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U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet SPARK problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

502 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

34,068 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 to 2022 model years. Data snapshot: . 338 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 122 of 502 complaints (24.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting10420.7%
Braking behavior6512.9%
Electrical and battery issues428.4%
Steering behavior336.6%
Engine operation306.0%
Fuel system concerns30.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train
122
Engine
112
Electrical System
96
Unknown Or Other
57
Air Bags
56
Vehicle Speed Control
50
Service Brakes
45
Fuel/Propulsion System
41
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train122
Engine112
Electrical System96
Unknown Or Other57
Air Bags56
Vehicle Speed Control50
Service Brakes45
Fuel/Propulsion System41

Power Train: 122; Engine: 112; Electrical System: 96; Unknown Or Other: 57; Air Bags: 56; Vehicle Speed Control: 50; Service Brakes: 45; Fuel/Propulsion System: 41

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
142
25,000 to 49,999
84
50,000 to 74,999
50
75,000 to 99,999
32
100,000 to 149,999
26
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000142
25,000 to 49,99984
50,000 to 74,99950
75,000 to 99,99932
100,000 to 149,99926
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 142; 25,000 to 49,999: 84; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 4

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (142). 164 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2013
20
2014
63
2015
38
2016
48
2017
49
2018
40
2019
43
2020
44
2021
24
2022
20
2023
41
2024
29
2025
27
2026
16
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201320
201463
201538
201648
201749
201840
201943
202044
202124
202220
202341
202429
202527
202616

2013: 20; 2014: 63; 2015: 38; 2016: 48; 2017: 49; 2018: 40; 2019: 43; 2020: 44; 2021: 24; 2022: 20; 2023: 41; 2024: 29; 2025: 27; 2026: 16

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 104 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 42 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10511114 · 2013-04-26 (April 26, 2013)

I EXPERIENCED TWO INSTANCES OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN MID APRIL 2013. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, APPROX. 04/10/2013, MY SPARK STRUCK A STEEL POLE USED TO SUSPEND A BIRD FEEDER NEXT TO MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE, AND KNOCKED IT DOWN, CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, ON 04/16/2013, MY SPARK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE CHAIN LINK FENCE BORDERING MY DRIVEWAY, WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE, AND STRUCK AND DAMAGED MY GARAGE DOOR WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE. THIS CAUSED APPROXIMA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10511114 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10512898 · 2013-05-20 (May 20, 2013)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING AND SLOWING DOWN. BY WATCHING THE TACHOMETER, I COULD SEE THE RPMS GO UP AND DOWN CONTINUOUSLY, AND FEEL THE VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD AND SLOWING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE ALSO DID THIS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60 MPH. WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET AND COASTING, YOU CAN FEEL THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING UP AND DOWN, AND THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN, MAKING THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE IF YOU ARE NOT ALERT, YOU MAY BE DRIVEN IN…

Owner-reported narrative. 875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512898 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10508402 · 2013-04-16 (April 16, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HER SIZE TWELVE FOOT GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN AND MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10508402 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10576970 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR AND PARKED IT. WHEN I HAVE RETURNED TO THE CAR IT WILL NOT START. ON STAR DIAGNOSTICS TELLS ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ANTI BRAKE SYSTEM AND THAT I AM TO GET IT TO THE DEALER/REPAIR IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE I CAN GET IT STARTED AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE I AM IN AN AREAS WITHOUT PHONE OR CELL RECEPTION TO CALL FOR HELP. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY UNTIL THEY CAN RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576970 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10706418 · 2015-04-18 (April 18, 2015)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IN RUSH HOUR AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO HESITATE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WITH VERY SLUGGISH ACCELERATION I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER AND THEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. I WAS UNABLE TO START IT AND HAD IT TOWED HOME. BATTERY CHECKS OUT OK AND EVERYTHING IS FINE AS FAR AS I CAN TELL WITH MY TROUBLE SHOOTING BUT ALL THE REVIEWS I READ POINT TO CHEVY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTOR SEIZING ON THE CHEVY SPARKS AND THE MOTOR NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. I WILL BE TALKING TO THE DEALER TODAY, JUST WONDERING WHY THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 43,283 miles reported. Look up ODI 10706418 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10731608 · 2015-07-01 (July 1, 2015)

I WILL SHUT MY CAR OFF AND GET OUT AND MY RADIO WILL TURN ITSELF ON WHILE THE CAR IS OFF. SO WHEN I GO TO LEAVE FOR WORK MY BATTERY WILL BE DEAD. I'VE TRIED TO TURN THE RADIO OFF BEFORE GETTING OUT AND IT WILL STILL TURN ON. I CALLED CHEVY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME OVER $90 JUST TO "SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT." THE CAR IS 2013 AND ONLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT. IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. SO NOT IMPRESSED.

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10731608 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10501072 · 2013-03-02 (March 2, 2013)

THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS (CRUISE CONTROL, AUDIO ETC) DO NOT ILLUMINATE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT GM HAS REMEDIED THIS ISSUE WITH MODELS MANUFACTURED AFTER NOVEMBER 2012. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AT NIGHT BECAUSE IF I USE MY CRUISE CONTROL, I HAVE TO TURN ON MY DOME LIGHT TO SEE WHAT BUTTON TO PUSH. I COMPLAINED TO GM AND WAS TOLD THAT GM IS SIMPLY NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT MODELS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO NOV 2012. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501072 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10501213 · 2013-03-04 (March 4, 2013)

THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT ILLUMINATE THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS. WITH ABSOLUTELY NO AMBIENT LIGHTING, THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DARK, AND VISIBILITY OF THE CONTROLS IS NON EXISTENT. THIS PRESENTS A SEVERE DRIVING HAZARD, AS THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVE CONTROLS FOR THE CRUISE. IN ORDER TO USE THE CONTROLS, YOU MUST TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF THE ROAD AND BLINDLY FUMBLE, TRYING TO DETERMINE WHICH OF THE TEN MOUNTED CONTROLS YOU NEED TO USE, THUS AVERTING YOUR ATTENTION FROM YOUR SURROUNDINGS, MOMENTARILY. CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AS TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501213 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10576875 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACTS STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576875 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10620860 · 2014-08-08 (August 8, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND LACK OF ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE A KNOCKING SOUND WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND AN EXCESSIVE LOSS OF MOTOR OIL FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE HAD REOCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10620860 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10650541 · 2014-10-27 (October 27, 2014)

I GET THIS LOUD ANNOYING HIGH PITCHED RINGING SOUND COMING FROM BACK WHEELS. THE SOUND IS SO LOUD AT TIMES THAT PEDESTRIANS CAN HEAR IT AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. IT DOES THIS AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE. ONCE THE RINGING SOUND STARTS IT WILL NOT STOP NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I'M GOING OR WHETHER I AM SITTING IN IDOL, PARK OR IN ANY GEAR. CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP REPAIR DEPARTMENT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT SAID IT MAY BE THE FUEL PUMP. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR DEPARTMENT WILL NOT AT LEAST CHEC…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,471 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650541 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10871896 · 2016-06-01 (June 1, 2016)

TAKATA RECALL: I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE OCT 9 2015 WITH 56K MILES ON IT. FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED IT UP TO TODAY I HAVE BEEN HEARING A HUMMING/BUZZING/WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $500. THE NOISE CAN BE HEARD ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND RUNNING AND IT CAN BE HEARD INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPED OR MOVING. IT CAN BE HEARD FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND HAS ONLY GOT WORSE SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASE…

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871896 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2013
5
2014
6
2015
5
2016
1
2017
1
2018
0
2019
1
2020
0
2021
0
2022
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20135
20146
20155
20161
20171
20180
20191
20200
20210
20220

2013: 5; 2014: 6; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 0; 2019: 1; 2020: 0; 2021: 0; 2022: 0

Year-by-year records

Chevrolet SPARK model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20131465Not available
20141726+1
2015765-1
2016281-4
20172910
201890-1
2019141+1
2020190-1
2021600
2022300