2014 Chevrolet Spark Reliability
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark has 176 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Spark model years (2013–2016), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Spark's typical year, while the 2016 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
176
NHTSA owner complaints
8
Recall campaigns
13
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2014 Chevrolet Spark complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 model year, filed between 2014 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 51 | 29% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 49 | 28% |
| Electrical system | 39 | 22% |
| Speed control / throttle | 24 | 14% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 16 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 16 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 7% |
| Air bags | 13 | 7% |
2014 Chevrolet Spark recalls
8 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2014 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14V440000 | Jul 21, 2014 | Suspension — front / control arm / lower arm | 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…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 14V593000 | Sep 24, 2014 | Latches, locks & linkages — hood / latch | 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,… |
| 15V416000 | Jun 30, 2015 | Equipment — electrical / radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 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… |
| 16V257000 | Apr 28, 2016 | Equipment — electrical / radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 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… |
| 16V422000 | Jun 10, 2016 | Electrical system — software | 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… |
| 16V651000 | Sep 8, 2016 | Air bags — frontal | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet… |
| 17V437000 | Jul 10, 2017 | Air bags — frontal | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and… |
| 22V640000 | Aug 25, 2022 | Latches, locks & linkages — hood / latch | 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. |
How the 2014 compares with nearby Spark years
Verdicts compare these Spark model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 146 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 (this page) | 176 | 8 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2015 | 84 | 7 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2016 | 43 | 3 | Service brakes | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2014 Chevrolet Spark
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 8 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2014 Chevrolet Spark can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2014 Chevrolet Spark reliability FAQ
Is the 2014 Chevrolet Spark reliable?
The 2014 Chevrolet Spark has 176 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Spark model years (2013–2016), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Spark's typical year, while the 2016 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2014 Chevrolet Spark problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark are engine (51), powertrain / transmission (49), electrical system (39), speed control / throttle (24). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2014 Chevrolet Spark have recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark, including 14V440000 (suspension — front / control arm / lower arm) and 14V593000 (latches, locks & linkages — hood / latch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2014 Chevrolet Spark compare with the 2013 and 2015 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2013 has 146 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid); the 2015 has 84 complaints and 7 recalls (avoid). The 2014 has 176 complaints and 8 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2014 Chevrolet Spark?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Spark research
Other Chevrolet Spark model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2014 Spark, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.