2017 Chevrolet SPARK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
13,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 29 complaints (31.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 31.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 20.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 10.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Power Train: 9; Service Brakes: 8; Air Bags: 5; Electrical System: 5; Engine: 4; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Unknown Or Other: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2017: 8; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11010588 · 2017-07-25 (July 25, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11010588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11020218 · 2017-08-28 (August 28, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11020218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11187376 · 2019-03-17 (March 17, 2019)
WE PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVY SPARK WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT AND WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS AND THEN WILL LEAP FORWARD. WHEN YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE ENGINE WILL REV UP AND NOT GO FORWARD FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS. THIS BECOMES VERY UN SAFE SINCE YOU CAN NOT DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE TO GO FORWARD WHEN NEEDED. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS AN SOFTWARE UPLOAD TO THE TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD HELP. IT DID NOT HELP AND I HAVE RESEARCHED THAT THIS IS PRETTY COMMON WITH THESE CVT…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11187376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11354902 · 2020-09-14 (September 14, 2020)
THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CHEVY SPARK TO REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED , BECAUSE ALL THAT DID WAS LEAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THEY HAVE FAULT CONTROL MODULES. MY CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD AND NOTHING BUT ISSUES FIXING THIS. THE DEALERSHIPS SAY THAT THEY FIXED THE RECALL BY REPROGRAMMING IT, BUT THE LIGHT STAYS ON, THE RPMS DROP SUDDENLY AND CAUSE THE CAR TO JERK WHEN YOU TRY TO GIVE IT GAS. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11354902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11364356 · 2020-10-14 (October 14, 2020)
THE FOLLOWING HAS NOW HAPPENED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY: WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50 -55 MPH) AND HITTING A BUMP THAT JOLTS THE CAR (NOT NECESSARILLY A HUGE BUMP), THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CUTS OFF AND SHUTS DOWN. THIS HAPPENS ONLY ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAS NOT HAPPENED ON STREET DRIVING YET. THE CAR POWER TURNS OFF AND THIS CAN BE VERY DISORIENTING TO AN UNSKILLED DRIVER. IT REQUIRES THAT I PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL (MY CAR IS A STICK SHIFT), TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TURN IT ON AND RESTART IT, …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11364356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11473537 · 2022-07-12 (July 12, 2022)
Electrical : First instance in 2020. There are instances when you stop the car, and it appears the vehicle has no electrical charge (it is a gas vehicle). Happened once while parked (2020)- service request August 2020, and another while waiting for a green light (2021). My concern is this occurs and causing an accident. Suspension: First instance in 2021: The vehicle has less than 50K miles. The car rattles loudly. Service request Aug 2021. I went into the dealership and was told that the suspension on the driver side right needed replaceme…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11473537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11331148 · 2020-06-26 (June 26, 2020)
DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, (I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE), TRAVELING AROUND 50MPH. I WAS ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND, WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED ABRUPTLY, AND PROMPTLY DROVE AWAY. I SLAMMED MY BRAKES TO THE FLOOR AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SWERVED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID AN IMPACT. WITH BOTH OF MY FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR KEPT SLIDING LIKE IT WAS ON ICE FOR AROUND 80 FEET, BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED ME WERE THE 2 VEHICLES THAT WERE ILLEGALLY PARKED IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. WHILE SK…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331148 at NHTSA ↗