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7.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
26,750 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. reprogrammed brake sensor (1 reports)
  3. turn off engine (1 reports)
2013 Chevrolet Spark transmission problems

transmission problem

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2013 Chevrolet Spark Owner Comments

problem #7

Jan 082021

Spark LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

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

Well, let's see...the 2013 Spark. Cute car, but it ends there. Bought for daughter brand new. It has really never functioned right. Needed a new engine at just a little over 13,000 miles. Daughter was driving, and engine block blew apart. Since then, just issue after issue.

This current one has been ongoing now, for some time. No codes are pulled at all, yet like many complain about this car/year, you push the gas to go, and it just doesn't go above 20-30 mph. When you do even push it to go more, it sounds as if it's about to explode. This doesn't happen EVERY time you drive it, but it happens without notice and is highly dangerous. If you go to pull out from a parking lot, exit, light, etc...and it decides to do it, then you run the risk of getting rear ended. Can't tell you how many times we've gotten honked at and given some "nice" hand signals by other drivers.

My main concern is the safety of my daughter. When you take it to Chevy, they tell you there's no codes pull, and of course you get the "it doesn't do that when we drive it". Took it to local mechanic that specializes in Chevys. They said it was crankshaft sensor, however that was replaced since, and problem continues. This is clearly a transmission issue, and seems that Chevy is well aware of it. It should be a recall, but isn't. These cars are faulty... at the least, this year of Spark anyway.

- crhryan41330, Palm Coast, US

problem #6

Oct 232017

Spark

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles

It wouldn't shift gears. Started my car up, engine light came on and slippery when wet light came on. The car jerked when I put it in gear. I live on a dirt road and can only drive about 5-10 miles an hour. When I got out to the freeway I noticed it wasn't shifting and rpms stayed high so I stopped and turned the engine off for a few min. Then started it back up and it was ok.

- Betty W., Banner, US

problem #5

Aug 122016

Spark LT 1.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,400 miles

My Spark started to not shift properly in Aug. Parked it at home then later came back restarted. Took for a drive and it was perfectly fine. It did it again in Dec. Had to pull into a parking lot, shut off engine, opened both front doors, restarted engine and pulled back into traffic and it was back to normal.

- darvin, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, US

problem #4

Nov 072014

Spark LT 1.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,101 miles

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

Going 70 miles on the freeway and the Spark began to down shift on its own and keeping the RPM at 4000 and above. I had to brake and get off the freeway going 30 MPH. Drove on the frontage road for 3 miles going 30 MPH at 3000 RPM until I reached the dealer. They had to reprogram the brake sensor and the traction sensor computer. They also replaced spark plug #4 because it had excessive carbon build up. I think the piston and O rings are bad now. ONLY 16,111 miles on this car and it left me 160 miles away from home on a Friday PM. I'm upset.

- Richard G., Corpus Christi, TX, US

problem #3

Mar 132014

Spark LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,400 miles

I bought my car new in June of 2013 from Chevy. I then noticed in December that it would hesitate a bit when taking off. I didn't make much of it. But in March of 2014 I was sick so I didn't drive it for a day. It was cold so I let it warm up then proceeded to leave for work. As I pulled out it was ok. When I turned to go out of the complex it would not go over 20 miles and the RPM rev'ed up to 4000 and kept making a loud grinding noise. I then pulled over and said maybe it was still cold but then proceeded to pull off and it did it again. So I called Chevy dealer. It took them a day but they said that the "Ignition Coil" had burned out. They replaced it.

As of Today, I was coming off the ramp & I noticed that as I was trying to pick up speed it hestitated again and I was then at a stop light. I pulled off and it rev'ed up to 3000 RPM at 0 miles then I stopped again and pulled off and it was ok. I called Chevy.

I will be going to Chevy on Monday morning & will post the outcome on Tuesday, April 1, 2014

- Ms G., Indy, IN, US

problem #2

Dec 212012

Spark

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

We were so excited when we bought our Chevy Spark for great price with great gas mileage, but within the first week, we started noticing a clunking sound in between second and third gear, but it has never been an every time issue. Unfortunately, when we took it to the dealer, they said the new cars have to learn each driver and with two drivers (husband and wife), it is more used to one driver than the other. Problem never taken care of because they never found the problem even though it continues to do it.

- colds0991, Knoxville, TN, US

problem #1

Nov 272013

Spark

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,000 miles

My husband and I noticed problems with the transmission from the beginning, but no dealer will seriously look into expensive areas of the vehicle when they are not extremely pertinent to them. It started with a clunking sound between second and third gear, and then it seemed to not change gears properly going up hill (no power and high RPM until it finally changes. Now, today, my husband is on his way to work and it is at 6000 RPM and not changing gears! It stays at 4-5 thousand RPM even when he is going 30mph on a road without any incline. It is definitely going back to the shop and they need to actually take a serious look at this vehicle.

- colds0991, Knoxville, TN, US

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