Most common 2018 Chevrolet Spark problems
Share of the 9 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 →
What 2018 Chevrolet Spark owners say
Engine & cooling
Okay, I can press the gas and try to go one speed.And my car will go either way, too slow for that gear or way too fast.For that gear , I have almost been several wrecks , because it's either going too slow , went when i'm supposed to be going to certain speed or it's going to fast one supposed to be going to certain speed
This is a periodic occurance when going starting at 0mph at any point during a trip. Normally the engine will rev smoothly but there are times when going from a complete stop to getting to at least 30mph it feels as if the engine is just taking in air and it just revs up and the car starts to roll but doesnt actually accellerate properly and this can result in an accident if you have to move suddenly to avoid being hit. I have the lt1 model specifically.
Speed control & acceleration
Okay, I can press the gas and try to go one speed.And my car will go either way, too slow for that gear or way too fast.For that gear , I have almost been several wrecks , because it's either going too slow , went when i'm supposed to be going to certain speed or it's going to fast one supposed to be going to certain speed
My Chevrolet Spark cannot decide what gear it wants to be in, causing delays that are dangerous when pulling out in traffic or turning across lines of traffic. For instance, I slow down to get into the center turning lane of a 5-lane street and then when clear, I accelerate to make the turn. The car feels like it makes a short stall as it can't decide if it needs to get into a higher or lower gear. It clearly takes a long time and goes up and down which places me uncomfortably too close to oncoming traffic. Other times when I pull out in traffic, the same scenario repeats. I wonder if it shifts into a too high a gear too soon then down shifts one gear and then upshifts as the car starts to accelerate. Several times a day when I slow to adjust to traffic conditions and then accelerate after slowing, the car lag/stall happens as the transmission shifts up and down through the gears. …
Brakes
The contact's husband owns a 2018 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that the brake booster failed while driving at various speeds on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer yearly for the brake booster repair since the initial failure; however, the most recent failure occurred within six months. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
This is the third time while driving that my brakes have simply just gone out. It's usually on the freeway while at high speeds and I'm nearly not able to stop. This is the third time in three years. No lights come on on the dashboard and no warnings happened at all the brakes just simply stopped working. It takes extreme pressure to try to stop and I'm usually told that it's some part of the vacuum.
2018 Chevrolet Spark engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 30 / 38 / 33 |
| 1.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 29 / 39 / 33 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Spark a good car?
Based on 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Spark rates better than average: 82% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Spark at the same age. It is one of the best Spark years by this measure. 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 2018 Chevrolet Spark?
The engine & cooling — 3 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the speed control & acceleration (3) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Spark have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Spark. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2018 Chevrolet Spark problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 2,000 miles; 100% 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.