Chevrolet Spark cvt failure problems

Filed Nov 22, 2025 · Fuel system, Transmission · VA

Vehicle: 2015 Chevrolet Spark, odometer <79,000 miles Component that failed: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) – pulley damage causing complete loss of propulsion.What happened: While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost all motive power with no ability to accelerate. The transmission would not engage in any gear and the car became inoperable in traffic. This is the exact failure described in GM Special Coverage Bulletin N192271110 (pulley damage in 2014–2015 Spark CVT). Safety risk: Complete and unexpected loss of propulsion created an immediate safety hazard. The vehicle could not accelerate from a stop or maintain speed, placing my 15-year-old son and other motorists at risk of rear-end collision or stranding in active traffic lanes.Dealer confirmation: RK Chevrolet in Virginia Beach, VA has inspected the vehicle and confirmed the failure matches N192271110 – full transmission replacement required (quote $6,637.19). Vehicle remains at the dealership and is available for inspection.Warning lamps/symptoms: Check-engine light and reduced-power message appeared at time of failure. No prior warnings before the sudden loss of power event. Failure occurred approximately October 2025 – only four months after GM’s 10-year/120,000-mile Special Coverage N192271110 expired on 06/11/2025.The failed transmission is still in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request.

Filed Nov 19, 2025 · Engine · CO

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 failed again shortly after the second failure—consistent with GM Preliminary Information Bulletin PIP5525A. Critical Safety Details: Both failures occurred while driving on highways with heavy traffic, where speed limits were 75 mph. On each occasion, the vehicle lost power and became unable to accelerate safely, presenting a serious safety risk to me and other drivers. GM is refusing coverage despite widely documented cases and their own bulletins describing this exact failure chain.

Filed Oct 23, 2025 · Engine · MD

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 they are trying to make me get a new transmission which basically totals out the car I spent a fortune on to buy & in repairs at under 75,000 miles. This is unacceptable.

Filed Jul 2, 2025 · Engine · TX · 1 injury

Transmission issue. During heavy traffic at stop lights car wouldn't shift into drive to move forward. Was stuck in the middle of the road with a passenger. Engine light came on but it's not an engine problem. Car was smoking under the hood. I burned my hand when popping the hood. When the car cooled the engine light went out and car would shift gears and it's drivable again. This has happened 3 times. Mechanic pulled up at P0700 Code on computer. It's the CVT transmission but not sure which part. I can't get the car to the dealership to inspect transmission. It won't drive that far.

Filed May 27, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · CT

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.

Filed Nov 23, 2020 · Transmission · CA

Whenever I stop at a light and try to move off when the light turn green, I would press the accelerator and the car would not respond for about 3 to 4 mins something with the CVT transmission. This could cause accident on the road.

Filed Mar 17, 2019 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 40,000 miles · WA

We purchased a 2017 chevy spark with 40,000 miles on it and within the first two weeks the car will not accelerate for about 2 seconds and then will leap forward. When you come to a complete stop the engine will rev up and not go forward for about 2-3 seconds. This becomes very un safe since you can not depend on this vehicle to go forward when needed. I have taken it back to the dealer and they said there was an software upload to the transmission that should help. It did not help and I have researched that this is pretty common with these CVT transmissions. I will take it in again this week for them to possibly change out transmission. The complaints that are on this vehicle are the same having to do with acceleration problems. Gm needs to look at this issue as a recall to help save lives.

Filed Nov 2, 2018 · Transmission · 84,000 miles · NJ

Cvt bucks like it can't decide what gear to shift to at speeds above 40. More noticeable at 55mph or more. Has been doing this since 80,000 miles but has gotten worse.

Filed Apr 13, 2018 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 107,000 miles · OK

107,000 hwy/city miles. Catastrophic failure of the 2014 chevrolet spark's CVT control module and transmission. Dealership inspection revealed; permanently frozen actuators and control valves which cause the vehicle to stall, with engine running, on mild inclines, on ramps, off ramps, in heavy traffic,and stop lights. Very little time between the onset of mechanical - electrical malfunctions which include bucking, slippage and loss of momentum, before the amber "check engine light" deploys. By that time, it's too late..as stated earlier, loss of momentum on fast-paced interstates and heavy flow traffic lights, placed myself and passengers in unwarranted danger.

Filed Jul 27, 2015 · Transmission · 4,100 miles · MO

2014 chevy spark with just over 4 k miles with severe acceleration problems from a stop. I took it to the dealer the first time and was told that the computer had to learn my driving style this was with about 2k miles driven. Then on june 11, 2015 I took it back to dealer again with the same compliant this time they did a driving test and scan the CVT was found to be sticking in high gear and would not shift into low gear. A new transmission was ordered and it took about 8 days to arrive. They installed the new CVT and when the technician tried to back my car out for a test drive it would not go into reverse another bad transmission. So another new CVT transmission was ordered and installed so far this one is working, total time for this repair was from june 11, 2015 to july 3, 2015.