2013 Chevrolet Spark Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Spark.

< older2014
Complaints
224
Crashes
18
Fires
3
Injuries
6
Fatalities
Recalls
5

Worst 2013 Chevrolet Spark Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#135 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:36,341 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:1
#234 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:39,908 mi
#333 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:19,788 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Chevrolet Spark.

Engine Problems
35
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
36,341
Transmission / Drivetrain
34
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,908
Electrical Faults
33
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
19,788
Unintended Acceleration
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
17,189
Airbags
13
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
40,184
Fuel System
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
32,516
Brakes
9
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
25,803
Engine & Cooling
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
12,577
Headlight/Taillight Failures
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
2,256
Latches / Locks
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
65,000
Body Structure
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
44,250
Steering Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Interior Lighting
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Hood
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Traction Control System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Chevrolet Spark. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Chevrolet Spark

5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~546,395 vehicles.

22V640000Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
~120,688 affected

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Spark EV vehicles. The secondary hood latch may corrode at the latch pivot, preventing the hood latch from properly engaging.

16V422000Electrical System:software · Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
~18,780 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax, and 2013-2015 Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver fails to fasten their seatbelt or if the driver leaves the key in the ignition. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208 "Occupant Crash Protection" and 114 "Theft Protection."

16V257000Electrical System:software · Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.
~317,572 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Chevrolet Sonic and Trax vehicles and 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles equipped with a Bring Your Own Media radio. The affected radios may fail to provide an audible warning chime when the driver, after turning off the ignition and leaving the key in the cylinder, waits 10 minutes or longer to open the door. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114 "Theft Protection."

14V593000Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
~89,294 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured January 17, 2012, to July 29, 2014. The secondary hood latch may prematurely corrode at the latch pivot causing the striker to get stuck out of position, preventing it from properly engaging the hood latch.

14V298000Airbags
~61 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured April 10, 2013, to May 8, 2013, and Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured December 30, 2012, to March 1, 2013. In the affected vehicles, an improper weld on the passenger side front air bag inflator may result in the air bag not deploying.

Other Chevrolet Spark Years

2013 Chevrolet Spark — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Chevrolet Spark reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2013 Chevrolet Spark has 224 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 35 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Spark?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (35 complaints, avg 36,341 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (34 complaints, avg 39,908 mi); Electrical Faults (33 complaints, avg 19,788 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Chevrolet Spark?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 30,548 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Chevrolet Spark?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Spark include 18 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Spark have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 546,395 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Chevrolet Spark?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2013 Chevrolet Spark shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Spark reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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