2017 Chevrolet SPARK: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10956035 · 2017-02-21 (February 21, 2017)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 1,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10956193 · 2017-02-21 (February 21, 2017)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956193 at NHTSA ↗
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 11019065 · 2017-08-23 (August 23, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,044 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019065 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 11021144 · 2017-09-01 (September 1, 2017)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,428 miles reported. Look up ODI 11021144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023644 · 2017-09-15 (September 15, 2017)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11023644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11030414 · 2017-09-28 (September 28, 2017)
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.)
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11030414 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V307000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2017-05-09 (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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗