A DRIVING TEST AND SCAN THE CVT WAS FOUND TO BE STICKING IN HIGH GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS ORDERED AND IT TOOK ABOUT 8 DAYS TO ARRIVE. THEY INSTALLED THE NEW CVT AND WHEN THE TECHNICIAN TRIED TO BACK MY CAR OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE ANOTHER BAD TRANSMISSION. SO ANOTHER NEW CVT TRANSMISSION WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED SO FAR THIS ONE IS WORKING, TOTAL TIME FOR THIS REPAIR WAS FROM JUNE 11, 2015 TO JULY 3, 2015.
NHTSA ODI #10743866
30 miles · Jul 13, 2015
Air Bags
SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING ME TO GO INTO OTHER LANE AND COME TO A STOP. NO COLLISION OR DAMAGES TO SIDE OF CAR TO MAKE THESE DEPLOY. INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND CHEVROLET DEALER DO NOT KNOW WHY THESE DEPLOYED ON BOTH SIDES OF MY CAR.
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.
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
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: 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.
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: 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.
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
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: 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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2014 Chevrolet Spark Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year