Chevrolet Spark Transmission Problems

Owners have filed 125 complaints about transmission & drivetrain problems with the Chevrolet Spark — 25% of all Spark complaints. The worst model years are 2014 (47), 2013 (34) and 2015 (26). Problems typically start around 49,000 miles. No transmission recall has been issued for the Spark.

125complaints
2014worst year
49ktypical miles
0related recalls
3crashes
0fires

Transmission complaints by model year

20132014201520162017201820192020202134472649221
Transmission complaints per model year, Chevrolet Spark.
YearComplaintsShare of year's complaintsTypical mileage
2021117%—
2019214%47,000 miles
2018222%2,000 miles
2017931%40,000 miles
2016414%97,000 miles
20152634%60,000 miles
20144727%60,000 miles
20133423%28,000 miles

Which parts fail

  • Automatic transmission › Internal › Gears
    1
  • Automatic transmission › Fluid/lubricant
    1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    3135%
  • 25k–50k
    1618%
  • 50k–75k
    1416%
  • 75k–100k
    1112%
  • 100k–150k
    1416%
  • 150k+
    33%

What owners report

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that on various occasions, and while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle shuddered while accelerating. The contact stated that the failure persisted while driving above 50 MPH. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence and diagnosed the vehicle and retrieved fault codes for the transmission pump. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

2017 Spark · 120,000 miles · Apr 2019

I feel that there are issues with the transmissions on the 2017 Chevy spark. I noticed that there have been complaints in years such as 2014 and 2019. I find that my 2017 exhibits exact same transmission issues as years that came before or after. Lots of indecision with the car about whether to upshift or downshift. Sometimes violent jerking back and forth. Normally. Especially bad between 4th and 5th and 5th and 6th in the upper gears. But in the lower gears more recently it has become more pronounced. This has been going on for quite some time and is getting worse. The car is not that old. First. Noticed it when the car was at 40,000, mi. It is now recently went past 100 and the problem at sometimes is horrible. It does feel unsafe to a high degree. It is a sealed system so there is no way to do routine maintenance, which is unfortunate. …

2017 Spark · Aug 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the transmission was slipping, and the cruise control was not operating correctly. Additionally, the RPM was elevated with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed; however, no failure was determined. The contact stated that the transmission fluid was flushed and replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.

2016 Spark · Automatic transmission › Fluid/lubricant · 85,000 miles · Jun 2022

Clutch wore out on 2016 Chevrolet Spark ls in less than 11,000 miles (just over 1 year old). I am an experienced manual transmission driver who has driven other cars to over 125,000 miles without needing a new clutch. Clearly defective clutch but they wouldn't cover it under warranty because it was a "wear item". No, it was a defective item. Don't buy Chevrolet since they don't stand by their vehicles and you will pay huge repair costs for their defects/problems.

2016 Spark · 11,000 miles · Sep 2017

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would intermittently jerk without warning while shifting gears. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where they were initially unable to duplicate the failure. Upon return of the vehicle, the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer where they were able to duplicate the failure and informed him that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered a 10% discount off the cost of a new transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000. Consumer's case number [redacted]. "

2015 Spark · 133,000 miles · Apr 2021

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would intermittently hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal with a high-pitched, squeaking noise coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had jolted forward after multiple attempts to accelerate. The contact stated that while his spouse was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle hesitated as she attempted to pass a slow-moving vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle remained stuck in gear. The vehicle was driven to a dealer, but the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

2015 Spark · 30,000 miles · Oct 2020

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. …

2014 Spark · 100,000 miles · Jan 2021

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. …

2014 Spark · 115,000 miles · Dec 2024

Frequently asked questions

Which Chevrolet Spark years have transmission problems?

By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (47), 2013 (34), 2015 (26) and 2017 (9) model years. Transmission complaints make up 27% of all complaints for the 2014.

Is there a recall for Chevrolet Spark transmission problems?

No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Chevrolet Spark model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.

At what mileage do Chevrolet Spark transmission problems start?

Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 49,000 miles; 53% happened before 50,000 miles.

What part fails most often?

Owners most often name the automatic transmission › internal › gears (1 mentions), followed by the automatic transmission › fluid/lubricant (1).

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.