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2017 Chevrolet Spark

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Chevrolet Spark do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 29 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

29 reports
2,059 miles · Jan 1, 2018
Engine

THE ENGINE LOSES 1% OF ITS OIL EVERY 20 DRIVEN MILES. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND REFUSES TO RESOLVE THE CAUSE. I BOUGHT THIS AS A NEW CAR, WITH 2059 MILES ON IT. RIGHT NOW MY OIL GAUGE READS 96%, OR A 4 % OIL LOSS, AFTER 80 DRIVEN MILES. I AM DEATHLY AFRAID TO TAKE THIS CAR OUT ON A INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH…

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THE ENGINE LOSES 1% OF ITS OIL EVERY 20 DRIVEN MILES. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND REFUSES TO RESOLVE THE CAUSE. I BOUGHT THIS AS A NEW CAR, WITH 2059 MILES ON IT. RIGHT NOW MY OIL GAUGE READS 96%, OR A 4 % OIL LOSS, AFTER 80 DRIVEN MILES. I AM DEATHLY AFRAID TO TAKE THIS CAR OUT ON A INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC BECAUSE THIS WILL REALLY STRESS THE ENGINE. THE 1ST 80 DRIVEN MILES WAS ON CITY STREETS IN ORLANDO, FLA. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT NHTSA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS GM ENGINE PROBLEM SINCE 2014, SO WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE TO GET GM TO PUT SAFE, RELIABLE ENGINES IN THEIR CARS? THEIR OPEL CARS HAVE EXCELLENT REPUTATION FOR ENGINES WHICH DO NOT LOSE OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES.I ALSO AM AWARE THE DAEWOO BLOCK HAS BEEN RE-WORKED AND GM WANTS TO GET ITS INVESTMENT BACK, USING ULTRA CHEAP KOREAN LABOR, WHERE THE ENGINE IS MADE. WHAT I DON'T KNOW, AND CAN'T FIND OUT IS IF THESE ENGINES HAVE A SMALL TURBO TO BOOST POWER, WHICH IN TURN WOULD BE A REASON FOR A SMALL INCREASE OIL CONSUMPTION, BUTT, DEFINITELY NOT AS DRASTIC AS THE 1% EVERY 20 DRIVEN MILES I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING. I EXPECT AUTO NATION CHEVROLET IN ORLANDO TO DEMAND THAT GM SEND THEM A 2018 MADE ENGINE TO INSTALL IN MY CAR TO SEE IF THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. WHAT I DEMAND IS A TOTAL RECALL OF THESE SPARK ENGINES AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEW RELIABLE ENGINES WHICH OTHER GM SUBSIDIARIES LIKE OPEL MAKE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THIS UNSAFE ENGINE IS REPLACED,

NHTSA ODI #11057800

600 miles · Sep 28, 2017
Visibility/wiper

THE INTERIOR TRIM ON THE DASH AND DOORS IS SO SHINY IT CAUSES REFLECTIONS IN THE SIDE MIRRORS. THE REFLECTION IS SO BAD IT OBSTRUCTS YOUR VIEW OF THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD BEHIND YOU. (IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE UPLOADED PICTURE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME IN THE OTHER LANE.)

NHTSA ODI #11030414

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2017
Air Bags

THERE IS A RECALL INCLUDING MY SPARK TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I TOOK MY SPARK TO THE DEALER (BY APPOINTMENT) ON 1 SEPTEMBER TO HAVE THE RECALL AIRBAG CHANGEOVER MADE. IT COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE A COUPLER IN THE NEW INSTALLATION WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. ANOTHER COUPLER WAS ORDERED, IT ARRIVED AND WAS ALSO FOUND T…

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THERE IS A RECALL INCLUDING MY SPARK TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I TOOK MY SPARK TO THE DEALER (BY APPOINTMENT) ON 1 SEPTEMBER TO HAVE THE RECALL AIRBAG CHANGEOVER MADE. IT COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE A COUPLER IN THE NEW INSTALLATION WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. ANOTHER COUPLER WAS ORDERED, IT ARRIVED AND WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE (8 SEPTEMBER). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, THERE ARE NO OTHER COUPLERS TO BE HAD AND THE ETA FOR A CORRECTLY-MADE COUPLER IS UNKNOWN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY CAR, WHICH WAS DISASSEMBLED AND NOW SITS AT THE DEALERSHIP, CANNOT BE REASSEMBLED UNTIL THE NEW AIRBAG IS INSTALLED. WHEN THAT CAN HAPPEN IS, OF COURSE, UNKNOWN. IF THE POINT OF A RECALL IS TO MAKE THE CAR DRIVEABLE, CHEVY HAS FAILED UTTERLY. AS A CONSUMER, I HAD THE EXPECTATION THAT WHEN A RECALL WAS ORDERED, THE DEALER WAS EXPECTED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION IN A TIMELY MANNER. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHEN MY SPARK'S PROBLEM WILL BE CORRECTED.

NHTSA ODI #11023644

14,428 miles · Sep 1, 2017
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK WHEN THE WINDSHIELD GETS WET. AFTER THE SUN DRIES THE CAR, THE WIPERS WORK FINE. I HAD TO KEEP STOPPING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WIPING OFF THE WINDSHIELD SO I COULD SEE WHERE I WAS GOING. I ALSO TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER TO HELP DRY THE WINDSHIELD. THE AUTOMATIC DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ONLY…

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MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK WHEN THE WINDSHIELD GETS WET. AFTER THE SUN DRIES THE CAR, THE WIPERS WORK FINE. I HAD TO KEEP STOPPING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WIPING OFF THE WINDSHIELD SO I COULD SEE WHERE I WAS GOING. I ALSO TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER TO HELP DRY THE WINDSHIELD. THE AUTOMATIC DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ONLY COME ON AT NIGHT. I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN THEM ON DURING THE DAY.

NHTSA ODI #11021144

5,500 miles · Aug 28, 2017
Air BagsService Brakes

I HAD TAKEN MY SPARK FOR A OIL CHANGE IN APRIL 2017, I HAD ASKED TO CHECK , REPLACE FILTERS, CHECK AND TOP OFF ALL FLUIDS, TIRE ROTATION. AFTER ALL THIS , I NOTICED MY BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING WHEN I MOVE FORWARD SLOWLY. IT WAS RECENTLY RECALL FOR IT'S PASSENGER AIR BAG. I'M AFRAID MY BRAKES WILL BE DEFECTED.

NHTSA ODI #11020218

14,044 miles · Aug 23, 2017
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO ENGAGE TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO ENGAGE TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,044.

NHTSA ODI #11019065

2,000 miles · Jul 25, 2017
Service BrakesCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A PARKED BULLDOZER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE INJURY, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A PARKED BULLDOZER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE INJURY, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ODI #11010588

120 miles · Feb 21, 2017
Seat Belts

I JUST RETURNED A LEASED SPARK EV AND PURCHASED A 1LT SPARK. THE 2017 MODEL YEAR HAD CHANGES, BUT THE ISSUE IS THAT THE SEAT BELT HEIGHT IS NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE! I AM VERY SHORT, AND THE SEATBELT CROSSES MY THROAT OR COLLAR BONE AREA, WHICH WOULD INJURE ME UNDULY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. I ORDERED THE CAR, AND STILL WANT IT... …

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I JUST RETURNED A LEASED SPARK EV AND PURCHASED A 1LT SPARK. THE 2017 MODEL YEAR HAD CHANGES, BUT THE ISSUE IS THAT THE SEAT BELT HEIGHT IS NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE! I AM VERY SHORT, AND THE SEATBELT CROSSES MY THROAT OR COLLAR BONE AREA, WHICH WOULD INJURE ME UNDULY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. I ORDERED THE CAR, AND STILL WANT IT... BUT I WANT A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM FROM CHEVROLET. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING -- I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITHOUT SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURER'S ADJUSTMENTS FOR SHORT AND TALL DRIVERS. ONE SIZING DOESN'T SAFELY FIT EVERYONE. I AM UPLOADING A PICTURE OF THE NON-HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE SAFETY BELT, AND ONE OF HOW IT FITS A SHORT PERSON (ME....62 INCHES TALL) WHICH I BELIEVE IS UNSAFE. FOR ALL THE SAFETY RECALLS I HAVE RETURNED CARS FOR IN THE PAST, THIS IS AS GOOD OR BETTER A REASON FOR A RECALL AS ANY OTHER.

NHTSA ODI #10956193

1,240 miles · Feb 21, 2017
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE TORSO, HEAD AND NECK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE TORSO, HEAD AND NECK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,240. UPDATED 05/09/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10956035

Official recalls

1

17V307000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

May 9, 2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Spark vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash with a frontal air bag deployment, an unbelted child in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17199.

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.