Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Chevrolet Spark owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
The GM bulletin N19227110 indicates that they are aware of over 10% of Chevrolet Spark models from the years 2014-2015 experiencing transmission problems. Although this bulletin expired last year, it is important to note that they do not provide coverage for vehicles purchased used with fewer than 120,000 miles. This situation poses a significant danger, as the transmission may potentially be contaminated with dirt and debris, leading to unexpected jerking or complete failure, and in some cases, vehicles have caught fire. Furthermore, unless the vehicle is taken to a GM service center, the issue may remain undetected. According to my research, this problem is similar to the one that Nissan faced with their CVT transmissions, which were subject to a recall for the same reason.
The gas guage meter failed to work and didn't show where the gas was and so this is dangerous because if you are driving and you were on the freeway and the car stopped because of gas, this could cause an accident and you could be hurt or killed. This part should be a recall on the car because I never should had to fix this for the lifetime of the car at all or at least after 100,000 miles, which it only had 39,000 and I had to end up paying for the ECM and having to reprogram it, which cost me over $1,000, which being disabled, I had to borrow money from a friend to do this. I paid $220 to have the Chevy Dealer tell me that was the problem and have paperwork to prove this. There was also an engine light that came, when this happened.
Vehicle went into "limp mode" while merging onto a busy road, nearly causing a collision with both oncoming traffic and other vehicles attempting to merge onto the road. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the following: "Checked system codes. Found P0324 knock sensor module performance code. Found the attached TSB by GM. Believed to be the issue: engine has piston slap and would need rebuilt or replaced per TSB. Also discovered severe oil leak in front of engine." Mechanic noted that the brakes were stuck as well. Engine scheduled to be replaced. Mileage: 72,503.
Si my cars been having issues for about a couple of weeks now with speed and it's been driving rough, it hadn't given me any check engine lights so I went to a mechanic he changed the throttle body thinking that was the issue however the issue persisted and even got worse. I've noticed it doesn't seem to go into gear when I'm driving then when it finally does it looses power, it's also really high on the rpm's and when it's in park it'll seem like it wants to turn off.
When taking off, sometimes the vehicle does not want to excellerate. It seems like the transmission is slipping or not switching gears-it makes a loud clicking gear sound. The vehicle also revs up really loud. It also sometimes feels like the vehicle sulks back when lifting your foot off the gas peddle when accelerating, more than it should. These mishaps make it nearly impossible to excellerate and is dangerous when excellerating onto the highway.
The jug that holds my antifreeze developed a hole right where the hose connects to it and antifreeze was dripping onto a belt. My car would make a screeching sound and hesitate while I was driving. I replaced the belt but then other stuff started going wrong. The engine revs up while I am driving and the car will hesitate each time this happens, it usually happens several times in a few seconds then drives fine for a short while. No pattern, just happens randomly. This has been going on for a couple of months. On 08/07/1019 I was driving 320 miles to copperas cove, tx from lubbock,tx . After driving about 100 miles my car studdered real bad and I lost all power as I turned a corner. Then the check engine light came on. I stepped on the gas to the floor and my car would barley move. I managed to get to a gas station where I had to wait for a tow back to lubbock. …
Went to store a couple miles from home, came out of store and car would not start. Thinking maybe the battery was at fault I tried jumping the battery and still nothing so turned the ignition off and took keys and got ride home. Then upon returning to store to pick up items purchased the car was running without the keys and the ignition was in the off position. I had the woman come out of the store to see this. And it also freaked me out on how this could happen. Then I called vic koenig in carbondale, illinois where I purchased the car, and at first they said it wasn`t covered under warranty because it had 39,000 and warranty ran out at 36,000 and that they never heard of that where a car just starts up without the ignition turned on. …
2014 Chevy Spark motor lost compression in two cylinders @ 60K miles, whitmore Chevrolet in west point, va. Took approx. 5.5 weeks to replace the cylinder head, with no loaner car available to me. Service manager yelled at me for stopping when I would stop by to inquire about the cars status, same when I would call. Neither the calls or visits were even daily, he was horrible to deal with. In the meantime I contacted GM about this & they did essentially nothing other than state that dealers are independantly owned & they gave me 15 months of OnStar...I would rather have a car the functioned as designed. Fast forward approx. 2 months & the ac stopped working. Tried contacting whimore about the failed ac system, service group either hangs up on me or simply do not call back. …
Engine complaints in other Spark years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2014 Chevrolet Spark?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2014 Chevrolet Spark, 31% of the model year's 172 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2014 Chevrolet Spark engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Chevrolet Spark engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 24,000 miles, and 53% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.