Chevrolet Spark Engine Problems
Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Chevrolet Spark across 9 model years. The 2014 model year has the most (51). The words owners use most often: “traction control” (9% of reports).
- 112engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Traction control: mentioned in 10 of 112 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 81 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 112 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Chevrolet Spark engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Spark | 2 | 33% | — |
| 2020 Spark | 3 | 16% | 65,719 |
| 2019 Spark | 1 | 7% | 17,500 |
| 2018 Spark | 3 | 33% | 2,000 |
| 2017 Spark | 4 | 14% | 24,000 |
| 2016 Spark | 2 | 7% | 55,000 |
| 2015 Spark | 11 | 14% | 21,291 |
| 2014 Spark | 51 | 30% | 25,000 |
| 2013 Spark | 35 | 24% | 31,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the Chevrolet Spark. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
Okay, I can press the gas and try to go one speed.And my car will go either way, too slow for that gear or way too fast.For that gear , I have almost been several wrecks , because it's either going too slow , went when i'm supposed to be going to certain speed or it's going to fast one supposed to…
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…
This report concerns a known CVT defect and subsequent TCM failure that left the vehicle unsafe and inoperable. The vehicle suffered internal CVT failure consistent with GM Special Coverage N192271110. After the first transmission failed in May 2024 (and the second time October 5 2025), the TCM…
Vehicle began slipping out of gear between 1st & 2nd, then started losing power at 74,760 miles. Extended service coverage has been issued for model for CVT transmission pulley system, however only covers 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Mine apparently timed out in February, so…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Sparks have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 112 owner complaints about engine for the Chevrolet Spark. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Spark engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Chevrolet Spark?
The most frequent phrase is “traction control”, in 10 of 112 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Spark problems
- Power Train problems (124)
- Electrical System problems (100)
See all Chevrolet Spark problems.