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Chevrolet Spark: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Spark problems by model year, from 527 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2014 (60%, 96 drivetrain complaints), 2015 (57%, 41 drivetrain complaints) and 2013 (53%, 67 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 5 Chevrolet Spark years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2016 (22%). 2016 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2015 (57%) to 2016 (22%), down 35 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2014 drew the most drivetrain complaints (96 of 223 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 and 2022 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Spark year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Spark | high | 53% | 67 | 146 | 3/5 | 5 |
| 2014 Spark | very high | 60% | 96 | 176 | 1/5 | 6 |
| 2015 Spark | high | 57% | 41 | 83 | 2/5 | 5 |
| 2016 Spark | no elevated signal | 22% | 8 | 42 | 5/5 | 1 |
| 2017 Spark | high | 50% | 11 | 29 | 4/5 | 1 |
| 2018 Spark | too few to score | – | 5 | 9 | – | 0 |
| 2019 Spark | too few to score | – | 3 | 14 | – | 1 |
| 2020 Spark | too few to score | – | 4 | 19 | – | 0 |
| 2021 Spark | too few to score | – | 3 | 6 | – | 0 |
| 2022 Spark | too few to score | – | 0 | 3 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Spark years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Spark recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns across the Chevrolet Spark years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
8 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2014 | 14V298000 | air bags | 2013 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V440000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2014 |
| Sep 2014 | 14V593000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2013–2015 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V416000 | equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 2014–2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V257000 | equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 2013–2015 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V422000 | electrical system: software | 2013–2015 |
| May 2017 | 17V307000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2016–2017 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V640000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2013–2015 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Spark
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Spark
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Spark?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Spark years are the 2014 (60% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2015 (57% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2013 (53% of relevant complaints, high). 4 of 5 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Spark?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Chevrolet Spark years are the 2016 (22%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Chevrolet Spark have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 5 scored years, 223 of 416 relevant NHTSA complaints (54%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
Is the Chevrolet Spark reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 5 Chevrolet Spark years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 54% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Spark?
No. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns across the Chevrolet Spark years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.