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What 146 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Spark EV

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (146)Crash / fire / injury (12)Engine (35)Electrical system (34)Transmission & drivetrain (34)Speed control (14)Airbags (13)Fuel system (12)Brakes (10)Latches & locks (10)Body & structure (9)Engine & cooling (8)

5 of 146 complaints match · Airbags · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Mar 3, 2017AirbagsCrash1 injury

MY DAUGHTER IS DRIVING HER 2013 CHEVY SPARK ON A STATE HIGHWAY, SHE'S STARTING TO BRAKE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. THE AIR BAGS -STEERING WHEEL AND KNEE DEPLOY. THIS CAUSES HER TO REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER, BRUISING HER LEGS AND THIGHS. THERE WAS TROUBLE BREATHING DUE TO THE CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM THE AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ODI 10958471

Oct 6, 2016AirbagsBody & structureCrash

I WAS IN A VERY BAD CAR ACCIDENT AND NOT ONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED . IT IS SQUISHED IT WAS HIT IN THE FRONT VERY HARD WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE AIRBAGS TO POOF OUT AND HELP IN THESE SITUATIONS. I WAS HEADED DOWN AN OFF RAMP ONTO TURN PIKE AND A CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP SWERVED TO MERGE AND CAR INFANT OF ME DID THE SAME AND WE COLLIDED

NHTSA ODI 10914389

Apr 12, 2016AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE MASSIVE IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,607. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10854997

Dec 23, 2014AirbagsBody & structureEngineCrashFire

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH AND A SUV RUNS A STOP SIGN AND PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY. I HIT THE SUV. THE SUV FLEES THE ACCIDENT. MY CAR CATCHES ON FIRE ON IMPACT AND MY AIRBAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY. IT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH AT IMPACT. MY CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10667858

Jun 17, 2014AirbagsSpeed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ENAGAGING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE CRASH THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR WHO INDICATED THAT NO DEFECT WAS FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 09/11/14*LJ UPDATED 12/17/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10598853

Working with the data? Download all 146 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Chevrolet Spark EV verdict →