What breaks most · 2013 to 2022 model years
Chevrolet Spark problems by year
Owners have filed 502 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Spark across model years 2013 to 2022. Two years stand out: 2014 for engine complaints and 2013 for engine complaints. The quietest years are 2018, 2019 and 2020.
- Years to check closely: 2014, 2013
- Fewest complaints: 2018, 2019, 2020
- Complaints on file
- 5022013 to 2022, all trims
- Worst year
- 2014172 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 465 fires · 44 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 36kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 19Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 146 | 10 | 5 | Engine (35) | |
| 172 | 13 | 6 | Engine (51) | |
| 76 | 4 | 5 | Powertrain and transmission (25) | |
| 28 | 1 | 1 | Brakes (10) | |
| 29 | 5 | 1 | Powertrain and transmission (9) | |
| 9 | 0 | 0 | Engine (3) | |
| 14 | 4 | 1 | Air bags (7) | |
| 19 | 6 | 0 | Air bags (7) | |
| 6 | 2 | 0 | Fuel system (2) | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | Air bags (1) |
What fails on the 2014 Chevrolet Spark
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 30% |
51 | 1 | Shop engine parts for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 27% |
47 | 2 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 23% |
39 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 15% |
25 | 0 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark |
| Unknown or other | 9% |
16 | 2 | — |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 9% |
16 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark |
| Air bags | 8% |
13 | 7 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 6% |
10 | 1 | Shop brakes parts for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
10/5/2021 I had the coolant expansion tank replaced because it was leaking. Its leaking again 2023 same place. (Picture below in now same place as before)
-
My engine started shaking with the check engine light flashing and traction control light on. The car wouldn't let me get out of gear.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Chevrolet Spark years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2014, 2013 carry the most filings on the Chevrolet Spark. The 2014 alone has 172 complaints, led by engine.
What is the most common Chevrolet Spark problem?
On the 2014 model year, the most-reported component is engine with 51 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Spark problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Chevrolet Spark complaints that include mileage is about 36,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.