Chevrolet Spark EV: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Chevrolet Spark EV: 3 model years scored from 285 NHTSA owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns. Worst year 2014, best year 2016.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2016 (score 88). Worst: 2014 (score 56, CAUTION).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 88 | BUY | $2,518 | 41 | 2 |
| 2015 | 80 | BUY | $2,710 | 76 | 3 |
| 2014 | 56 | CAUTION | $2,986 | 168 | 3 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the Spark EV, through the years →
Spark EV sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Chevrolet Spark EV
Across every Spark EV model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Power Train71 complaints across all Spark EV years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Engine57 complaints across all Spark EV years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System49 complaints across all Spark EV years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Service Brakes29 complaints across all Spark EV years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
- Vehicle Speed Control28 complaints across all Spark EV years · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement$520–$1,150
- Unknown Or Other27 complaints across all Spark EV years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Spark EV?
On our data the 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV scores 88/100 — the highest of the 3 model years we hold, with 41 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record.
Which Chevrolet Spark EV years should I avoid?
The 2014 is the weakest year we score, at 56/100 (CAUTION), on 168 complaints and 3 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Chevrolet Spark EV problem?
71 of the complaints filed against the Spark EV across all its model years sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04