RoadVitals

2015 Chevrolet Spark Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
12
Latest Mar 17, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 76 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Chevrolet Spark submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Spark. The vehicle was purchased from a private seller. The contact became nauseated after driving the vehicle for the second time. The contact’s throat, chest, and eyes hurt, and his head was pulsating; the contact was unable to think clearly. No medical attention was received. The contact used an air quality meter to test the inside of the vehicle, which showed "Seriously bad air quality,” but there was no odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle had not been driven since experiencing the symptoms. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,392.

NHTSA ID
11724999
Incident
Feb 18, 2026
Mileage
59,392 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 19, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID
11700241
Incident
Oct 5, 2025
Engine
Filed Oct 23, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID
11695334
Incident
Sep 26, 2025
Engine
Filed Jul 2, 2025
1 injury reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11670713
Incident
Mar 3, 2025
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jun 19, 2024

Without warning, vehicle loses power and ability to accelerate is greatly reduced. The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (aka "check engine light"), the Reduced Engine Power light, and the Traction Control System/Stabilitrak light all illuminate at the same time and are not flashing. Using a diagnostic tool from a local auto parts store, code P2138 is reported as follows: Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor Switch 'D/E' Voltage Correlation, and Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) Sensors 1-2 Not Plausible. Incident has occured multiple times since owning the vehicle (approx. 13 months). This creates a safety issue because the poor acceleration limits the vehicles ability to maintain speed, especially on highways at higher speeds and ascending hills.

NHTSA ID
11595386
Incident
Jun 19, 2024
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 20, 2024

The transmission has gone bad and the car has low mileage. I took it to a chevy dealership and they couldn't find the problem now it is completely broken and I can't drive it. I was told there is a recall on the 2015 chevy spark transmission.

NHTSA ID
11566704
Incident
Jan 1, 2024
Engine
Filed Jul 16, 2022

Transmission slipping since day 1 of purchase of vehicle in 2015. Dealership has stated more than 7 times that nothing is wrong with the vehicle. Vehicle sometimes shuts off, stutters once gas is pressed 95% of the time (from a complete stop). Vehicle transmission slipping is becoming more apparent 2022.

NHTSA ID
11474271
Incident
Apr 16, 2015
Engine
Filed Apr 10, 2020

COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS A LEAK AT THE RETURN HOSE, THE TANK ITSELF SEEMS TO HAVE A WEAK SPOT ON THE INLET, I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY CHEVY. NOTICE COOLANT GETTING LOW, ADDED COOLANT NEXT DAY IT WAS STILL LOW THEN NOTICED A LEAK WHILE RUNNING

NHTSA ID
11320732
Incident
Apr 9, 2020
Engine
Filed Feb 11, 2019

ON 2/11/19 MY CAR STALLED,( SHUT OFF )WHILE MAKING A TURN AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES . ( MILEAGE 35,582) I TOOK MY CAR TO CHEVROLET ON 3/22/18 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.(MILEAGE 22,517) MY CAR HAD STALLED (SHUT OFF) AT A LIGHT AND NO LIGHTS HAD COME ON THE DASH INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECH NO PROBLEM FOUND.

NHTSA ID
11176377
Incident
Feb 11, 2019
Mileage
35,582 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 24, 2017

THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, STABILITY LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IT IS HAVING RANDOM MISFIRES. THE DEALERSHIP IS WANTING ME TO PAY AROUND $350 TO HAVE THE CARBON CLEANED OUT BUT THEY CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT WILL FIX IT. THEY SAID MY WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT. THEN I ASKED IF I GO THAT ROUTE AND IT DOESN'T FIX IT, WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS. THEY SAID TO TAKE THE ENGINE OUT AND CLEAN IT BY HAND, ROUGHLY $1000, AND THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER THAT EITHER. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR RESPONSE AND AFTER READING PAGES AND PAGES OF THE SAME ISSUE IN FORUMS AND NO ONE MENTIONING THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH THESE STEPS HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE IT IS ONLY PUTTING A BANDAID ON THE ISSUE. I DIDN'T BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY JUST TO HAVE TO DOLE OUT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS.

NHTSA ID
11036060
Incident
Oct 18, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 2016

ENGINE LOSES SAFE ACCELERATION WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON, REACHES UNSAFE STALL CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID
10929838
Incident
May 1, 2015
Mileage
7,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 4, 2016

AIR CONDITIONING NOT IN COMPLIANCE AND RUNS UP TO 20 DEGREES HOTTER THAN OTHER CARS AND COULD CAUSE HEALTH ISSUES TO DRIVERS IN HOT CLIMATE. DOES NOT COOL CAR EVEN IN OPTIMUM HIGHWAY DRIVING. ENGINE LOSES SAFE ACCELERATION WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON, REACHES UNSAFE STALL CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10929836
Incident
May 1, 2015
Mileage
7,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .