RoadVitals

2014 Chevrolet Spark EV

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Apr 11, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Aug 25, 2022
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and powertrain (other) categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1,221 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes360.0%
  • Driver assistance120.0%
  • Powertrain (other)120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Aug 25, 2022
120,688 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: A hood latch failure can result in the vehicle's hood opening unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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 NHTSA recall number 14V-593. Vehicles previously repaired under 14V-593 will need to have the new remedy performed.
General Motors, LLCManufacturer number A222359300View on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE; SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

Jul 10, 2017
40,683 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number 17287View on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE; SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

Sep 8, 2016
3,640,162 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
The risk: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number 16007View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP22005ClosedDefect Petition

Pedestrian alert sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023
Closed Aug 7, 2023

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEMLed to recall 22V063000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Apr 11, 2019

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, REGEN STOPPED WORKING AND BRAKING STOPPED FUNCTIONING TO A POINT OF ALMOST CRASHING. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE REGEN ISSUES, THE SERVICE STABILITRACK WARNING DISPLAYED ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS GOING ON. EVEN AT LESS THAN 5MPH IN A PARKING LOT TO REACH THE TOW TRUCK, TRYING TO STOP WAS A LESSON IN FEAR AND FRUSTRATION. THIS IS NOW THE 3RD TIME THIS VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS CATASTROPHIC PROBLEM. 1ST TIME WAS MARCH 2018 WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 2ND TIME FEBRUARY 2019 AND NOW APRIL 2019.

NHTSA ID
11195540
Incident
Apr 10, 2019
Mileage
21,700 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 16, 2019

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE I PLACE IT IN PARK WITHOUT ISSUE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON. ONCE I THEN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AN ERROR APPEARS STATING "SHIFT TO PARK. THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN IN PARK WITHOUT ANY ISSUE PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO FULLY SHUT DOWN, DRAINING THE ACCESSORY 12V BATTERY AS IT REMAINS CONNECTED TO BLUETOOTH, THE TAIL LIGHTS REMAIN ON, AND AN INTERIOR WARNING NOISE CONTINUES TO RING. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 12K MILES.

NHTSA ID
11170477
Incident
Jan 14, 2019
Mileage
11,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 29, 2016
1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING MY SPARK EV TO THE DEALER AROUND 1:45PM ON 12/29/2016 FOR THEM TO FIX THE NON-FUNCTIONING HEAT, THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER RECALL, AND FAILURE TO FAST-CHARGE. I WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT AT ABOUT 25 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED I TRIED TO STOP BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. IN AN INSTANT I CHECKED TO BE SURE I WASN'T PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THEN PUSHED WITH ALL MY MIGHT EVEN HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED BUT ONLY AFTER COMING WITHIN AN INCH OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR SOUNDED A WARNING "DING," AND THE DASH ILLUMINATED THE SERVICE LIGHT, THE STABILITRAK LIGHT, AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT, AND THE MESSAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DISPLAY SAID "SERVICE STABILITRAK MODULE." SEE ATTACHED IMAGE FOR WHAT WAS DISPLAYED. I PUT THE CAR INTO LOW AND MOVED IT INTO THE PARKING STRIP. IT WAS STILL INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO STOP. I POWER CYCLED THE CAR AND WITHIN 5 SECONDS OF STARTING UP THE SAME ERROR WAS DISPLAYED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NEARLY USELESS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CALL CHEVY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY HAD ME WAIT 90 MINUTES IN THE COLD WITH A CAR WITH NO HEAT FOR THE TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE. I WAS ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM WHERE I WOULD HAVE BEEN GETTING ON THE FREEWAY. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY THEN I AM CERTAIN THAT SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WOULD HAVE RESULTED. THE CAR IS NOW AT WENTWORTH CHEVY IN PORTLAND, OR. I HAVE HAD OTHER BRAKE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BEFORE. LAST YEAR THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WAS FAILING TO RELEASE ON ONLY ONE WHEEL, WHICH WOULD BECOME EVIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE CAR WOULD START SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND ONE REAR WHEEL WOULD GET VERY HOT. IT TOOK 3-4 VISITS FOR THE DEALER TO REPAIR IT, MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME THE FIRST FEW VISITS.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10938668
Incident
Dec 29, 2016
Mileage
12,790 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 20, 2016

THE BRAKES ON THE CAR STOPPED WORKING AT FULL POWER, IT TOOK 5X LONGER FOR THE CAR TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. TOOK TO DEALER, DID RECALL REPAIRS. SAME SYMPTOMS RETURNED AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN THE BRAKES START TO LOOSE FULL BRAKING POWER THERE ARE MANY WARNING LIGHTS THAT APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IS AGAIN ACKNOWLEDGE AT THE DEALER AWAITING DIAGNOSES. THE CAR IS UNDER FULL WARRANTY, IT HAS 26K MILES. I WAS GOING ABOUT 50MPH

NHTSA ID
10936384
Incident
Dec 16, 2016

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIT3271Q

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

PIP6104

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

PIP4902V

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIP4902U

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIT5214G

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support.

13598

New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Spark EV by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017001
2016142258.0
2015731
2014Viewing431

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.