Chevrolet Spark Ev

2014–2016

29 classified complaints 3 recalls 1184 service bulletins

NHTSA has 2 open investigations on this vehicle right now.

What will it actually cost to fix? Real per-job repair costs for this vehicle's most common issues, from national book labor rates and parts pricing. See costs →

Summary, based on the federal data below

Data Availability

Milemark has only 29 classified NHTSA complaints for the 2014–2016 Chevrolet Spark EV. This tiny sample makes statistical analysis unreliable. The Spark EV was a limited-production compliance vehicle sold primarily in California and Oregon, so low complaint volumes likely reflect scarcity rather than dependability. You cannot conclude this vehicle is reliable from our data—you simply cannot conclude much at all from 29 complaints.

What We Know From Recalls

Three recall campaigns exist, focused on airbag sensors, seat belt pretensioners, and hood latch issues. These are safety-critical systems and should be verified as completed on any Spark EV you consider.

Warranty Extensions and Technical Bulletins

An unusually high TSB count (1,184 bulletins) suggests GM documented numerous service procedures and potential issues. Two open NHTSA investigations are ongoing, indicating unresolved concerns under federal scrutiny.

Owner Watch-Outs

Half the complaints involve brake system electronics—ABS modules and brake boosters failing at low mileage (median 3,000–15,000 miles). These repairs typically cost $400-1,200. Whether this represents a pattern or coincidence is unclear given the sample size.

How to Research Further

Given limited data, invest in a pre-purchase inspection by an EV-savvy mechanic. Check Spark EV owner forums for real-world reliability discussions. Verify recall completion and review the vehicle's specific service history through a VIN report.

Trends

Complaint trends by era

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Click a window below to see complaint data scoped to just those years.

2014–2016

29 complaints · 8 recalls

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5-year windows, not manufacturer generations — this database doesn't have reliable platform/redesign data to draw real generation boundaries from. Recent model years show fewer complaints mainly because they have been on the road less time, not necessarily because they're more reliable — read this as complaint volume and mix by era, not a reliability trend.

What breaks, and when — 2014–2016 only

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29 classified complaints · 3 recalls for 2014–2016 specifically.

brakes — abs_module n=14

Median onset: 15,497 miles. 7.1% of these involved a crash, fire, or injury.

Typically $230–$1,260 to fix a brakes repair, nationally.

brakes — master_booster n=8

Median onset: 3,157 miles. 12.5% of these involved a crash, fire, or injury.

Tends to show up earlier than this model's other issues. · Typically $230–$1,260 to fix a brakes repair, nationally.

body_interior — airbags_restraints n=5

Median onset: 18,906 miles.

Tends to show up later than this model's other issues. · Typically $330–$620 to fix a body_interior repair, nationally.

body_interior — doors_windows_interior n=1

Median onset: 14,029 miles.

Typically $330–$620 to fix a body_interior repair, nationally.

transmission — trans_electronics n=1

Median onset: 11,500 miles.

Typically $200–$6,500 to fix a transmission repair, nationally.

From owner-filed complaints to NHTSA, not independently verified. Federal mileage reporting on recent complaints is sparse — see methodology. Cost ranges are national estimates from book labor hours and parts pricing, not this vehicle's actual repair history — they don't account for your location or shop type.

See the full repair-cost breakdown →

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — complaints, recalls, investigations, service bulletins. Methodology. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid this vehicle.