Chevrolet Spark reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 502 complaints about the Chevrolet Spark with NHTSA since 2013, most often about transmission and drivetrain and engine. Chevrolet has filed 2 warranty extensions and 11 service campaigns for it, and there are 9 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Chevrolet Spark? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Spark a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2013 on.
- Owner complaints
- 502
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 2
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Service campaigns
- 11
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Safety recalls
- 9
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Spark with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | Exterior lights (33%) | 0 | 4 |
| 2021 | 6 | Airbags (33%) | 0 | 4 |
| 2020 | 19 | Airbags (37%) | 0 | 4 |
| 2019 | 14 | Airbags (50%) | 1 | 4 |
| 2018 | 9 | Engine (33%) | 0 | 4 |
| 2017 | 29 | Transmission and drivetrain (31%) | 1 | 3 |
| 2016 | 28 | Brakes (36%) | 1 | 2 |
| 2015 | 76 | Transmission and drivetrain (33%) | 5 | 7 |
| 2014 | 172 | Engine (30%) | 6 | 7 |
| 2013 | 146 | Engine (24%) | 5 | 3 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Spark model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Chevrolet
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Chevrolet filed with NHTSA for the Spark, in its own words. A warranty extension means Chevrolet pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionMay 2024· Body and structure· model years 2017–2022
This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
- Warranty extensionJan 2020· Airbags· model years 2014–2015
Special Coverage - On certain vehicles the transmission drive pulleys and internal belt can be damaged if the driver experiences an unexpected harsh shift event.
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2022
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2022
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2013–2022
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles.
- Service campaignMar 2018· Brakes· model years 2017
17455 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles, equipped with a manual transmission (RPO MR7), may experience electronic stability control (ESC) brake activation under certain conditions while being dinghy towed.
- Service campaignSep 2017· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2014
17346 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles, may have incorrect transmission fluid specified in the owner?s manual. Print and insert revised owner manual page included in this bulletin.
- Service campaignJun 2017· Electrical system· model years 2015
15086A - Customer Satisfaction Program. On certain passenger cars and light duty trucks, equipped with Gen 10 OnStar®, the embedded phone flash memory chip may become corrupted, causing the OnStar® system to become inoperative.
- Service campaignMar 2016· Electrical system· model years 2013–2016
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignJan 2016· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2014–2015
20710 - customer satisfaction program. Vehicles equipped with a continuously variable ratio automatic transmission (CVT) (rpo M4M), may have a condition in which the drive pulley and belt could be damaged if they experience an unexpected harsh shift event.
- Service campaignAug 2015· Electrical system· model years 2013–2015
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignApr 2015· Electrical system· model years 2015
14395A - customer satisfaction program (revised labor time). On some 2015 Model year buick encore, lacrosse, regal, and verano; cadillac ats, cts, elr, escalade, srx and xts; chevrolet colorado, corvette, cruze, equinox, impala, malibu, silverado, sonic, spark, ss, suburban,…
- Service campaignFeb 2015· Electrical system· model years 2014
14419 - customer satisfaction program. Certain 2014 Model year chevrolet spark model vehicles may have a condition where the rear window defogger may not function as efficiently as possible.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Spark model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Transmission and drivetrain123 (25%)
- Engine112 (22%)
- Electrical system100 (20%)
- Other or unspecified56 (11%)
- Airbags56 (11%)
- Cruise control and speed control50 (10%)
- Fuel and propulsion37 (7%)
- Brakes32 (6%)
Safety recalls
9 recalls cover at least one Spark model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The secondary hood latch may corrode at the latch pivot, preventing the hood latch from properly engaging.
The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
In the event of a crash, if a young child is seated improperly and not wearing a seat belt while in the front passenger seat, deployment of the front passenger air bag may injure the occupant's neck.
The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition.
The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door.
In the affected vehicles, equipped with the base radio and OnStar, the radio may lock up due to a software issue, causing the display to go blank and all audio functions to cease.
The secondary hood latch may prematurely corrode at the latch pivot causing the striker to get stuck out of position, preventing it from properly engaging the hood latch.
In the affected vehicles, the left and right lower control arm attaching bolts in the front suspension may not be tightened to specification.
In the affected vehicles, an improper weld on the passenger side front air bag inflator may result in the air bag not deploying.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- EA21002Engineering analysis· opened Sep 2021, still open· Airbags· model years 2016
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
NHTSA's own page for the 2022 Chevrolet Spark has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Chevrolet Spark reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2013 on: 502 owner complaints, 2 warranty extensions and 11 service campaigns Chevrolet filed, and 9 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2014 (172), 2013 (146), 2015 (76). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Spark?
Across every model year since 2013, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name transmission and drivetrain (25%), engine (22%), electrical system (20%). Chevrolet has filed 2 warranty extensions covering the Spark, listed on this page.
Which Spark model years have the most complaints?
2014 (172), 2013 (146), 2015 (76). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Spark with each other rather than with other models.
Has Chevrolet extended the warranty on the Spark?
Yes: body and structure (model years 2017–2022); airbags (model years 2014–2015). A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Spark?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 9 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.