2018 Chevrolet SPARK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
2,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 9 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 33.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 11.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
Engine: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Air Bags: 1; Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 5 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11128735 · 2018-09-11 (September 11, 2018)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11181644 · 2019-02-21 (February 21, 2019)
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 TRAFFI…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11181650 · 2019-02-21 (February 21, 2019)
FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN BRAKING, A THUMPING SOUND IS HEARD IN THE REAR DRUM BRAKES OF MY BRAND NEW CHEVY SPARK. I CANNOT DECIDE WHICH ONE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM, OR BOTH. IT WILL GO AWAY AFTER A WHILE. IT OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN I NEED TO BRAKE HARD, BUT NOT ALWAYS. AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY DAY. THE CAR IS NEW. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE VERY FIRST OIL CHANGE, I ASKED THEM TO LOOK INTO IT. THEY KEPT THE CAR 3 DAYS. THEY SAID THEY DROVE IT BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANY NOISE. TO MY SURPRISE, DURING THOSE THREE DAYS, THE DEALERSHIP DI…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11307905 · 2020-02-08 (February 8, 2020)
WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CAR CAN'T DECIDE IF IT WANTS TO MOVE OR NOT AND IT WILL JUST SIT AND REV AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AS I AM PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11307905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11376447 · 2020-11-26 (November 26, 2020)
AT A COMPLETE STOP.. IT SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT ACCELERATE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11376447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11482383 · 2022-09-01 (September 1, 2022)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11482383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11515828 · 2023-04-06 (April 6, 2023)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11515828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11733470 · 2026-04-23 (April 23, 2026)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11733470 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.