2015 Chevrolet Spark problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (22) · Engine (8) · Vehicle Speed Control (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Spark model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
39 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch 2022-08-25 · campaign 22V640000 · 120,688 vehicles
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.
Risk: A hood latch failure can result in the vehicle's hood opening unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:software 2016-06-10 · campaign 16V422000 · 18,780 vehicles
Defect: 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 fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protect
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.
Electrical System:software 2016-04-28 · campaign 16V257000 · 317,572 vehicles
Defect: 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 driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.
Equipment:electrical:radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. 2015-06-30 · campaign 15V416000 · 45,785 vehicles
Defect: 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 the base radio and OnStar, the radio may lock up due to a software issue, causing the display to go blank and all audio functions to cease. Because of this, there may be no warning chimes such as the reminder to buckle the seat belt and the
Risk: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft. If a driver or front passenger does not buckle their seat belt, there would be no chime to remind them to fasten their seat belts. If a driver or passenger does not buckle their seat belt there is an increased risk that they will be injured in a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15504.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch 2014-09-24 · campaign 14V593000 · 89,294 vehicles
Defect: 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, preventing it from properly engaging the hood latch.
Risk: If the secondary hood latch corrodes causing the latch to be stuck out of position, and the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the striker with a new part which has superior corrosion protection, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14456.
Service bulletins (1,284)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-21 · PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pi to help diagnose a/c concern
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,284 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-16 · Power Train“this vehicle was serviced 3 different times. the first being a complete new transmission (so they said) being put in. a few days later same thing like it was running in limp mode. 2 nd trip back to a gm dealership(same one) set for weeks. called said it was fixed. said the battery was dead. charged me for a new battery. same thing git home started …”
2026-03-17 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System · 59,392 mi“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 mete…”
2026-01-12 · Vehicle Speed Control“incident summary in february 2025, while driving on the freeway, my vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of power. the battery rapidly depleted without warning, causing the vehicle to decelerate dangerously in moving traffic. a stabilitrak warning appeared on the display. i was fortunate to reach the shoulder safely, but this failure crea…”
2025-11-22 · Power Train“vehicle: 2015 chevrolet spark, odometer <79,000 miles component that failed: continuously variable transmission (cvt) – pulley damage causing complete loss of propulsion.what happened: while driving, the vehicle suddenly lost all motive power with no ability to accelerate. the transmission would not engage in any gear and the car became inoperable …”
2025-11-19 · Engine“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—consiste…”
2025-10-23 · Engine“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 whi…”
2025-10-22 · Power Train“my 2015 chevy spark has had repeated transmission failures related to gm special coverage n192271110. the first failure happened in may 2024, i was driving on 1-25 when the transmission went out and i lost all speed and my car was in the shop for five months before i finally got it back in october 2024. unfortunately, on october 5, 2025, the transm…”
2025-08-08 · Equipment · 129,173 mi“the contact owns a 2015 chevrolet spark. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v257000 (equipment, electrical systems). the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the radio software needed to be updated. the dealer informed the contact that to complete the software upgrade, the dealer had to repro…”
2025-07-02 · Engine“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…”
2025-03-23 · Structure:body“ever since i bought the vehicle in 2021, i have had problems with the car jerking and air conditioning problems, mostly during the colder months. i took the car in multiple times on different occasions throughout the years. they would "fix" the problems with the transmission, then a month or two down the line the issues would come back. this last t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.