There are 44 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2014 Chevrolet Sparkin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
transmission issues
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 NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact continued to depress the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle lurched forward while responding sluggishly. The contact stated that the RPMS was high, but the vehicle failed to exceed 50 MPH. No further information was available. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently while driving from a complete stop. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under GMC Campaign Number: N192271110 because the special coverage had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 114,720.
Transmission failing - when stopped and trying to go from a dead stop the car will not move for a minute the rpm's rev high and the car will barely move maybe two to five miles per hour while the rpm's just rev higher. When climbing a hill the car seems to lose power and not shift like it should. If starting in morning the car may shift for a few minutes then it seems to only shift like downshifting. Other times it seems to run ok and shift ok but the next time you could be trying to merge on the freeway and the car will not go will not get up speed. This dangerous when entering a freeway and trying to get speed up to match vehicles on freeway already. It is also dangerous when making left turns without shifting correctly and car just has little movement revs the rpm's but doesn't move enough to make the turn safely I front of other vehicle waiting to start forward on the green light. It is also dangerous when climbing a hill. I was stopped at a red light when light turned green I pressed the gas and car would not move at all. I continued to let off the gas then press the gas to.get movement to get to side of the road. I haven't been able to drive my car for the last 3 months. I just bought the car less thena year ago and am still paying my payments even though I am unable to drive the car. I really do like this car but have since read of the past transmission recalls on the same year and model and make. I love called Chevrolet asking about the problem and they just tell me my car does not have a recall for the transmission according to the vin. How can my car be failing like many others of the same year that have been able to get repaired under the transmission recall and yet Chevrolet can tell me that my car does not have a recall for the same exact issues I've read about on this site. I am angry because how do the makers tell me my car isn't on that recall for this problem when there seems to be many of the same car having the issue and gets the issue fixed ?
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. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated on the control panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, however the vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,833.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to the Joseph Chevrolet (8733 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45251) and it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced a second time. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that Joseph Chevrolet had previously replaced the transmission in 2021 under Special Coverage: N192271110 (Transmission Pulley Damage). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
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 contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact stated that the vehicle was slowly coming to a stop and that the transmission would not shift into the proper gear. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to park the vehicle on the side of the road safely. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the shifter and the clutch had failed three times. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
When taking off, sometimes the vehicle does not want to excellerate. It seems like the transmission is slipping or not switching gears-it makes a loud clicking gear sound. The vehicle also revs up really loud. It also sometimes feels like the vehicle sulks back when lifting your foot off the gas peddle when accelerating, more than it should. These mishaps make it nearly impossible to excellerate and is dangerous when excellerating onto the highway.
The transmission failed for no apparent reason at 86,000 miles. Now it has failed again at 166,000 miles. In both of these cases the car was left virtually in operable and put the driver at a safety risk. With normal use and care and maintenance it does not make sense that this vehicle has a transmission only last 80 to 86,000 miles. I’ve read many complaints about the transmission on the 2014 and 2015 Chevy Spark. Additionally the parts are very expensive so it tells me that a lot of people have had problems.
I have been having issues with my car getting stuck in gear or not wanting to switch gears, as well as sometimes when I try to go and I'm pushing the gas pedal it's like it doesn't move or try to drive then there is a loud knock and it revs all the way up and still doesn't really move then there is another loud knock and it takes off slowly and over revs and sputters and drives very odd, like it's struggling to go and keeps trying to switch gears. The check engine light keeps going on and off and every once in a while my traction light comes on as well. I took it to auto zone and this is the codes they received,"Powertrain Trouble Code Description: Pressure Control Solenoid "B" Control Circuit Range/Performance Powertrain Secondary Trouble Codes: P0965, P070." I have no idea how to afford to fix it and when doing research online about it alot of spark owners have had this issue and no recall has been placed. It is very dangerous and I can't even drive on the highway because my car simply won't go. I got stuck at a green light trying to go and almost got hit by a semi because my car simply wouldn't move. I am scared for my life to drive this car and this is an issue that needs to be addressed because I am still paying off this car, barely had it a couple years and maybe half of my loan time and can't even drive it. I am livid and will not put my life in danger because y'all won't issue a recall for a SERIOUS PROBLEM with this car. I have to be able to get to work and I can't with a car that is constantly trying to kill me. Please help!
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was towed back to the same independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the standard shift had failed. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact stated that a year after the previous repair was made, the failure reoccurred for the third time. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed. Several local dealers were contacted; however, the contact was informed that the dealers did not repair vehicles with transmission failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT INTO 25 MPH WON'T ACELRATE IDLES ROUGH LOUD. STAHLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRUCE LOWRIE CHEVROLET (711 SW LOOP 820, FORT WORTH, TX 76134, (817) 264-7776) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.*DT*DT CONSUMER WOULD LIKE A BUY BACK WHICH WAS AN OPTION.
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND WENT OFF AFTER ONE DAY. IT CAME ON AGAIN 3 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING, AND AT ONE POINT I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. A MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED THE ERROR CODE AS P0871 AND ALERTED ME TO GM BULLETIN PIP5521 WHICH STATES MY ENTIRE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED, DESPITE THE CAR ONLY HAVING 56,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY GM WHICH PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. MY CAR IS SLIGHTLY OUT OF WARRANTY AND I'M ATTEMPTING TO GET GM TO FIX IT UNDER A GOOD WILL WARRANTY.
THE JUG THAT HOLDS MY ANTIFREEZE DEVELOPED A HOLE RIGHT WHERE THE HOSE CONNECTS TO IT AND ANTIFREEZE WAS DRIPPING ONTO A BELT. MY CAR WOULD MAKE A SCREECHING SOUND AND HESITATE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I REPLACED THE BELT BUT THEN OTHER STUFF STARTED GOING WRONG. THE ENGINE REVS UP WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THE CAR WILL HESITATE EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS, IT USUALLY HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES IN A FEW SECONDS THEN DRIVES FINE FOR A SHORT WHILE. NO PATTERN, JUST HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. ON 08/07/1019 I WAS DRIVING 320 MILES TO COPPERAS COVE, TX FROM LUBBOCK,TX . AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 100 MILES MY CAR STUDDERED REAL BAD AND I LOST ALL POWER AS I TURNED A CORNER. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO THE FLOOR AND MY CAR WOULD BARLEY MOVE. I MANAGED TO GET TO A GAS STATION WHERE I HAD TO WAIT FOR A TOW BACK TO LUBBOCK. SOMETHING ABOUT THE DEVICE THAT PUTS OXYGEN INTO THE GAS AS IT GOES INTO THE ENGINE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EXPERIENCE ONLINE. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 54000 MILES ON MY CAR. MY ALARM GOES OFF 99% OF THE TIME IF I LOCK MY CAR, AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID DOES NOT DISPENSE.
I BOUGHT MY 2014 CHEVY SPARK IN 2017. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING SINCE I BOUGHT IT. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS OR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH. I HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE PUT IN AT 85,000 MILES. MECHANIC SHOP TOLD ME NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HERE I AM 5 MONTHS AFTER HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED, CAR WILL NOT TURN ON, IT WON'T TURN OVER, IT WON'T CLICK, CAR HAS NO POWER TO THE STARTER OR ALTERNATOR. THROWS THE CODE U0101. SERIOUSLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE VEHICLE. GM NEEDS TO RECALL ENTIRW CHEVY SPARK LINE.
IN JANUARY 2019, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. NO DEALERSHIP HAD APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE THERE WAS AN AIRBAG RECALL ON ANOTHER GM VEHICLE GOING-ON. THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT I COULD OBTAIN WAS IN APRIL, WHICH ENDED UP TURNING OUT TO BE A FEW DAYS AFTER MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED. MY STANCE IS THAT I WOULD HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN THE DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY, HAD AN APPOINTMENT BEEN AVAILABLE. BASED UPON THIS, MY FEELING IS THAT GM SHOULD HONOR MY POWERTRAIN AND FIX MY TRANSMISSION UNDER THE WARRANTY. HOWEVER, GM WAS REFUSING TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND I WAS GOING THROUGH THE BAR COMPLAINT PROCESS. ON JUNE 16TH, I WAS DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PETAL, THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I WAS NOT RAN OVER BY THE SEMITRUCK THAT WAS BEHIND ME AND WAS ABLE TO SOMEHOW COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I ALMOST DIED! THIS CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THERE IS AN INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON MY VEHICLE AS GM KNOWS THAT THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR HAS A KNOWN HIGH TRANSMISSION FAILURE RATE AROUND 60K MILES. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. ON JULY 8TH, I PAID TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED; HOWEVER THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE UPHILL, THE CAR SLOWS DOWN TO A MAX OF 45MPH. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE ON THE FREEWAY WHERE THE STANDARD SPEED IS 65MPH. IF YOU LOOK AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, THERE ARE OVER 200 PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH THE 2014 CHEVY SPARK.
Showing 1–20 of 44 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026