2014 Chevrolet SPARK

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2014 Chevrolet SPARK has 269 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: 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 bef.

15 crash reports 7 injuries

269

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

53 complaints

20%

• 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 BEF
• I TEST DROVE A 2014 SPARK ON 3-6-14 AT VOSS CHEVY DEALERSHIP, THE CAR THAT I TEST DROVE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I DID NOT PURCHASE THE CAR THAT I TEST DROVE...THE SALESPERSON SAID THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR THERE WAS PROBABLY A MINOR GLITCH. I WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW BATCH OF 20
• I PURCHASED A 2014 CHEVY SPARK ON 2-26-2014. 40 HOURS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS STRUGGLING TO SHIFT. RETURNED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT A SENSOR WAS NOT PLUGGED IN ALL THE WAY AND THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE WAS BECAUSE A NEW VEHICLE "NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN...WHICH TAKES A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 BEF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

46 complaints

17%

• I PURCHASED A 2014 CHEVY SPARK ON 2-26-2014. 40 HOURS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS STRUGGLING TO SHIFT. RETURNED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT A SENSOR WAS NOT PLUGGED IN ALL THE WAY AND THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE WAS BECAUSE A NEW VEHICLE "NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN...WHICH TAKES A
• 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
• JUNE 21ST I BOUGHT A 2014 CHEVY SPARK AND ONLY USED TO GET TO WORK & BACK.THEN ON THE 23RD I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC WAITING TO MOVE.I PUSHED DOWN ON THE GAS PEDDLE & WAS JOLTED FORWARD & BACK.I THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL SINCE I NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION (CVT). THEN I NOTICED THAT I REALLY H

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I PURCHASED A 2014 CHEVY SPARK ON 2-26-2014. 40 HOURS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS STRUGGLING TO SHIFT. RETURNED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT A SENSOR WAS NOT PLUGGED IN ALL THE WAY AND THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE WAS BECAUSE A NEW VEHICLE "NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN...WHICH TAKES A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

40 complaints

15%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF CHEMICALS EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTAC WOULD BECOME SICK AND HAVE HEADACHES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITION WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY AND FAILED TO EMIT COLD AIR. IN
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACTED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATED HIGHER THEN 40 MPH AS ALL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT QUICKLY EXITED THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE RESUME NORMAL FUNCTION. THE
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF CHEMICALS EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTAC WOULD BECOME SICK AND HAVE HEADACHES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITION WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY AND FAILED TO EMIT COLD AIR. IN ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

24 complaints

• 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 N
• WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO CROSS TRAFFIC WITH PLENTY OF TIME, THE ENGINE WILL NOT ACCELERATE! EVEN WITH THE GAS COMPLETELY PRESSED IT STALLS FOR A GOOD FOUR SECONDS. I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF IT TRAFFIC DID NOT SLOW DOWN FOR MY CAR TO FINALLY REV U
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND AND I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE AND LET OTHER VEHICLES PASS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

17 complaints

• AFTER FULLY CHARGING UP THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE, GOING DOWN HILL AT APPROX 40MPH, LOST ALL POWER IN BRAKES, STEERING CONTROL AND THE FORWARD PROPULSION SYSTEM. DUE TO LOSS OF POWER VEERED OUT OF CONTROL ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT RESPONDING TO PUMPS. AFTER PULLING ON STEERING WHEE
• THE CAR ACTS SLUGGISH AND ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL AFTER YOU SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT ALSO HAS TRIED TO STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING THREE TIMES WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL WITH OTHER THAN SLIGHT PRESSURE. AT LOW SPEEDS THE STEERING GOES A LIT
• RENTAL CAR - CHEVY SPARK. WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WAS NOT ABLE TO POWER VEHICLE. SLOWLY STARTED ROLLING INTO FAST MOVING TRAFFIC (FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS) AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A FAULTY IGNITION OR A POWER FAILURE. CAR WAS GOING FROM A FULLY STOPPED POSITION TO A LEFT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“AFTER FULLY CHARGING UP THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE, GOING DOWN HILL AT APPROX 40MPH, LOST ALL POWER IN BRAKES, STEERING CONTROL AND THE FORWARD PROPULSION SYSTEM. DUE TO LOSS OF POWER VEERED OUT OF CONTROL ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT RESPONDING TO PUMPS. AFTER PULLING ON STEERING WHEE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 269 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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 BEF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I PURCHASED A 2014 CHEVY SPARK ON 2-26-2014. 40 HOURS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS STRUGGLING TO SHIFT. RETURNED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT A SENSOR WAS NOT PLUGGED IN ALL THE WAY AND THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE WAS BECAUSE A NEW VEHICLE "NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN...WHICH TAKES A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF CHEMICALS EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTAC WOULD BECOME SICK AND HAVE HEADACHES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITION WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY AND FAILED TO EMIT COLD AIR. IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: 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 N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)