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Chevrolet SparkModel year report

2014 Chevrolet Spark Problems

Compared with other Chevrolet Spark years

More complaints than typical for this model

100/100 3.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2016, 2017

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
172filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
46,000miles, 122 complaints with mileage
Recalls
61 do-not-drive
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
34 mpgcombined, 1.2L 4-cyl FWD · 31 city / 38 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Chevrolet Spark most often describe sluggish or delayed acceleration, hesitation and shuddering from a stop, and repeated transmission problems, many of which came back after repairs. Many complaints also describe sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, and electrical symptoms such as warning lights, blank instrument panels and dead batteries. Reports span low mileages as well as higher ones, and several owners say dealers either could not reproduce the concern or described the behavior as normal.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Delayed or failed acceleration, hesitation from a stop

    • 55 complaints (32%)
    • median 47,500 mi at 3.4 yrs old (46 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2026

    Owners describe pressing the accelerator and getting little or no response, often when pulling away from a stop or merging into traffic. Some report the car lurching forward or shuddering before it moves, with the engine revving but speed building slowly. According to complaints, dealers sometimes called the behavior normal for the transmission or could not duplicate it, while in other cases the transmission was replaced and the symptom returned. Reported from very low mileage (under 2,000 miles) up to around 150,000 miles, with many cases between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Test drive from a full stop and at low speed, including a merge or uphill start, and note any delay, shudder or high-revving before the car moves. Ask for transmission service records and whether it has ever been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When accelerating from a stop, making a left turn into cross traffic with plenty of time, the engine will not accelerate! Even with the gas completely pressed it stalls for a good four seconds. I would have been involved in a major accident if it traffic did not slow down for my car to finally rev up, sounding like it's red lining just to get with the flow of traffic.”

    NHTSA complaint #10664848, filed 2014-12, 7,281 miles

    “Car sputters and hesitates. Feels like transmission or fuel problem. Had transmission replaced once already. From what I'm hearing transmissions in this car have an issue. Seems like it should be replaced by manufacturer not me. This has been happening for months. It was seeming to come and go now it just all the time.”

    NHTSA complaint #11376154, filed 2020-11, 65,000 miles
  2. Engine

    Sudden loss of power or stalling while driving

    • 36 complaints (21%)
    • median 49,983 mi at 4.0 yrs old (32 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2026

    Complaints describe the vehicle cutting out or dropping power while driving at various speeds, sometimes with the check engine light on and a knocking or rattling sound. Owners report losing power steering and power braking assist when the engine stopped. Some say the car restarted after pulling over, while others had it towed and were told the transmission or clutch needed replacement. Reported across the whole mileage range, from a few thousand miles up to around 150,000.

    What to check: Ask whether the car has ever stalled or lost power and what was diagnosed. Scan for stored fault codes and check for an illuminated check engine light at idle and during a longer test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Hello, below is an email detailing the issue I sent to hertz which I rented the car from hello, as a reoccurring hertz customer, I wanted to make hertz aware of a severe safety issue with a Chevrolet Spark that I recently rented. While on I-95 in connecticut, the car turned off completely and I lost power steering and power brakes. I was able to safely pull over and restart the car. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10703983, filed 2015-04, 17,756 miles

    “On 17 sep 2018 while going 60 MPH on I-65, the vehicle started beeping, the check engine light started flashing, the doors started locking and unlocking on their own, the fuel gauge went from half a tank to empty and the vehicle started to lose power. Pressing the gas would not make the car go faster; my car slowed to 40 MPH and stayed at that speed for two minutes and then lost power completely. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11132054, filed 2018-09, 53,099 miles
  3. Electrical system

    Electrical faults, warning lights and battery drain

    • 27 complaints (16%)
    • median 48,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (22 state mileage)
    • filed 2015–2024

    Complaints describe instrument panels going blank, multiple warning lights coming on together, radios dropping out, and cars that would not start or drained the battery. Some owners report accessories and chimes failing while driving. In several cases the battery was replaced, and in others the cause was not found. Reported from around 19,000 to over 120,000 miles, with many between roughly 50,000 and 80,000.

    Recall 16V422000Recall 16V257000Recall 15V416000

    What to check: Check that all warning lights and chimes work, confirm battery age and condition, and ask whether the radio chime and software recalls were completed at a dealer.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When my alternator failed it caused an over current through the ABS relay causing damage to the wiring harness melting the bracket and breaking one of the clips the other clip broke when the gmc dealer was doing their inspection. I'm working with an extended warranty that doesn't believe the damage was caused by the alternator and not the dealer.”

    NHTSA complaint #11296788, filed 2020-01, 75,473 miles

    “Went to store a couple miles from home, came out of store and car would not start. Thinking maybe the battery was at fault I tried jumping the battery and still nothing so turned the ignition off and took keys and got ride home. Then upon returning to store to pick up items purchased the car was running without the keys and the ignition was in the off position. I had the woman come out of the store to see this. And it also freaked me out on how this could happen. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10883205, filed 2016-07, 39,000 miles
  4. Engine

    Check engine light, misfires and rough running

    • 29 complaints (17%)
    • median 54,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (23 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2026

    Owners describe the check engine light flashing or staying on, accompanied by shaking, misfires and poor acceleration. Some repairs traced the problem to a clogged or faulty fuel injector, while others were told the engine lost compression in one or more cylinders. Complaints describe repeated dealer visits where the concern could not be reproduced. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 85,000 miles, though a few cases appear near new.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Have a pre-purchase scan for pending and stored misfire codes, and ask for records of injector or cylinder head repairs.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Engine light came on, and it was an issue to find out what was causing a rough start and a warning I could lose power. After I took my car to my shop, he found that my fuel injector was the cause of my problem. Po301 cylinder misfire #1 injector plugged. I was parked, and when I turn on my car, the engine light stayed on when the other lights went off.,”

    NHTSA complaint #10855199, filed 2016-04, 49,966 miles

    “When decelerating in my 2014 Chevrolet Spark between 25 and 15 MPH it feels like someone is applying the brakes. Service technician said it's normal for a CVT. I have driven multiple cars with CVT and never experienced this problem. Also, a loud ticking from the engine. Technician states it's the fuel injectors. I am not accepting this explanation because the engine also misses a stroke once in awhile.”

    NHTSA complaint #10641612, filed 2014-10, 1,500 miles

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.

NHTSA recorded 172 consumer complaints for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark. 122 of the complaints include a mileage, and 55% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 46,000 miles. Of all complaints, 13 involved a crash, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns (1 marked do-not-drive) and 1,479 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 4 Chevrolet Spark model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Latches, locks and linkages (8), Steering (7), Seat belts (6), Suspension (5), Engine cooling (3), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Seats (2), Equipment (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “While I was driving the car, the check engine light starts comes on, and the car loses its ability to accelerate properly and shakes all over like it's about to fall apart. This is particularly dangerous when I'm on the highway and the car suddenly forces itself to go slower and won't accelerate beyond 25-30 MPH”

NHTSA complaint #11185765, filed 2019-03, 118,222 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I have registered complaints regarding this vehicle before. The transmission in this vehicle does not work properly; it is unable to accelerate properly from a low speed or stopped position. I have had the transmission replaced 3 times, but the issue has not been resolved. On august 19, I was involved in an accident as a direct result of the car's inability to accelerate into traffic.”

NHTSA complaint #11015917, filed 2017-08, 57,000 miles

Electrical system: “Takata recall. My '14 Spark has gotten the coolant tank replaced twice. Also my rpms are shooting up and back down once I hit 50mph or faster . Also makes a high pitched noise when this happens . It's causing my car to jerk at faster speeds, also my car jerks at point of acceleration from 0mph when I'm making turns. Also the battery is continually being drained and it's not worn out .”

NHTSA complaint #11230832, filed 2019-07, 83,400 miles

Vehicle speed control: “Since I received the transmission safety recall and took my vehicle in, it seems like they made my vehicle worse. It worked perfectly before the recall and now it seems like the transmission is going out. Also seems like my brakes lock while I'm driving and if I press on the brakes they engage very badly. It makes me jump forward.”

NHTSA complaint #11156092, filed 2018-12, 88,700 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

55% of the 122 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 11,000 and 75,473 miles.

24%0–1010%10–2521%25–5020%50–7514%75–10011%100–1501%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (122 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 46,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

’1424’16’18’20’22’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Spark · hatchback FWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 17.9% risk

Neighbouring years: 2015: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2014 Chevrolet Spark version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Spark FWD1.2L 4-cyl5-speed manual313834$1,950
Spark FWD1.2L 4-cylCVT303733$2,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,479 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 1,479 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Spark

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2021631,0000—33—Not enough data
20202023,7680—33—Stable
20191426,2501—33—Not enough data
201892,0000—33—Not enough data
20172913,0001—3316 · FewerStable
20162839,2841—340 · FewerFalling
20157735,582543450 · TypicalRising
201417246,0006434100 · MoreRising
201314628,2505—3499 · MoreRising

All Chevrolet Spark model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Chevrolet Spark?

Owners of the 2014 Chevrolet Spark most often describe sluggish or delayed acceleration, hesitation and shuddering from a stop, and repeated transmission problems, many of which came back after repairs. The issues reported most often: Delayed or failed acceleration, hesitation from a stop; Sudden loss of power or stalling while driving; Electrical faults, warning lights and battery drain.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2014 Chevrolet Spark have?

NHTSA recorded 172 consumer complaints for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2014 Chevrolet Spark is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 51 complaints (30% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 47.

Has the 2014 Chevrolet Spark been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2014 Chevrolet Spark do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2014 Chevrolet Spark 4 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2014 Chevrolet Spark get?

The EPA rates the 2014 Chevrolet Spark (Spark, 1.2L 4-cyl) at 34 mpg combined, 31 city and 38 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2014 Chevrolet Spark reported?

Among the 122 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 46,000 miles and the middle half falls between 11,000 and 75,473 miles; 55% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.