Chevrolet Spark Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2013 to 2022, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Chevrolet Spark model years through 2024, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2014 has the most (8). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Chevrolet Spark: Key Facts

Model years with data
10 (2013–2022)
Distinct recall campaigns
11
Fewest recalls
2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022 (0)
Most recalls
2014 (8)
Most recalled system
Electrical system (6)

Chevrolet Spark Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Chevrolet Spark — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2013–2022
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2022 0 Not rated None on record
2021 0 Not rated None on record
2020 0 Not rated None on record
2019 1 Not rated Air bags
2018 0 Not rated None on record
2017 1 Not rated Air bags
2016 3 Not rated Seat belts, Air bags
2015 7 4 stars Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Seat belts
2014 8 4 stars Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Seat belts
2013 5 Not rated Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Air bags

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20220 recalls
  2. 20210 recalls
  3. 20200 recalls
  4. 20191 recall
  5. 20180 recalls
  6. 20171 recall
  7. 20163 recalls
  8. 20157 recalls
  9. 20148 recalls
  10. 20135 recalls

Chevrolet Spark: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Chevrolet Spark recalls are electrical system (6), latches/locks/linkages (6), seat belts (6), air bags (4) and equipment (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 2 of these 10 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Chevrolet Spark Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Chevrolet Spark?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.

Which Chevrolet Spark model years have the most recalls?

2014 has the most, with 8 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Spark", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy