2013 Chevrolet Spark Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Spark most often describe transmission and drivability concerns — failure to shift out of first or second gear, limp-speed acceleration, shuddering from a stop — along with air conditioning that stops cooling at idle and an air bag warning (code 95) that appears with a passenger in the front seat. Many of these complaints were filed at low mileage, often under 30,000 miles, though engine and transmission reports continue into higher mileage. Several describe repeat dealer visits without a confirmed repair.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission won't shift or loses power

   • 28 complaints (19%)
   • median 24,163 mi at 1.8 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe the car refusing to shift out of first or second gear, holding high revs with slow acceleration, or dropping to a limited speed (around 20-30 mph) with the accelerator pressed. Some owners report the condition clears after cycling the ignition, others describe a clunk and warning lights at startup. Dealers are described as unable to duplicate or diagnose the problem, and in some cases an independent shop identified a failed transmission pump. Reported from very low mileage up to well past 100,000 miles, often appearing intermittently rather than every drive.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car through several full stops and restarts and confirm it moves through all gears, including reverse, without hanging in a low gear. Ask whether the transmission range sensor or pump has been checked or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle won't shift out of first gear. Not only is this very dangerous, but it is ruining the engine and transmission of the vehicle. This occurs about once a month at random times, and could very easily cause an accident. The dealer won't do anything to fix the problem, and has been very rude to my wife. I have been a lifelong chevy guy, but I think I'm finally done. A toyota or honda is sounding really good right now!”

   NHTSA complaint #10712804, filed 2015-04, 10,000 miles

   “Tl-the contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate over 50 MPH. The vehicle was restarted and resumed to normal function. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000. Djr”

   NHTSA complaint #10670700, filed 2015-01, 32,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Air conditioning stops cooling at idle

   • 31 complaints (21%)
   • median 18,250 mi at 1.6 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe the air conditioning blowing warm air when the car is stopped or driven at low speed, then cooling again once the vehicle is moving or above roughly 40 mph. Dealers reportedly replaced compressors, expansion valves and cabin filters, or told owners the system was designed to behave that way; several owners say the problem returned after warranty repairs. Typically reported in the first few thousand to about 15,000 miles, often in warm months.

   What to check: Test the air conditioning on a warm day while idling in park and again at a stop after a drive — cold air should hold at low engine speed, not just on the highway.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We have a 2013 Spark. The A/C does not work while the car is at idle or at lower speeds. When driving the car the A/C will begin to cool once you hit about 40 MPH. Then when stopped at a red light, stop sign, or drive at speeds lower than the 40 MPH, the A/C will stop cooling and blows warm air out of the vents. The dealership has troubleshot once when we had our first oil change in june. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10542492, filed 2013-09, 15,000 miles

   “The air conditioning system cycles off for about 30-40 seconds during normal operation for no apparent reason. Gm had a recall on it where they replaced some parts. Even after the recall, the problem persisted and I was told by the dealership (auto nation, greenacres, fl) that GM designers told them that the A/C was designed to work that way and there was nothing they could fix. So I'm forced to live with a poorly performing A/C system in a brand new 2013 vehicle. Really???”

   NHTSA complaint #10614987, filed 2014-07, 8,100 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalling, noise, and oil loss

   • 44 complaints (30%)
   • median 30,040 mi at 2.3 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off while driving or coasting, loud knocking or ticking, low power, and excessive oil consumption. Several owners say a dealer determined the engine needed replacement, and at least one reports the replacement engine failing shortly afterward. Others describe repeated dealer visits where the noise could not be reproduced. Spread from a few thousand miles to about 90,000 miles, with several reports under 25,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition before and after a test drive, listen for knocking or ticking at idle and under load, and ask whether the engine has been replaced or had major internal work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Used car w/36,000 miles and/or 1 yr wrnty. Under a yr, but outside of mileage, check eng light starts coming on to the day, from feb 28, 2017 to may 28, 2017. From feb 28 to mar 27 to april 27 have had to do oil change. Check eng light would no longer be on after oil change. Then car started making excessively loud noise at 77,000 miles so loud no one could hear me while on my blue tooth. Chevy dealer & a shop ran a diagnostic but no error codes in april & may. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10991990, filed 2017-05, 83,000 miles

   “Our daughter was driving home on the interstate for a visit from college. Warning lights came on and the car began to shake so she pulled over just as the car's engine turned itself off. She tried to re-start the car and after several attempts it started but was shaky and all lights were flashing. We had car towed to nearest dealer, they told us the engine failed and it would have to be replaced. She was given a rental, after aprox. Two weeks she picked her car up again with the new engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10654114, filed 2014-11, 20,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and code 95

   • 13 complaints (9%)
   • median 36,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2018

   Owners report the air bag warning light and a code 95 message appearing on the display, frequently when someone is sitting in the front passenger seat, whether moving or parked. Dealers have diagnosed a failed air bag control module or connection and quoted replacement; some owners describe repeat visits and inconsistent explanations, and at least one complaint mentions the air bags deploying in a low-speed stop. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 60,000 miles, with some at very low mileage.

   Recall 14V298000

   What to check: With the ignition on, confirm the air bag light goes out after the bulb check and that code 95 does not appear with a passenger seated; ask for any air bag module or connector repairs on record.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Spark has 32k miles on it. The airbag warning light comes on and code 95 (service airbags) shows on the display whenever someone is in the front passenger seat, whether the car is moving or stationary. A quick google search shows there are many cars with this same problem and GM refuses to take responsibility for an expensive repair. I wish NHTSA would look into this and mandate a repair at GM's expense.”

   NHTSA complaint #11080207, filed 2018-03, 32,000 miles

   “The code 95 comes on when both front seats are occupied. We went to dealership and they gave us an off the wall answer about using a jelly to put on the air bag connection to fix the issue but didn't do it.we have since took it back and now they want us to pay for a new air bag system because it is faulty. The vehicle has had no accidents or air bag problems before.this is a very big safety issue that is chevy's problem not mine .according to blogs other sparks and cruzes have same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10671201, filed 2015-01, 50,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Hood latch corrosion and release failure

   • 16 complaints (11%)
   • median 42,250 mi at 3.3 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2023

   Owners describe the hood latch corroding so the hood will not close fully or stay latched, and in one case the latch fractured at highway speed and broke the windshield. Complaints also mention the trunk latch sticking. Some owners report the recall repair being performed and the same part failing again, or parts not being available at the time. Reported from about 17,000 miles upward, and on vehicles several years old.

   Recall 14V593000Recall 22V640000

   What to check: Open and close the hood several times and look for corrosion or stiffness at the latch pivot; confirm with a dealer whether both hood latch recalls were completed on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The hood latch is corroded and doesn't allow the hood to stay fully closed and trunk latch sticks and does not close properly while being stationary and in motion. I'm scared that the hood will fly up while my son or I are driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11373514, filed 2020-11, 50,000 miles

   “This vehicle was recalled for a secondary hood latch which was repaired in early fall, september/ october 2016. The part was repaired, but the same part failed a second time, first week of january 2017. I returned the car to the dealership for the repairs. I was told at the dealership it was the same part that failed. After three days at the dealership they called to let me know that the plastic at the end of the cable was also broken. When I asked how this could happen they had no answers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10950036, filed 2017-02, 50,000 miles

Buying note. A 2013 Spark is worth a careful test drive: verify every gear engages cleanly from a stop, confirm the air bag light stays off with a passenger seated, and check the hood latch and any open recalls. Service records showing transmission, air bag, or engine work are worth asking for, since several owners describe repeat visits without a clear fix.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.