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2013 Chevrolet Spark

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Spark years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Spark are substantially higher than the model-year median of 23.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

112 reports with mileage · 34 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

2 reports
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65,500 miles · Dec 21, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY CAR, WHILE DRIVING, STARTED ACTING UP. MY ODOMETER WOULD FLUCTUATE AND NOT GIVE ME MY SPEED, MY LOWER TIRE PRESSURE CAME ON, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING WOULD GO IN AND OUT, AND ACCELERATION WOULD FLUCTUATE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT, AFTER 3 DAYS OF HEARING NOTHING I CALLED AND THEY …

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ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY CAR, WHILE DRIVING, STARTED ACTING UP. MY ODOMETER WOULD FLUCTUATE AND NOT GIVE ME MY SPEED, MY LOWER TIRE PRESSURE CAME ON, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING WOULD GO IN AND OUT, AND ACCELERATION WOULD FLUCTUATE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT, AFTER 3 DAYS OF HEARING NOTHING I CALLED AND THEY TOLD ME SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ONSTAR MODULE. AFTER 4 DAYS OF HAVING MY CAR BACK, SAME PROBLEMS. BROUGHT IT BACK IN, THEY CALLED AN ENGINEER IN SINCE THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON AND A WEEK LATER I GOT MY CAR BACK. 4 DAYS LATER I AGAIN HAD TO BRING IT IN FOR THE SAME STUFF AND AFTER 9 DAYS OF PLAYING PHONE TAG THEN GAVE IT BACK. I HAVE HAD MY CAR BACK FOR 2 WEEKS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, TODAY WHILE 35 MILES AWAY FROM HOME EVERY SINGLE LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASH BOARD. MY ODOMETER DIDNT WORK AT ALL AND I COULD ONLY GO 30 MILES PER HOUR. I STOPPED MY CAR, SHUT IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND NOTHING CHANGED. THE NEWEST ORDEAL IS MY BREAK LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND BEEP AT ME ANYWHERE FROM 3 SECONDS TO 5 MINUTES. WITH IT BEING THE HOLIDAYS AND HAVING TO WORK ALL WEEK I SEE NO POINT IN BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR NOTHING TO BE FIXED FOR A 4TH TIME AND BEING WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE I'M ONLY 20 FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG WHEN I HAVE A JOB TO GET TO THAT'S ONLY 5 MINUTES AWAY. I'M AM SO BEYOND IRRITATED AND WANT TO THROW THIS CAR INTO A TRASH CAN.

NHTSA ODI #11162975

83,645 miles · Mar 29, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS GOING SOUTH ON I95 DOING 70 MILES AN HOUR ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED OFF AND ON TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON CAR LOST SPEED AND WILL NOT SHIFT HIGH RP NOT SPEED. WAS ALMOST IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10852151

Official recalls

5

22V640000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Aug 25, 2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark EV vehicles. The secondary hood latch may corrode at the latch pivot, preventing the hood latch from properly engaging.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A hood latch failure can result in the vehicle's hood opening unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the hood striker assembly and hood latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 12, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A222359300. This recall supersedes and expands NHTSA recall number 14V-593. Vehicles previously repaired under 14V-593 will need to have the new remedy performed.

16V422000 · Electrical System:software; Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

Jun 10, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.

Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may not fasten their seatbelt, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 45340.

16V257000 · Electrical System:software; Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

Apr 28, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."

Consequence: Without audible indicators, the driver may leave the key in the ignition, increasing the risk of theft.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17130.

14V593000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Sep 24, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured January 17, 2012, to July 29, 2014. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the secondary hood latch corrodes causing the latch to be stuck out of position, and the primary hood latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the striker with a new part which has superior corrosion protection, free of charge. The recall began on January 7, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14456.

14V298000 · Air Bags

Jun 6, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured April 10, 2013, to May 8, 2013, and Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured December 30, 2012, to March 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, an improper weld on the passenger side front air bag inflator may result in the air bag not deploying.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air bag does not to deploy in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the front passenger.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick) or 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14211.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.