2017 Chevrolet Spark

Routine

Owners filed 29 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes6
201
Air Bags5
205
Power Train4
100
Engine3
000
Electrical System3
000
Visibility/Wiper2
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Compressor1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Suspension1
000
Seats1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module17V307000
Filed May 9, 201755,068 vehiclesGeneral Motors Llc

Defect. 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."

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Jul 29, 2026MO

My transmission has been acting up like other stated where it will rev the motor high and then jerk and shift hard. There are no recalls for it when there are known issues with the transmission for the 2017. I was driving down the road and went to stop and my brakes were very hard and almost had to stand on them to stop, almost hit a couple cars, very dangerous situation. This has happened twice to my 2017 spark and both time it was due to vacuum pump. I have taken my car to a mechanic for these issues and the mechanics have also told me they have seen both of these issues with the 2017 spark and that a recall needs done.

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Compressor
Filed Jun 30, 2026100,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked or while driving at various speeds, the A/C was blowing out hot air. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and the air conditioning hose was leaking and the condenser needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the freon was low and that the compressor needed to be replaced. The hoses and the condenser were replaced three times. The contact stated that the failures had occurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and suggested that the vehicle be taken to the dealer to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 25, 2025GA

When the car reaches a certain speed (50 mph plus) it jerks and jolts. The engine light is on and a P-code is present. Each mechanic says something different.

Power Train
Filed Aug 12, 2024NM

I feel that there are issues with the transmissions on the 2017 Chevy spark. I noticed that there have been complaints in years such as 2014 and 2019. I find that my 2017 exhibits exact same transmission issues as years that came before or after. Lots of indecision with the car about whether to upshift or downshift. Sometimes violent jerking back and forth. Normally. Especially bad between 4th and 5th and 5th and 6th in the upper gears. But in the lower gears more recently it has become more pronounced. This has been going on for quite some time and is getting worse. The car is not that old. First. Noticed it when the car was at 40,000, mi. It is now recently went past 100 and the problem at sometimes is horrible. It does feel unsafe to a high degree. It is a sealed system so there is no way to do routine maintenance, which is unfortunate. I am a person who is usually up on routine maintenance and with a sealed system such as this transmission made by Daewoo in Korea, there's no way to ensure fluid levels are correct and changed in intervals. I feel like reporting just because it should be checked out. I do not know if this is an issue with other people who have spark 2019, but I wanted to send this out because the car's transmission has aged horribly over a short period of time. If I knew then what I know now I would have never owned the spark. Otherwise a great car. This is my only complaint but a big one.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed May 5, 2023CA

Vehicle brakes went out suddenly after hearing a loud POP sound...brakes wouldn't respond and pedal hard, ran off road and could only glide to a roll stop and not really then...fortunately a repair shop adjacent so drove their and rolled stop. initial look shop advised vacuum pump needs to be diagnosed...they came back with a 'caution on file #pip5598a which advised of known issue but no recall... they came back with a 479$ fee to diagnose exactly what's wrong (those pics enclosed) they are now staring they will not guarantee week or warranty and say engine must be replaced...they are still working up quote to repair vacuum pump, camshaft and timing chain but now are saying will be well over 2k to just SEE if will work and wont guarantee

Engine
Filed Apr 12, 2023120,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that on various occasions, and while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle shuddered while accelerating. The contact stated that the failure persisted while driving above 50 MPH. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence and diagnosed the vehicle and retrieved fault codes for the transmission pump. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Power Train
Filed Apr 5, 2023AZ

Took the Car to Emissions wouldn’t pass because the check engine wouldn’t illuminate they gave me a recall paper related to the check engine light not illuminating MFR#N192268880/ Took car to Gateway Chevrolet at 9901 W Papago Freeway Avondale AZ, 85323 to get the recall done which the my did and now the car is not shifting properly and it engine revs up and does not accelerate almost got in accident when making a turn because of this problem the car running good prior to the recall

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 27, 2023NC

105000 miles: Lost Brakes extremely hard to push brake pedal. Lost vacuum, enabling to stop car safely. Took brake vacuum line off vacuum pump and plug pump so oil don’t leak out pump. Then join the line to an existing vacuum line. Problem solved no issues since. 205000 miles: Repeatedly theft mode, flickering dashboard, and dead battery issues. Battery was good charged, alternator charging right. To lead with fusebox circuit board needed to be re-soldered. Have no idea how it happened but no problem since. I still have all factory parts on car. This is a stick shift 5 speed. Get 40ish bit more miles a gallon. Keep oil changed as normal. I float gears when putting around. Leaving less stress for clutch issues. As I’m 208000 so miles still have few miles before replacing factory clutch brake pads belts plugs etc… I keep check at all wear clean up dust collected grease all joints every season. So can’t say much about car being a problem.

Suspension
Filed Jul 12, 2022PA

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 replacement with another part. I had to go to the dealership three times for correction. Was told the car was safe to drive at the time. June 2022, the car is making the same cricket noises, and is unstable. It is my concern that the strut mounts/ suspension are defective and poses a risk. This may be a structural issue, since I though this was corrected last year for a young vehicle with under 50K mileage is not a normal occurrence. I am concerned something will dislodge and I may loose control on the road. I have routine maintenance and i am diligent, there is a structural and electrical issue with this vehicle make.

Seats
Filed Feb 1, 2022WA

Headrest angle is hurting me and my Wife, to the point where we really want to turn them around and add velcrow strapped pillows! Something's got to be done about the standard. Headrests are way too far forward. They're nit safe. My wife has minor scoliosis and her 2012 Prius C that she bought used messes up her back and my neck has been getting progressively worse over the two years of owning my 2017 Chevy spark.(picture attached of my 2017 chevy spark seat vs headrest angle). If I drive any longer than about 20 minutes in my spark I find myself tilting my head to the left or the right of the headrest and pushing it back just to get some relief. But my 2011 Infiniti G37 has a perfect headrest, it keeps the distance between it and my head to a minimum while keeping the angle from the flat of the back on the chair up to my neck and head in line making it comfortable. So why are the cars so different since the new rule in 2008? I have reached out to the manufacturers Toyota and Chevrolet and a refer me to the NHTSA. I argue with them that they aren't consistent with the rule and I've even gone as far as to drive my Infinity down to the Chevy dealership and argue with the manager that told me it's a law straight across the board and everybody's the same. I clearly showed him he was incorrect. You may have come up with a rule for minimum distances and dimensions for headrests but what you did wrong is not come up with a maximum for those angles because I've been forced to turn ou

Power TrainCrash
Filed Oct 24, 20205,400 milesAZ

AT RAILWAY PARKING LOT, FIRST CAR BLOCKED WHEN BACKING OUT OF SPACE. AFTER 3 TRIES, ABLE TO MOVE ON, EXITING LOT AND ABOUT TO TURN RIGHT INTO STREET, CAR SWERVED HARD RIGHT BY ITSELF AND LOUDLY HIT CURB. PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND TIRE TOTALLY DAMAGED. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO COLLISION SHOP. IT IS STILL AT THE SHOP WHERE AM TOLD REPAIR AT MINIMUM WILL COST OVER $ 1400.00! I FOUND 2 RECALLS EMAILS THAT SAME NIGHT AND TRUL Y BELIEVE THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED. AM JUST THANKFUL NO ONE WAS INVOLVED BUT ME. COULD HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC IF CAR WAS ON THE ROAD AND MALFUNCTION MADE ME HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE INSTEAD OF A CURB. HAVE HAD TO RENT A CAR, AND COST IS MOUNTING. FOUND THRU ONLINE RESEARCH THAT OTHER SPARK OWNERS HAD SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD CAUSE FATAL ACCIDENT. EVEN WHEN FIXED, I WILL BE PETRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN WITH FEAR OF RECURRENCE OF SAME PROBLEM.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 14, 202040,000 milesNY

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, WHILE MOVING AT 55MPH AT NIGHT ON A WET HIGHWAY. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED IT WAS AT NIGHT AND RAINING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS.

Power Train
Filed Sep 14, 2020IN

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 THUS CAR TO ANYONE I KNOW, MUCH LESS NOW I'M TRYING TO GET RID OF IT BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 9, 202087,100 milesWI

MY FIANCE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF NO WHERE (NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING)... THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP. THE PEDAL WAS HARD TO PUSH DOWN, IT WOULDN'T GO DOWN AT ALL. NO WAY TO STOP. WE WERE ON FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 65/70 MPH IN CHICAGO!! THEY TRAFFIC IS ALWAYS BUSY OVER THERE. SO SCARY WHEN YOUR CAR DOESN'T STOP AT ALL!!!! WE WERE DRIVING MOSTLY STRAIGHT UNTIL WE COULD SAGELY SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO GET OFF ON AN EXIT. ( WHICH WE HAD TO LET IT COAST DOWN TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR) THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ALERT, I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.

Air BagsCrash3 injured
Filed Jun 26, 202034,000 milesAZ

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 SKIDDING, I HIT THE CEMENT HIGHWAY DIVIDER (ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE). I THEN SLAMMED INTO THE 1ST PARKED CAR, WHICH WAS PUSHED INTO THE 2ND VEHICLE. I WAS SUBSEQUENTIALLY REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH FOLLOWED MY SAME PATH. ONLY THE STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE LEFT SIDE AIRBAG (1ST IMPACT) NEVER DEPLOYED, WHICH LEFT SIGNIFICANT BRUISING ON MY LEFT SHOULDER AND LEFT EAR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, BUT THE CABIN REMAINED MOSTLY INTACT. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY A BROKEN THUMB AND BRUISING THROUGHOUT MY BODY. IF THE ABS HADN'T FAILED, I WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO STOP SAFELY AND AVOID MULTI CAR COLLISION. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 26, 201954,990 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. CAPITAL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF LEXINGTON (96 RADIO DR, LEXINGTON, NC 27292, (336) 248-5108) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,990.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 17, 201940,000 milesWA

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 TRANSMISSIONS. I WILL TAKE IT IN AGAIN THIS WEEK FOR THEM TO POSSIBLY CHANGE OUT TRANSMISSION. THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE ON THIS VEHICLE ARE THE SAME HAVING TO DO WITH ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. GM NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AS A RECALL TO HELP SAVE LIVES.

Engine
Filed Oct 15, 20188,000 milesOR

AS I WAS IDLING UP BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT A 4-WAY STOP, AND BRAKING GENTLY, MY ENGINE PUTTERED OUT AND TURNED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER PUTTING IT IN PARK AND TURNING THE IGNITION OFF THEN BACK ON.

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 27, 201810,000 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY UP A SLIGHT INCLINE, IT WAS OVER 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE, HAD AC WORKING AND HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 70 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY CANCELED ITSELF OUT AND MY SPEED RAPIDLY DROPPED. THIS ALWAYS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS OVER 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND GOING UP AN INCLINE, EVEN SLIGHTLY. ANOTHER PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS THAT WHEN I COME TO A STOP, SOMETIMES THE CAR SHUDDERS AND JERKS. ALSO IF I AM RUNNING THE AC ON THE VEHICLE IN PARK, SOMETIMES THE AC CUTS OUT ITSELF. IN ORDER TO START IT AGAIN I NEED TO TURN THE KNOB TO OFF AND TURN THE KNOB BACK ON TO GET AC WORKING AGAIN. THESE ISSUES ALL OCCURRED RANDOMLY, MULTIPLE TIMES

Air Bags1 injured
Filed May 22, 201813,000 milesTX

SWIRVED TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND CURTIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN STANDING POSITION.

20 of 29 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2014
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20223000Routine
20216000Routine
202019020Routine
201914100Routine
20189000Routine
2017 — this page29100Routine
201628110Routine
201576510Routine
2014172600Do not drive
2013146510Routine

Compare every Spark year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 9, 2017. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.