Chevrolet Spark Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Recent Safety Incidents — Last 5 Model Years
Own a Chevrolet Spark? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Chevrolet Spark — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022Best | Excellent | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2021 | Good | — | 9 | 3 | 5 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2020 | Good | — | 11 | 4 | 7 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2019 | Excellent | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2018 | Excellent | — | 11 | — | — | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Full report → |
| 2017 | Good | 1 | 20 | 6 | 8 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2016 | Good | 1 | 20 | — | — | — | Service Brakes | Full report → |
| 2015 | Caution | 3 | 68 | 6 | 7 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2014Worst | Avoid | 3 | 130 | 5 | 3 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2013 | Avoid | 3 | 116 | 13 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
10 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Chevrolet Spark Problems
Based on 392 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
Recent Owner Complaints
Direct reports filed with NHTSA by Chevrolet Spark owners — 2022–2022 model years.
The hood came up while driving
On 5-3-2025 I rolled my vehicle end over end at least 6 times at a high speed. One of my vehicle safty options was "Advanced SRS airbags" During the crash my vehicles side airbags deployed but my drivers steering wheel air bag did not. As a result of them not deploying I smashed my face into the steering wheel and windshield. I suffered a shattered nose, broken jaw, broken hand and a concussion. It was my fault I crashed my car but if my airbags had gone off I feel like my injuries would be far less severe if not non existent. I would have less medical bills and would still be able to work. My vehicle had no warning lights or indicators that the airbags needed service. My insurance company did make not of the airbags failure to deploy and are doing a thorough investigation of them
Windshield wipers and stability control and other electrical problems occurred while driving thru the rain.
3 total complaints retrieved from NHTSA for 2022–2022. For older model years, see individual year pages.
Spark Years to Avoid
Best Spark Years to Buy
Chevrolet Spark Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Chevrolet Spark Reliability
What year Spark has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2014 Chevrolet Spark had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 130 complaints and 3 safety recalls. See the full 2014 report for specific defects.
Is the Chevrolet Spark reliable?
The Chevrolet Spark has accumulated 392 owner-filed complaints and 12 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2022 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Spark.
What are the most common Spark problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Power Train (65 reports), Electrical System (58 reports), Engine (57 reports), Air Bags (30 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my Spark has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Chevrolet Spark VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Chevrolet Spark VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily