Home · 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV · Complaints

What 168 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (168)Crash / fire / injury (14)Engine (48)Transmission & drivetrain (43)Electrical system (38)Speed control (22)Fuel system (17)Airbags (13)Brakes (12)Body & structure (10)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (9)Latches & locks (7)

17 of 168 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Jan 3, 2025Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

Transmission failing - when stopped and trying to go from a dead stop the car will not move for a minute the rpm's rev high and the car will barely move maybe two to five miles per hour while the rpm's just rev higher. When climbing a hill the car seems to lose power and not shift like it should. If starting in morning the car may shift for a few minutes then it seems to only shift like downshifting. Other times it seems to run ok and shift ok but the next time you could be trying to merge on the freeway and the car will not go will not get up speed. This dangerous when entering a freeway and trying to get speed up to match vehicles on freeway already. It is also dangerous when making left turns without shifting correctly and car just has little movement revs the rpm's but doesn't move enough to make the turn safely I front of other vehicle waiting to start forward on the green light. It is also dangerous when climbing a hill. I was stopped at a red light when light turned green I pressed the gas and car would not move at all. I continued to let off the gas then press the gas to.get movement to get to side of the road. I haven't been able to drive my car for the last 3 months. I just bought the car less thena year ago and am still paying my payments even though I am unable to drive the car. I really do like this car but have since read of the past transmission recalls on the same year and model and make. I love called Chevrolet asking about the problem and they just tell me my car does not have a recall for the transmission according to the vin. How can my car be failing like many others of the same year that have been able to get repaired under the transmission recall and yet Chevrolet can tell me that my car does not have a recall for the same exact issues I've read about on this site. I am angry because how do the makers tell me my car isn't on that recall for this problem when there seems to be many of the same car having the issue and gets the issue fixed ?

NHTSA ODI 11633939

May 20, 2024Speed controlFuel system

Transmission needs to be replaced per mechanic, costing around $3,5000-$5,000 Jerking or shuddering during the normal course of driving Hesitations while attempting to accelerate from a stopped position Engine stalls out or intermittently shutting off Rough start or hard shift and sudden acceleration Hesitations while attempting to accelerate from a stopped position

NHTSA ODI 11589714

Nov 24, 2020Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

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 ODI 11376154

Oct 10, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

IN AUGUST 2019, AS I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY MY VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED AND MY BRAKE, GAS, STEERING COLUMN, AND VEHICLE LOSS COMPLETE FUNCTION. THIS INCIDENT ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. THANK GOODNESS I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY IN TIME. AFTER WEEKS AND MONTHS OF FAILED REPAIR ATTEMPTS, I CONTACTED GM HOPING TO GAIN SOME RESOLUTION. AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT IN DECEMBER 2019 THERE WAS NO RESPONSE UNTIL LAST WEEK. I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM ,MRS. NEELIE O'CONNOR-GLOBAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OPERATIONS, STATING THAT MY MECHANICAL ISSUES MAY INDEED BE AT THE FAULT OF GM. THEY WOULD PAY FOR DAMAGES ,ONLY IF MY CAR WAS UNDER 120,000 MILES ,AND THEIR MECHANIC CONFIRMS THE DAMAGES.

NHTSA ODI 11363693

Jun 8, 2020Speed controlEngineFuel system

WHEN ACCELERATING (BETWEEN 5-30MPH), THE VEHICLE STUTTERS TO GAIN POWER/SPEED-IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THERE'S A DELAY IN THE EXECUTION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN LUNGE FORWARD, THEN SULK BACK AS IF THE ENGINE HAS TEMPORARILY LOST POWER. THE LUNGE, SULK BACK AND STUTTER ARE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING, TO THE POINT THAT THE PLUNGE AND SULK ARE OCCURRING AT MORE VARYING SPEED CHANGES MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY (ACCELERATING OR LIFTING OFF THE GAS PEDDLE TO SLOW DOWN). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327891

Apr 25, 2020Speed controlFuel system

DURING REGULAR CONSTANT DRIVING AT SPEED 20-50MPH ACCELERATION LURGES FORWARD AND FELS LIKE A CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGING, THIS IS NOT A FEATURE IN THIS MODEL. THIS HAS OCCURRED NOW MORE THAN 3 TIMES. SENDING IN VEHICLE FIR REVIEW.

NHTSA ODI 11322240

Aug 30, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

THE JUG THAT HOLDS MY ANTIFREEZE DEVELOPED A HOLE RIGHT WHERE THE HOSE CONNECTS TO IT AND ANTIFREEZE WAS DRIPPING ONTO A BELT. MY CAR WOULD MAKE A SCREECHING SOUND AND HESITATE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I REPLACED THE BELT BUT THEN OTHER STUFF STARTED GOING WRONG. THE ENGINE REVS UP WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THE CAR WILL HESITATE EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS, IT USUALLY HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES IN A FEW SECONDS THEN DRIVES FINE FOR A SHORT WHILE. NO PATTERN, JUST HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. ON 08/07/1019 I WAS DRIVING 320 MILES TO COPPERAS COVE, TX FROM LUBBOCK,TX . AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 100 MILES MY CAR STUDDERED REAL BAD AND I LOST ALL POWER AS I TURNED A CORNER. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO THE FLOOR AND MY CAR WOULD BARLEY MOVE. I MANAGED TO GET TO A GAS STATION WHERE I HAD TO WAIT FOR A TOW BACK TO LUBBOCK. SOMETHING ABOUT THE DEVICE THAT PUTS OXYGEN INTO THE GAS AS IT GOES INTO THE ENGINE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EXPERIENCE ONLINE. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 54000 MILES ON MY CAR. MY ALARM GOES OFF 99% OF THE TIME IF I LOCK MY CAR, AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID DOES NOT DISPENSE.

NHTSA ODI 11252518

Jul 10, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlFuel 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 ODI 11230832

Feb 10, 2018Electrical systemEngineFuel system

THE CAR WILL POWER DOWN WHILE DRIVING, DESPITE HAVING ADEQUATE CHARGE. THE MESSAGE "PRESS POWER BUTTON AGAIN TO SHUT OFF" APPEARS EVEN THOUGH THE POWER BUTTON HAS NOT BEEN PRESSED. THEN THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND COASTS TO A STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11072029

Sep 10, 2017EngineFuel system

CAR MOTOR WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND IGNITION IS IN THE OFF POSITION. CAR IS STILL DRIVE-ABLE, IT WILL SWITCH GEARS AND IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. MOTOR CONTINUES TO RUN. HAD TO SHUT DOWN CAR BY TAKING OUT A FUSE UNDER THE HOOD. CAR IS ABLE TO RESTART USING KEY. A WEEK LATER CAR MOTOR WILL TURN OFF, BUT THE INSIDE CHIME IS GOING OFF, LEAVING CAR PARKED! I READ OTHER REPORTS ON THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11022570

Jul 6, 2017Electrical systemSeat beltsFuel system

SINCE THE DAY I HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR 2 1/2 YEARS AGO IT WILL DIE, EVEN WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. RECENTLY IT HASN'T BEEN STARTING EVERY TIME. CHEVY SAYS THE BATTERY IS BAD. HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED AT 8 OTHER PLACES, THEY ALL SAID BATTERY WAS FINE. HE HAD TESTED THE BATTERY RIGHT AFTER I TRIED TO START IT FOR TWO HOURS. WHEN YOU PULL THE NEGATIVE CABLE OFF THE BATTERY, THERE IS STILL 2 AMPS BRING DRAWN OFF THE BATTERY. WITH NOTHING ON, NO DIME LIGHT, NO RADIO, NO AIR. AND I'VE TOLD THEM FOREVER THAT MY SEATBELT WARNING SIGNS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO REPRODUCE ANY PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11003463

Feb 9, 2016Electrical systemEngineFuel system

FROM MAY 2015 TO SEPT. 2015, MY VEHICLE HIGH-REVVED AND DIED ON THE HIGHWAY THREE TIMES... THE SAME THREE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON: TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, REDUCED ENGINE POWER. DUE TO THE TIMING OF INCIDENTS, AUTONATION REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT WAS WARRANTIED. I CALLED GM CORPORATE AND EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A DANGER TO THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND JEOPARDIZED MY LIFE, AND THEY MADE ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AT HAND.. AUTONATION CALLED AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THEY DID NOT SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ON A DAY OFF FROM WORK, I TOOK IT TO THE SAME AUTONATION TO HAVE THEM RUN DIAGNOSTICS, AND THE TURNED ME AWAY. THIS HAPPENED A DOCUMENT THREE TIMES. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER CHEVY HOUSE, AND THEY ALSO REFUSED THE CAR. DRIVING IT ENDANGERED MY LIFE AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS. FAST FORWARD A COUPLE MONTHS, I FIND OUT THE THROTTLE BODY IS BAD, AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN PUT OUT. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, CONDENSATION HAD BEGUN ON THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, MY FLOORBOARDS WERE SOPPING WET, AND WATER BEGAN TO FILL THE CAB OF MY CAR. AUTONATION DID FIND THAT A HOSE HAD BEEN CUT AND HAD BEEN LEAKING FLUID THROUGHOUT THE CAB. TODAY, 2-9-16 AT APPX. 0426, MY VEHICLE BEGAN FILLING THE CAB WITH NOXIOUS FUMES AND SMOKING UPON PARKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD FOR NO OBVIOUS REASON. NO LIGHTS OR CHIMES INITIATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE COULD HAVE SET FIRE AT ANY MOMENT HAD I KEPT DRIVING. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND THOSE AROUND, AND NO ONE AT AUTONATION TAKES IT SERIOUSLY. I HOPE BY ADVANCING MY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2014 CHEVY SPARK WILL STEER POTENTIAL BUYERS THE OTHER WAY, AND I ALSO HOPE THAT GM WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND BUY THE CAR BACK. WHEN A CAR DIES ON THE MOST DANGEROUS HIGHWAY IN TEXAS FOR NO REASON AND STARTS SMOKING, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG.

NHTSA ODI 10825214

Apr 6, 2015EngineFuel system

THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE THE CAR IS IN PARK AND WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT FIND THE REASON WHY. ALL THEY WILL SAY IS THE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10703948

Jan 30, 2015Body & structureFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL CAP FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ODI 10679947

Oct 13, 2014EngineFuel system

RENTAL CAR - CHEVY SPARK. WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WAS NOT ABLE TO POWER VEHICLE. SLOWLY STARTED ROLLING INTO FAST MOVING TRAFFIC (FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS) AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A FAULTY IGNITION OR A POWER FAILURE. CAR WAS GOING FROM A FULLY STOPPED POSITION TO A LEFT HAND TURN.VERY DANGEROUS AND WOULD HAVE BEEN IN COLLISION HAD NOT OTHER CARS IN TRAFFIC COME TO A STOP TO AVOID A COLLISION. I AM UNSURE OF YEAR (2013 - 2015) AS DID NOT RECORD THIS INFORMATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10644292

Aug 5, 2014SteeringFuel systemTransmission & drivetrainCrash

THE CAR ACTS SLUGGISH AND ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL AFTER YOU SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT ALSO HAS TRIED TO STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING THREE TIMES WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL WITH OTHER THAN SLIGHT PRESSURE. AT LOW SPEEDS THE STEERING GOES A LITTLE CRAZY SO THAT YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE CAR VERY WELL. I DID SEND A SIMILAR COMPLAINT TO CHEVROLET CORPORATION BACK IN APPROXIMATELY MARCH THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I DID LET THEM KNOW THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE SOLD. MY SON HAD THE ACCIDENT HAPPEN ON MAY 4, 2014 WHEN HE HAD STOPPED TO GET GAS. HE WAS PULLING AWAY FROM PUMPS AND THE CAR KEPT GOING RIGHT INTO CURB BECAUSE IT WAS TRYING TO STALL OUT. I WILL BE SUBMITTING SAME INFORMATION AGAIN TO CHEVROLET CORPORATION THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10618973

May 28, 2014SteeringBrakesFuel system

AFTER FULLY CHARGING UP THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE, GOING DOWN HILL AT APPROX 40MPH, LOST ALL POWER IN BRAKES, STEERING CONTROL AND THE FORWARD PROPULSION SYSTEM. DUE TO LOSS OF POWER VEERED OUT OF CONTROL ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT RESPONDING TO PUMPS. AFTER PULLING ON STEERING WHEEL HARD FINALLY GOT VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND PULLED TO THE SIDE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DID NOT HAVE VEHICLE AND DID NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE MORE THAN 30 MILES BEFORE INCIDENT HAPPENED. 2014 CHEVY SPARK ELECTRIC VEHICLE. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP PERMANENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10594700

Working with the data? Download all 168 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV verdict →