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3.9

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,886 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Chevrolet Spark drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2013 Chevrolet Spark Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #33

Feb 072021

Spark

  • 165,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle gets code P0700 tranny goes to limp mode wont move or shift until car is restarted does this a few times a week

- Shasta Lake, CA, USA

problem #32

Sep 222020

Spark

  • 77,870 miles
While driving our 2010 Chevrolet Spark, the clutch pedal snapped off, while the car was in motion.

- Wilmette, IL, USA

problem #31

May 292020

Spark 4-cyl

  • miles
When coming out of a stop (red light, stop sign, etc.,) the car will not accelerate. I have to pull off to side and shut the car off, wait a minute, and start it again. Only then will it drive. It does not do this all the time. However, when it does, it does it multiple times in a short time frame. It has done this occasionally since I got the car in 2017. My sister also owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark and hers does this as well.

- Ellwood City, PA, USA

problem #30

Nov 222019

Spark

  • 99,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

For the second time in a couple months, while turning left across traffic the vehicle lost the ability to accelerate. I was able to get off the road and cut the car off and restarted it and the problem went away. I have researched the subject online and it appears a lot of people have a similar issue with this vehicle and no one seems to know a solution. After the first time it happened we took the vehicle to the dealer and they could not find an issue.

- Kannapolis, NC, USA

problem #29

Apr 292019

Spark

  • 79,500 miles
After start up the engine light is flashing and the traction control light is on. This is followed by a clunk. After a min or so has passed the lights go away. If you go in reverse after this has occurred, switching the gears, there will be a clunk. As you change the gears to drive the car will no go more than a certain mile per hour. Around 20.

- Newnan, GA, USA

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problem #28

Jul 122017

Spark

  • 96,000 miles
Transmission would not go into reverse and in drive stalled unsafe to drive 140,000 miles had to change transmission all freeway miles unsafe. If going from a stop give it gas and transmission would all of sudden just go and would almost hit car in front of you.

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #27

Sep 012017

Spark

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Spark. While driving at 30 mph, the contact noticed that when stopped at a traffic light and started to accelerate the vehicle began to make a loud high pitch sound. The contact stated that the vehicle would not allow the speed to go past 20 mph. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the technician informed the contact the failure was the transmission and suggested that the vehicle be taken to the dealer. The manufacturer had not been contacted and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,000.

- Sylmar, CA, USA

problem #26

Jun 012017

Spark

  • 55,000 miles
Car will start to jerk when accelerating and loose power and not shift. Engine light flashes and sometimes traction control light stays on as well during this. If you shut off engine wait for few minutes then start it's ok. Happens when ever. Just happened yesterday and today.

- Hamilton, IN, USA

problem #25

Jan 202017

Spark

  • miles
Takata recall engine idles high traction control light comes on check engine light flashes does not shift

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #24

Jul 112016

Spark

  • 25 miles
Car would not accelerate beyond 30 mph in a 50 mph zone.... I had to turn my hazards on and was scared to drive it any further. There was no warning signs or indications of any issues prior. Completely out of the blue! googled recalls and there is one on defective transmission for this make model year but not on my VIN...... did they miss me?

- Imperial, MO, USA

problem #23

Apr 122016

Spark

  • 21,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On two occasions there has been a sudden loss of acceleration. This happened after making a stop at a stop sign/traffic light at a main highway intersection. The RPM's went up but there was no acceleration at all (I was just barely coasting maybe 3 mph)! once I was at a safe place to pull off the road, I put the car in park, turned the car off and back on and the acceleration was fine. This almost caused an accident each time. The dealership said, because there were no codes given when they checked the vehicle and no service bulletins posted, there was nothing they could do. This is a very dangerous malfunction and I hope that someone takes the initiative to investigate the issue before a serious accident happens!

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #22

Mar 162016

Spark

  • 36,000 miles
Under emergency braking from 45mph the gear shifter slit forward to neutral without operator input.

- South Lyon, MI, USA

problem #21

Mar 212015

Spark

  • 36,000 miles
After accelerating from a light at 5mph the gear indicator disappeared and the transmission stuck in 2nd gear verified by revs vs. Vehicle speed. Resulted in very slow acceleration and high revs. Cycling the gear shifter did not resolve issue. Would not even shift to neutral. Issue not resolved until cycling ignition. No check engine light, no indicator lamps. No gear selection indicator on display.

- South Lyon, MI, USA

problem #20

Jan 052016

Spark

  • 35,450 miles
While driving on the freeway my car suddenly lost all acceleration power. It ran 5K rpms to go 55 mph and the traction control light was on and the engine malfunction light was blinking. This has been an ongoing problem for a week and the dealership cannot figure out how to fix it. Sometimes the lights stay on and sometimes they go off even though I continue to have loss of acceleration and ridiculously high rpms to travel 35-55mph.

- Troy, MI, USA

problem #19

Jan 122015

Spark

  • 21,000 miles
Started car, drove to work at varying speeds. Engine revved high during entire 30 minute drive. Parked, engine off for 8 hours. When I came out to go home, car was running fine. I haven't had another episode since.

- Broadview Heights, OH, USA

problem #18

Mar 032014

Spark

  • 10,000 miles
Vehicle won't shift out of first gear. Not only is this very dangerous, but it is ruining the engine and transmission of the vehicle. This occurs about once a month at random times, and could very easily cause an accident. The dealer won't do anything to fix the problem, and has been very rude to my wife. I have been a lifelong Chevy guy, but I think I'm finally done. A Toyota or Honda is sounding really good right now!

- Mason, MI, USA

problem #17

Feb 042015

Spark 4-cyl

  • 11,500 miles
May have been happening before above date but did not realize it....on dashboard there is no indication of which gear I am in(ie P D N R) and car has no pickup even when peddle to floor...when it does start moving it is very, very, very slow....noticed this several times and when it went in for hood latch recall asked them to check....of course they could not duplicate(recall was not done as to lack of parts) still was occurring occasionally.....went back again for recall latch work(done this time 3-11-15) when leaving check engine light was on...was told it was safe to drive, but I showed them the dashboard was not indicating gear...left it with them they R&R park neutral switch which they stated was filled with water.....this was very dangerous to me, at first I could either turn car off and restart to see indicator on dash or run thru the gears, but right before engine light came on I could do none of this/have read about this numerous times on a site call carcomplaints.com.......thank you

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #16

Feb 142015

Spark 4-cyl

  • 34,500 miles
On 02-09-15 the vehicle was purchase with the current warranty & an extended warranty. The vehicle had low mileage at purchase date. Prior to the purchase we reviewed the vehicle history report and mentioned only a hood latch repair and did not mention 09-04-14 a recall repair on the PCV valve #4 Spark, replacement and reprogramming. As we started off on our trip the dash was reading 39 mpg, that was great! further into the trip before getting on the highway the tire pressure light came on. We check the tires they were fine. Thinking it may have been the cold weather per the manual. We continued on to our trip. On the way back home the mpg was at 34 and then all of a sudden the car went in to low gear on the highway! the traction control came on, check engine light came on and a number of other lights came on. We had to ride the shoulder until we got to an exit and drove into a gas station. Calling road side assistance for a tow. The vehicle did not have a enough power to drive onto the tow truck. It was later discovered at the car dealer (not the one we purchased from) the repairs that were done on the vehicle and not disclosed to us when purchasing the vehicle. The defect was burning excessive oil. The recall repair on the PCV had other manufacture defects. It's been 10 days and the car has not been repaired. I had contacted GM and asked what was done to correct the issue I currently have and the previous owner had. They were very professional and told me they will create a service request file and to call them when a diagnostics is completed, in short they did not answer my question. They already had record of the first repair on the PCV recall. The dealer where the car is located told us the pistons have to be replaced and don't know when it will be done. A loaner was given so we could get back home 200+ miles. Our first payment is due & no car.

- Leesburg, FL, USA

problem #15

Nov 152014

Spark

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Spark. While driving at approximately 5 mph and shifting into first gear, the vehicle started to shutter and attempted to stall. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #14

Sep 012014

Spark

  • 32,000 miles
TL-the contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate over 50 mph. The vehicle was restarted and resumed to normal function. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000. Djr

- Richmond , VA, USA

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