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May 9, 2026 — If you're shopping for a used Chevrolet Spark, owner complaints and recalled service bulletins point to three model years you should probably skip. The 2013, 2014, and 2015 gas-powered Sparks generated the most serious repair stories: engines that burned oil too early, CVTs that failed before 100,000 miles, and safety recalls that lingered for years. Later model years were much quieter, which is why these early ones still stand out in forums, complaint databases, and GM's own internal coverage programs.
The Spark was never a flashy car. It was sold in the U.S. from 2013 through 2022 as one of the smallest, cheapest new vehicles on the market, aimed at students, city commuters, and anyone who needed a car that could squeeze into tight parking spots. It offered a surprisingly roomy cabin for its footprint, decent tech for the price, and low running costs when things went right. But for the first three model years, too many things went wrong for too many owners.
The 2013 Spark is the one that built a reputation for oil consumption. The 1.2-liter engine was prone to premature PCV valve wear, which meant oil could start burning far earlier than normal. Owners noticed the problem when warning lights came on, spark plugs fouled, or misfires started. In the worst cases, the oil level dropped low enough to cause internal engine damage, and the fix was a replacement rather than a simple repair.
On a budget car like the Spark, an engine replacement is a financial disaster. The car's resale value was already low, so a repair bill could quickly exceed what the vehicle was worth. GM did issue a recall — Repair 14110 — to address the PCV/valve cover issue on both 2013 and 2014 models with the 1.2-liter engine. But the recall generally prevented future wear; it didn't pay for engines that had already been damaged by the problem.
This is also the model year that carried a serious hood latch safety recall. Corrosion could stop the secondary latch from working as intended, and in rare cases, the hood could fly open while driving. The first fix was released years ago, but the same issue was reissued in 2022 because the original repair wasn't enough to fully solve the problem. That meant 2013 owners had to deal with two separate stints of this recall drama.
CarComplaints.com still ranks the 2013 Spark as the worst year overall, with the majority of complaints tied to oil consumption. The pattern is consistent: owners reported burning a quart of oil every few thousand miles, rough idling, and the need for frequent top-offs between oil changes. Some owners said the car stalled in traffic when the issue got bad enough.
If the 2013 Spark's problem was the engine, the next two model years made their mark with the transmission. Chevrolet switched the Spark from a conventional four-speed automatic to a CVT7 automatic at that time, supposedly to improve fuel economy and smoother driving. In practice, the early CVT had a lot of problems.
Owners reported bucking under light acceleration, whining noises, slipping under load, and, in many cases, complete transmission failure before the odometer hit 100,000 miles. It wasn't just a handful of unlucky cars. GM eventually acknowledged the issue with Special Coverage N192271110, extending the warranty on 2014-2015 Spark CVTs to 10 years or 120,000 miles.
The GM bulletin explained that harsh shifting events could damage internal pulleys and the drive belt inside the CVT. That sent metal debris into the transmission fluid, causing rapid wear and eventual failure. Once the contamination started, the transmission usually didn't last long. For owners, the replacement was a big problem: a new CVT can cost thousands of dollars, often more than the car's trade-in value.
Some owners on the r/chevyspark subreddit reported going through two transmission replacements in a single car before reaching 100,000 miles. One owner described the second failure as even more frustrating because the car had already been "fixed" once. That's the kind of track record that makes a budget car feel not so budget-friendly in the long run.
The 2014 and 2015 models also shared the hood latch recall issue with the 2013. In addition, some 2014 Sparks were recalled for improperly torqued control-arm bolts, a suspension defect that could cause the front suspension to separate and lead to a loss of steering. That’s the kind of issue that escalates from annoying to dangerous quickly.
After the rough start, the Spark settled down. From 2016 onward, the car was still small, still cheap, and still not thrilling, but owner complaint volume dropped noticeably. The oil-burning issue became less common after GM revised the PCV/valve cover design, and the CVT in later years was refined enough to avoid the widespread early failures of the 2014-2015 models.
That doesn't mean every later Spark is trouble-free. Any low-cost car that's now several years old will have maintenance needs. But if you're comparing used Sparks, the odds of finding an expensive engine or transmission problem are much lower when you look at 2016 and newer examples. For many budget buyers, that difference in reliability outweighs the slightly higher purchase price.
One thing to keep in mind: the 2014 Spark EV is a separate story. It was sold in limited numbers, mostly in California and Oregon, and it used an entirely different electric drivetrain. It didn't have the oil-burning 1.2-liter engine or the CVT7 transmission, so it should not be lumped in with the gas-powered 2014 model. This article is about the conventional Spark models that dominate used listings.
If a low price is the main reason you're looking at a Spark, the best move is to avoid 2013-2015 gas models entirely. There are enough later-model-year cars still available that there is no need to take the risk. If you do look at a 2016 or newer Spark, take a few basic steps:
Another angle to consider is the manual transmission. If you're comfortable with a stick shift, a manual Spark sidesteps the CVT problem altogether. Just remember that the early manual cars still had the same engine issues as other 2013 models, so the 2016-2022 manual versions are the safer pick.
The used market in 2026 is full of tempting sub-$5,000 Sparks. That initial price is hard to beat, especially for a first car. But the repair history of the 2013-2015 models is a reminder that the cheapest car is not always the most affordable car. A single CVT replacement or engine rebuild can wipe out any upfront savings and leave the owner with a car that's still not dependable.
The fact that GM quietly extended the warranty on only the 2014-2015 CVTs says a lot. It's an admission that the early production run had a known weakness. With the Spark no longer in Chevrolet's lineup, there's no new warranty from the dealer beyond the original terms, and the extended coverage has already expired for many vehicles. In other words, any future repair is on the owner.
Owners have been warning about the same three model years for a decade now. That's not a coincidence. The 2013, 2014, and 2015 Chevy Spark are the ones to avoid if you want a small, cheap car without the risk of a repair bill that dwarfs the car's value. The later years offer a much better chance of trouble-free ownership, and for most buyers, that small price difference is worth every penny.
