2014 Chevrolet Spark Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Spark years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 172 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Chevrolet Spark. That is the most of any Spark model year in the database (10 years). The most reported problem area is engine (51 complaints, 30%), typically at around 25,000 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 8 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year.

- 172owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2014 Chevrolet Spark problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 51 | 30% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 47 | 27% | 58,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 39 | 23% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 25 | 15% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 16 | 9% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 16 | 9% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 13 | 8% | 42,250 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 10 | 6% | 27,568 | — | — |
| Structure | 10 | 6% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 8 | 5% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 5% | 50,288 | — | — |
| Steering | 7 | 4% | 110 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 3% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 5 | 3% | 44,900 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 2% | 1,530 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | 130,112 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 1% | 25,428 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 98 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 110 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 6,421 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 15,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2014 Chevrolet Spark recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark EV vehicles. The secondary hood latch may corrode at the latch pivot, preventing the hood latch from properly engaging.
Risk: A hood latch failure can result in the vehicle's hood opening unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hood striker assembly and hood latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 12, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A222359300. This recall supersedes and expands NHTSA recall number 14V-593. Vehicles previously repaired under 14V-593 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Electrical system:software; equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc.
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
Electrical system:software; equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc.
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.
Equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc.
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 20, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured June 18, 2014, to June 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, equipped with the base radio and OnStar, the radio may lock up due to a software issue, causing the display to go blank and all audio functions to cease. Because of this, there may be no warning chimes such as the reminder to buckle the seat belt and the key being left in ignition when the driver goes to exit the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208 "Occupant Crash Protection", and 114 "Theft Protection."
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft. If a driver or front passenger does not buckle their seat belt, there would be no chime to remind them to fasten their seat belts. If a driver or passenger does not buckle their seat belt there is an increased risk that they will be injured in a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15504.
Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured January 17, 2012, to July 29, 2014. The secondary hood latch may prematurely corrode at the latch pivot causing the striker to get stuck out of position, preventing it from properly engaging the hood latch.
Risk: If the secondary hood latch corrodes causing the latch to be stuck out of position, and the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the striker with a new part which has superior corrosion protection, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14456.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower armDo not drive
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Spark vehicles manufactured from May 7, 2014, to May 26, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the left and right lower control arm attaching bolts in the front suspension may not be tightened to specification.
Risk: If the lower control arm bolts are not tightened properly, the lower control arm may separate from the steering knuckle while driving, causing a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are instructed NOT to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Owners should call a Chevrolet dealer immediately to arrange for their vehicle to be transported free of charge for servicing. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left and right lower control arm attaching bolts to make sure that they are tightened to the proper specification, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14453. Note: Owners are advised not to drive the vehicle until the repairs have been completed.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Vehicle went into âlimp modeâ while merging onto a busy road, nearly causing a collision with both oncoming traffic and other vehicles attempting to merge onto the road. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the following: âChecked system codes. Found P0324 knock sensor…
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hood independently unlatched and crashed against the front windshield, causing damage to the windshield and bending the hood out of shape. Additionally, the hood became stuck in a locked…
The date was XXX there was a recall on the transmission for my 2014 Chevrolet Spark I took my car to Ben Mynatt [XXX]. They check my car and told me that my car transmission was effected and that they put an order for a new transmission. They called me the next day to bring the car in which I did…
The contact owns a a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that while on several occasions at various speeds, the transmission warning light illuminated and the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off for approximately 30 mins and then restarted. The…
The vehicle experiences intermittent loss of power and unstable acceleration while driving at normal speeds (approximately 45â55 mph). The vehicle will surge, hesitate, and fail to maintain consistent speed, creating an unsafe condition in traffic. While driving, the vehicle does not consistently…
Other Chevrolet Spark years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Spark | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 Spark | 6 | 0 |
| 2020 Spark | 19 | 0 |
| 2019 Spark | 14 | 1 |
| 2018 Spark | 9 | 0 |
| 2017 Spark | 29 | 1 |
| 2016 Spark | 28 | 1 |
| 2015 Spark | 76 | 5 |
| 2014 | 172 | 6 |
| 2013 Spark | 146 | 5 |
See all Chevrolet Spark problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Chevrolet Spark?
Owners most often report engine, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 51 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2014 Chevrolet Spark?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2014 Chevrolet Spark a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Spark model years, the 2014 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.