Vehicle went into “limp mode” 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: “Checked system codes. Found P0324 knock sensor module performance code. Found the attached TSB by GM. Believed to be the issue: engine has piston slap and would need rebuilt or replaced per TSB. Also discovered severe oil leak in front of engine.” Mechanic noted that the brakes were stuck as well. Engine scheduled to be replaced. Mileage: 72,503.
The worst 2014 Chevrolet Spark problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine54
- Transmission47
- Electrical39
- Acceleration25
- Fuel system17
- Airbags13
- Body10
- Brakes10
- Driver assistance8
- Locks8
- Steering7
- Seat belts6
- Suspension5
- Visibility3
- Seats2
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2014 Chevrolet Spark
Check engine light 24Transmission failure 16Loss of power 13Hesitation 11Stalling 11Won't shift 8No deployment 7Won't start 7CVT failure 6Knocking 6Slipping 6Jerking 5
Recalls 6
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 the federal safety agency recall number 14V‑593. Vehicles previously repaired under 14V‑593 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Recall number 22V640000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 16V422000 · Recall details
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc.
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 16V257000 · Recall details
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/cd etc.
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 15V416000 · Recall details
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 14V593000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 14V440000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark 1,479
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- Unknown or other
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- Unknown or other
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities.
- This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced...
- Unknown or other
2014 Chevrolet Spark fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2L 4‑cyl | FWD | 30-31 | 37-38 | 33-34 |
| Electric motor Electric 82 mi range | FWD | 128 | 109 | 119 MPGe |
What 2014 Chevrolet Spark owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 position following the impact. The vehicle was taken to a glass repair shop, where the windshield was replaced; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer for the hood failure. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V640000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
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, they gave me a loaner. On XXX they called me and told me my car was ready and that I can come and pick it up which I did. In 2021 I took the car back to Ben Mynatt asked them to check the transmission because it didn’t drive right they checked it out again they said it was good. On the 1st transmission I had 84,278 miles, ON 07-01-2026 took it to PARK CHEVROLET to get checked to find out I got to get a replacement transmission per special policy #XXX. The miles on my car is 144,778. So this second transmission only have 60,500 on it. Now Ben Mynatt want me to pay $4000.00 to get another transmission they told me that this transmission was new, now they say it was refurbished. I would like to have an replacement at no cost they was wrong on this matter. The teach that worked on my car name Paul Briggs #XXX. I went to Ben Mynatt and talked with Kimberly Brim Service Manager she is the one that told me it was a three year warranty and that I have to buy another transmission. I feel I should have to since this is the second transmission I have a feeling that this transmission was not good either. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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 contact stated that after 30 minutes to an hour the failure reoccurred. The vehicle taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 76,000.
The vehicle experiences intermittent loss of power and unstable acceleration while driving at normal speeds (approximately 45–55 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 respond to throttle input and may unexpectedly lose acceleration. This creates a risk of being rear-ended or being unable to safely merge into traffic. The condition occurs during normal driving and has progressively worsened over time. Diagnostic testing indicates transmission-related faults involving pressure control and internal speed monitoring. This issue affects the safe operation of the vehicle and appears consistent with known transmission problems reported for this vehicle model. Supporting documentation has been provided, including manufacturer service program records indicating this vehicle was previously subject to a known transmission-related defect condition.
Without warning, car began to drop out of 5th gear while driving, entering Neutral at high speeds. This is a manual transmission and you can see the shifter physical move itself into 5th gear. Driver almost lost control of the vehicle out of surprise to what had just happened. When searching in Reddit, this appears to be a widespread issue for this year/make/model. Took to local Chevy for diagnostic, was told it would be a $7,500 repair to replace the transmission.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the transmission was shifting hard. The diagnostic trouble codes: P0700 and P0841 were retrieved after the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall repair that was performed in May 2016, where the transmission pulley was replaced. The contact stated that the recall repair had failed to prevent a failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
transmission issues
transmission recall issued to me on fed. 2020 that extended transmission warranty due to hard shifts. only thing done was a transmission flush.on 07/21/2023. now the car has 83,000 miles on it and is gotten worse over time. the flush just kept the same problem. no power after hitting gas. At Maher Chevy St. Petersburg Florida, they said there was nothing they could do. problem has been throughout vehicles life. And they made us believe they were changing the transmission.
The GM bulletin N19227110 indicates that they are aware of over 10% of Chevrolet Spark models from the years 2014-2015 experiencing transmission problems. Although this bulletin expired last year, it is important to note that they do not provide coverage for vehicles purchased used with fewer than 120,000 miles. This situation poses a significant danger, as the transmission may potentially be contaminated with dirt and debris, leading to unexpected jerking or complete failure, and in some cases, vehicles have caught fire. Furthermore, unless the vehicle is taken to a GM service center, the issue may remain undetected. According to my research, this problem is similar to the one that Nissan faced with their CVT transmissions, which were subject to a recall for the same reason.
Compare the 2014 Chevrolet Spark
Other model years
Questions about the 2014 Chevrolet Spark
Is the 2014 Chevrolet Spark reliable?
Owners have filed 172 complaints about the 2014 Chevrolet Spark, 5.9 times a typical Spark model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2014 Chevrolet Spark year score?
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark scores 7 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Spark: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Chevrolet Spark?
Engine and cooling, with 54 complaints, typically around 24,000 miles. Next is transmission (47).
How many recalls does the 2014 Chevrolet Spark have?
6 recalls, covering latches/locks/linkages, electrical system and equipment.
What year does the Chevrolet Spark have bad engine?
The Chevrolet Spark model years with the most engine complaints are 2014 (54 complaints), 2013 (43 complaints) and 2015 (12 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2014 Chevrolet Spark get?
Official estimates for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark range from 33 to 34 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.2L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 30-31 city and 37-38 highway.
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