2018 Chevrolet Spark Owner Complaints

Complaint Summary
The 2018 Chevrolet Spark has 11 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve engine and fuel/propulsion system.
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 11 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
ENGINE
2 18.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 18.2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 18.2%
SERVICE BRAKES
2 18.2%
POWER TRAIN
2 18.2%
Quick Insights
The top category is ENGINE, accounting for 18.2% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 6 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
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What owners keep reporting on the 2018 Chevrolet Spark
The 2018 Chevrolet Spark has 11 owner complaints in this dataset. ENGINE is the most common complaint category, representing about 18% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2018 Chevrolet Spark are ENGINE (2), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (2).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 7 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2018 Chevrolet Spark?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 6 of 6 systems
ENGINE
2 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
THIS IS A PERIODIC OCCURANCE WHEN GOING STARTING AT 0MPH AT ANY POINT DURING A TRIP. NORMALLY THE ENGINE WILL REV SMOOTHLY BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GOING FROM A COMPLETE STOP TO GETTING TO AT LEAST 30MPH IT FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE IS JUST TAKING IN AIR AND IT JUST REVS UP AND THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL BUT DOESNT ACTUALLY ACCELLERATE PROPERLY AND THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF YOU HAVE TO MOVE SUDDENLY TO AVOID BEING HIT. I HAVE THE LT1 MODEL SPECIFICALLY.
9/11/2018
WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CAR CAN'T DECIDE IF IT WANTS TO MOVE OR NOT AND IT WILL JUST SIT AND REV AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AS I AM PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC
2/8/2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
THIS IS A PERIODIC OCCURANCE WHEN GOING STARTING AT 0MPH AT ANY POINT DURING A TRIP. NORMALLY THE ENGINE WILL REV SMOOTHLY BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GOING FROM A COMPLETE STOP TO GETTING TO AT LEAST 30MPH IT FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE IS JUST TAKING IN AIR AND IT JUST REVS UP AND THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL BUT DOESNT ACTUALLY ACCELLERATE PROPERLY AND THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF YOU HAVE TO MOVE SUDDENLY TO AVOID BEING HIT. I HAVE THE LT1 MODEL SPECIFICALLY.
9/11/2018
MY CHEVROLET SPARK CANNOT DECIDE WHAT GEAR IT WANTS TO BE IN, CAUSING DELAYS THAT ARE DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR TURNING ACROSS LINES OF TRAFFIC. FOR INSTANCE, I SLOW DOWN TO GET INTO THE CENTER TURNING LANE OF A 5-LANE STREET AND THEN WHEN CLEAR, I ACCELERATE TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT MAKES A SHORT STALL AS IT CAN'T DECIDE IF IT NEEDS TO GET INTO A HIGHER OR LOWER GEAR. IT CLEARLY TAKES A LONG TIME AND GOES UP AND DOWN WHICH PLACES ME UNCOMFORTABLY TOO CLOSE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. OTHER TIMES WHEN I PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC, THE SAME SCENARIO REPEATS. I WONDER IF IT SHIFTS INTO A TOO HIGH A GEAR TOO SOON THEN DOWN SHIFTS ONE GEAR AND THEN UPSHIFTS AS THE CAR STARTS TO ACCELERATE. SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHEN I SLOW TO ADJUST TO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THEN ACCELERATE AFTER SLOWING, THE CAR LAG/STALL HAPPENS AS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP AND DOWN THROUGH THE GEARS. THE CAR JUST CAN'T DECIDE WHAT IS THE BEST GEAR TO BE IN. I FEEL THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS. IT CERTAINLY MAKES ONE VERY UNEASY WHEN YOU PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND THEN THE CAR BARELY MOVES FOR A VERY CRITICAL SECOND OR TWO.
2/21/2019
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
MY CHEVROLET SPARK CANNOT DECIDE WHAT GEAR IT WANTS TO BE IN, CAUSING DELAYS THAT ARE DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR TURNING ACROSS LINES OF TRAFFIC. FOR INSTANCE, I SLOW DOWN TO GET INTO THE CENTER TURNING LANE OF A 5-LANE STREET AND THEN WHEN CLEAR, I ACCELERATE TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT MAKES A SHORT STALL AS IT CAN'T DECIDE IF IT NEEDS TO GET INTO A HIGHER OR LOWER GEAR. IT CLEARLY TAKES A LONG TIME AND GOES UP AND DOWN WHICH PLACES ME UNCOMFORTABLY TOO CLOSE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. OTHER TIMES WHEN I PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC, THE SAME SCENARIO REPEATS. I WONDER IF IT SHIFTS INTO A TOO HIGH A GEAR TOO SOON THEN DOWN SHIFTS ONE GEAR AND THEN UPSHIFTS AS THE CAR STARTS TO ACCELERATE. SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHEN I SLOW TO ADJUST TO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THEN ACCELERATE AFTER SLOWING, THE CAR LAG/STALL HAPPENS AS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP AND DOWN THROUGH THE GEARS. THE CAR JUST CAN'T DECIDE WHAT IS THE BEST GEAR TO BE IN. I FEEL THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS. IT CERTAINLY MAKES ONE VERY UNEASY WHEN YOU PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND THEN THE CAR BARELY MOVES FOR A VERY CRITICAL SECOND OR TWO.
2/21/2019
WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CAR CAN'T DECIDE IF IT WANTS TO MOVE OR NOT AND IT WILL JUST SIT AND REV AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AS I AM PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC
2/8/2020
SERVICE BRAKES
2 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN BRAKING, A THUMPING SOUND IS HEARD IN THE REAR DRUM BRAKES OF MY BRAND NEW CHEVY SPARK. I CANNOT DECIDE WHICH ONE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM, OR BOTH. IT WILL GO AWAY AFTER A WHILE. IT OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN I NEED TO BRAKE HARD, BUT NOT ALWAYS. AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY DAY. THE CAR IS NEW. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE VERY FIRST OIL CHANGE, I ASKED THEM TO LOOK INTO IT. THEY KEPT THE CAR 3 DAYS. THEY SAID THEY DROVE IT BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANY NOISE. TO MY SURPRISE, DURING THOSE THREE DAYS, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT PULL THE WHEEL AND LOOK INSIDE THE DRUM FOR A BROKEN SPRING, WARPING, DELAMINATION OR SOME OTHER COMPONENT DEFECT OR SYSTEM FAILURE. I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH DRUM BRAKES MAKING THIS SOUND.
2/21/2019
This is the third time while driving that my brakes have simply just gone out. Itâs usually on the freeway while at high speeds and Iâm nearly not able to stop. This is the third time in three years. No lights come on on the dashboard and no warnings happened at all the brakes just simply stopped working. It takes extreme pressure to try to stop and Iâm usually told that itâs some part of the vacuum.
9/1/2022
POWER TRAIN
2 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CAR CAN'T DECIDE IF IT WANTS TO MOVE OR NOT AND IT WILL JUST SIT AND REV AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AS I AM PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC
2/8/2020
AT A COMPLETE STOP.. IT SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT ACCELERATE
11/26/2020
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1 Report9% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The contact's husband owns a 2018 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that the brake booster failed while driving at various speeds on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer yearly for the brake booster repair since the initial failure; however, the most recent failure occurred within six months. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
4/6/2023
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Spark?
Are complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Spark a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2018 Chevrolet Spark?
Are complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Spark severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Chevrolet Spark: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 11
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
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