Most common 2014 Chevrolet Spark problems
Share of the 172 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Spark complaints by model year
Best Spark years: 2018, 2016, 2017. Years to avoid: 2014, 2013. Compare all years →
2014 Chevrolet Spark recalls (6)
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
Equipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.
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.
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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
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.
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.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
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.
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…
What 2014 Chevrolet Spark owners say
Engine & cooling all 54 →
I have been having issues with my car getting stuck in gear or not wanting to switch gears, as well as sometimes when I try to go and I'm pushing the gas pedal it's like it doesn't move or try to drive then there is a loud knock and it revs all the way up and still doesn't really move then there is another loud knock and it takes off slowly and over revs and sputters and drives very odd, like it's struggling to go and keeps trying to switch gears. The check engine light keeps going on and off and every once in a while my traction light comes on as well. …
The vehicle experiences intermittent loss of power and unstable acceleration while driving at normal speeds (approximately 45-55 mph). The vehicle will surge, hesitate, and fail to maintain consistent speed, creating an unsafe condition in traffic. While driving, the vehicle does not consistently respond to throttle input and may unexpectedly lose acceleration. This creates a risk of being rear-ended or being unable to safely merge into traffic. The condition occurs during normal driving and has progressively worsened over time. Diagnostic testing indicates transmission-related faults involving pressure control and internal speed monitoring. This issue affects the safe operation of the vehicle and appears consistent with known transmission problems reported for this vehicle model. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 47 →
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was towed back to the same independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the standard shift had failed. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact stated that a year after the previous repair was made, the failure reoccurred for the third time. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. …
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact continued to depress the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle lurched forward while responding sluggishly. The contact stated that the RPMS was high, but the vehicle failed to exceed 50 MPH. No further information was available. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently while driving from a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under GMC Campaign Number: N192271110 because the special coverage had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. …
Electrical system all 39 →
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark M300. The contact stated that the air bag and the seat belts warning lights were illuminated, and a message stating that the air bags would not deploy in the event of a crash was displayed. The contact stated while at a complete stop at the traffic light, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer by roadside assistance, who purchased a new battery for the vehicle from the dealer; however, the dealer informed the contact that Roadside assistance could not install the battery because it would interfere with the business operations. The dealer advised the contact that she would need to pay the battery installation and diagnostic testing fee. The contact declined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the instrument panel stopped functioning. The contact was unable to see the odometer, speedometer, and fuel gauge. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to a dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
2014 Chevrolet Spark engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 128 / 109 / 119 MPGe | 82 mi |
| 1.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 31 / 38 / 34 | — |
| 1.2L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 30 / 37 / 33 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2014 Chevrolet Spark a good car?
Based on 172 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 Spark rates avoid: 3.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Spark at the same age. It is one of the Spark years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Chevrolet Spark?
The engine & cooling — 54 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (47) and electrical system (39).
How many recalls does the 2014 Chevrolet Spark have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark, the most recent from August 25, 2022 (latch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Spark?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2016 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014 and 2013. See the full Chevrolet Spark years comparison.
At what mileage do 2014 Chevrolet Spark problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 47,000 miles; 55% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.