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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)

9 of 146 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters

Oct 20, 2023Body & structure

See attached document from complainant

NHTSA ODI 11551015

Jan 15, 2023Body & structure

I have not experienced an incident YET but the recall of the hood latch was first brought to my attention in August 2022 and it is now January 2023 with NO remedy being proposed. It still says "recall incomplete, remedy not available" -- meanwhile it's been more than 6 months, which should be plenty of time to make these arrangements! I don't drive on the freeway very often but every time I do I worry about my hood opening while I'm driving 60+ mph. WHEN is this going to be fixed??

NHTSA ODI 11501867

Nov 6, 2020Body & structure

THE HOOD LATCH IS CORRODED AND DOESN'T ALLOW THE HOOD TO STAY FULLY CLOSED AND TRUNK LATCH STICKS AND DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY WHILE BEING STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. I'M SCARED THAT THE HOOD WILL FLY UP WHILE MY SON OR I ARE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11373514

Jun 8, 2019Body & structure

LATELY I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE HOOD LATCH STAYS IN THE OPEN POSITION. ACCORDING TO A VIN CHECK THIS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS ACCORDING TO THE GM DATABASE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT EVER WAS REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO FIX SOMETHING THAT GM NEVER REPAIRED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11218680

Feb 7, 2017Body & structure

THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR A SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WHICH WAS REPAIRED IN EARLY FALL, SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2016. THE PART WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE SAME PART FAILED A SECOND TIME, FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY 2017. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS THE SAME PART THAT FAILED. AFTER THREE DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY CALLED TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE PLASTIC AT THE END OF THE CABLE WAS ALSO BROKEN. WHEN I ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN THEY HAD NO ANSWERS. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TALKED TO A MECHANIC AND HAD HIM SHOW ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS BROKEN. THIS CAR HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND, ALSO THE PART THAT HE SHOWED ME WAS NOT BROKEN WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP HAD BROKE IT, BUT THIS PARTICULAR MECHANIC WAS AFRAID OF LOSING HIS JOB. THIS DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY $100 FOR THE REPAIR. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR FOUR WEEKS WITH NO ETA ON THE PART. IF THERE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT PART IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HOW COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE A WHERE AND TEAR ITEM? THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THE HOOD LATCH COULD LET GO AND THE HOOD COULD FLY UP AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE HOOD LATCH LET GO. WHEN I SHOWED UP AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS AND INSTRUCTED ME TO COME BACK WHEN THE PART CAME IN. I WAS HORRIFIED THAT THEY WANTED ME TO DRIVE AWAY WITH THIS CAR AND REQUESTED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DID GIVE ME A LOANER CAR. THEY ARE NOT GOOD ABOUT ANSWERING THE PHONE AND DO NOT CALL ME BACK. I'VE HAD TO PHYSICALLY SHOW UP TO EVEN SPEAK TO SOMEBODY.

NHTSA ODI 10950036

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

Jan 29, 2015Body & structure

WENT TO CHEVY DEALER FOR 2 RECALLS IN AUGUST 2013. RECALL 14110 RESOLVED, BUT RECALL 14456 (HOOD LATCH) WAS NOT. PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. HAVING NEVER RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THAT PARTS WERE RECEIVED, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TONIGHT AND MY HOOD FLEW UP AND SHATTERED MY WINDSHIELD. NOW MY WINDSHIELD IS SHATTERED, MY HOOD IS DENTED AND BOTH FRONT QUARTER PANELS ARE BENT WHERE THEY MEET THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE DODGING TRAFFIC, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE IN FRONT OF ME AND DROP THE HOOD BACK DOWN AND MAKE SURE IT WAS LATCHED BEFORE DRIVING ANOTHER 15 MILES HOME. WILL CHEVROLET COVER ALL DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE?? CALLED MY INSURANCE TONIGHT AND HAVE TO TALK TO AN ADJUSTER IN THE MORNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10679824

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

May 27, 2013Body & structureInterior Lighting

THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING COLUMN ARE NOT ILLUMINATED. AT NIGHT THIS PRESENTS A PROBLEM AS THE CONTROLS CAN NOT BE SEEN AND IF PRESSED INADVERTENTLY CAN CREATE AND UNSAFE SITUATION AS IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE WHAT HAS HAPPENED. OTHER VEHICLES IN THIS MODEL YEAR HAVE ILLUMINATED CONTROLS. VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO TAKE ACTION. *TR UPDATED 06/04/14

NHTSA ODI 10513705

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 →