9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,680
Average Mileage:
77,350 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace transmission (6 reports)
  2. replaced transmission (2 reports)
  3. replaced trans and trans module (1 reports)
  4. return full value of this vehicle (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Chevrolet dealer.

problem #10

Jun 112018

Spark

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

The transmission was replaced under warranty in 2015 - a catastrophic failure and numerous "reprogramming" attempts. It finally seemed to operate but there were always issues with acceleration hesitation.

On June 11, 2018, the transmission failed, completely, and had to be replaced. The first transmission that was procured as a replacement was found to be defective. Still waiting to see if THIS one can be "programmed."

This product should be refunded to everyone who made a purchase of a 2014 Chevy Spark. The part that was bad should be serviceable, but cannot be repaired or replaced due to the engineering/design of the transmission and its housing. THIS is a scam of the most heinous kind. If this transmission had failed in the manner that it did on the highway, it is quite likely that my passenger and I could have been seriously injured or caused an accident injuring others.

AND "lemon laws" should be amended to levy heavy penalties for ANY auto manufacturer that knowingly sells vehicles with faulty components or parts.

SHAME ON CHEVROLET - no wonder American auto makers are foundering!!!

- elma, Williamsport, US

problem #9

Apr 152019

Spark

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,500 miles

So when I bought this 2014 Chevy Spark everything was pretty good. It didn't have much get up and go, but that didn't really bother me. However, having to replace the transmission at 47,000 miles did. Thank goodness I bought the extended warranty because the transmission went out in April and the original warranty ended just three months before in January. It just blows my mind how a transmission could go out in a car less that 100,000 miles let alone still under 50,000... things here seem a little shysty.

- Sarah K., Las Vegas, NV, US

problem #8

Oct 182020

Spark

  • CVT transmission
  • 120,000 miles

The car is cute, small, and get excellent gas mileage when it's operational. I have driven cars (not Chevy Sparks!) up to 280,000 miles without any transmission problems. This car gave me problems upon reaching 100,000. Now, it costs more to repair the car than the car is worth. If I had only read all of the complaints and bad experiences at this site before purchasing the car, I would not be in my current situation. It's frustrating and unfair for Chevrolet to produce vehicles that it knows are going to fail outside of their warranty!

- Stewart B., Ochlocknee, GA, US

problem #7

Apr 032018

Spark

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles

I got a loan on a 2014 Chevy Spark. Less than 4 months later at 80,000 miles, the transmission broke! Chevy said they would put a new transmission in my car under the Manufacturer warranty! So they did, and less then 9 months after that, that transmission broke!

I called Chevy over and over again. All they kept telling me was that it was my problem now! I asked over and over to speak with a Manager! They kept telling me one will call me back but it won't make no difference, because they going to tell you the same thing - that transmission was covered under the power training manufacturer warranty - and that has expired!

I am 49 years old - I've had a hard enough time buying a car! Now I'm stuck, still having to pay the Finance company over $9,000 dollars on a broken car sitting in my back yard! My question to Chevy is how y'all can do that to people! I used to always tell my children buy a Chevy car - its one of the best!

And to you world - don't ever ever ever buy a Chevy spark! The transmissions will brake fast! Then Chevy puts another rebuilt transmission in the car so they can say they did their part!

THEN THAT TRANSMISSION WILL BRAKE AGAIN - THEN YOUR STUCK! BUYING ANOTHER TRANSMISSION WORTH MORE THEN THE WHOLE CAR! AND THAT'S EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY.

THANKS A LOT, CHEVY.

- Debbra H., Warren, OH, US

problem #6

Nov 082019

Spark LS

  • CVT transmission
  • 90,020 miles

My car was shifting gears while coasting. At first it only happened while coasting at 70 miles per hour but by end of the week it was doing it even at 25 miles per hour. My check engine light went on and three minutes later when I stopped at a light and tried to press the gas pedal to go nothing happened. Cars transmission failed, would be way too expensive to replace.

- kierrafortney, Palmyra, US

problem #5

May 012019

Spark

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

The car would kick when driving at approx. 75mph. The first time I complained about it, the dealer mechanic stated it probably was bad gasoline as my car was low on mileage. When I took it back and paid $199 for a diagnostic yesterday, the mechanic confirmed that the transmission is failing.

My warranty was only good to 60k miles. My car is 2k miles over that, so I'm SOL. The dealer mechanic said it would cost $4k to replace the transmission. Plus, he informed me that he's been seeing a lot of Spark coming into the shop with Coil failures before 100k. He stated that a coil replacement would also be expensive.

I do not see the benefit in investing $4k in a new transmission and then possibly looking at another few grand to fix a coil by the end of the year. Therefore, I am just going to donate the car and get a different brand of car.

My first car was a LeBaron, and it lasted 193k miles before it needed a transmission. This vehicle only has 62,000 miles and needs a new transmission. A Chevy Spark is truly a piece of garbage!!!

This car should be recalled as a lemon.

- skandelous, San Bruno, CA, United States

problem #4

Feb 282018

Spark

  • CVT transmission
  • 110,000 miles

Transmission failed a little after it 100,000. I personally will stay away from Chevy's specially sparks.

- Edgar Ivan J., Franklin, TN, US

problem #3

Jan 062018

Spark 1.2L

  • CVT transmission
  • 66,000 miles

Transmission started slipping badly when accelerating from a stop.

Took it to the dealer today. Transmission needs replacement.

The dealer is taking care of it without any grief on my part; they also gave me a loaner car until it's fixed.

I'm satisfied so far. Dealer was very accommodating, no out-of-pocket expense on my part.

I just hope that the replacement transmission lasts for more than 66,000 miles.

Have read online that the CVT transmissions are a problem with many cars (not just GM) The warranty replacements must be killing the manufacturers. Going back to the "standard" auto transmission would be a wise business decision.

- Chris M., Grants Pass, OR, US

problem #2

May 242017

Spark LS 1.2L

  • CVT transmission
  • 61,500 miles

April 23 I noticed around 50 mph and 2000 rpm all the sudden it goes to 1800 rpm then to 2300 rpm by itself and there's a sound like a belt squeal and a slight hesitation.... had a mechanic drive it and he could not hear or notice anything and no codes or check engine lights so I drove it until May 24, when I went around a corner, had loss of power and rpm drop... when I gave it gas the rpms went all over the place and the car started surging and jerking forward.... 61,500 miles the Chevy dealer is replacing trans module to 'see if that fixes it'. If not they will be replacing the entire cvt transmission with what I thought he called a 'certifed' transmission.... to be continued.......

Update from Jun 21, 2017: the dealership replaced the trans control module and after less than 25 miles I had to push the car into the parking place when it finally stopped.... had to walk a mile to the dealer for free loaner as the car is still under factory 100k warranty... the dealer then replaced the entire trans and trans module and it runs better now than when new but we all know its time to get rid of it cuz its gonna fail again in 100k miles or less

- Brian A., Schaumburg, US

problem #1

May 012016

Spark LT 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles

Driving to work the Chevy Spark started sticking in the rpm's and the car felt like it was getting ready to stall. Going a little further you could literally feel the transmission slipping.

Brought it into the Chevrolet dealership for service. They tested the car and confirmed the transmission needed a full replacement. Chevrolet would not offer me a loaner car, so I am completely left without transportation to get to and from work.

We had purchased this vehicle to avoid repairs only to get so many more.

- Anna A., Sun Valley, US