MODEL
Chevrolet Spark
NHTSA safety across every Chevrolet Spark model year we cover.
Across the 4 model years of the Chevrolet Spark we cover (2019 to 2022), no year has an NHTSA crash-test score on record. 1 recall have been issued across those years.
The Chevrolet Spark is a subcompact hatchback aimed squarely at budget-conscious urban drivers and first-time car buyers who prioritize low cost of entry and easy city maneuverability over outright performance. Slotting in at the very bottom of the passenger-car market, the Spark competes in one of the most price-sensitive segments on the lot, and that positioning has real implications for how it fares on the safety front.
At MotorCaliber, our job is to tell you what the federal safety data actually shows, and for the 2019-2022 Chevrolet Spark, the most striking finding is what is missing: NHTSA did not crash-test the Spark during any of the model years we cover. That means shoppers have no official star ratings to lean on when sizing up this car against competitors, and that is a meaningful gap for a vehicle that is often marketed to younger, less experienced drivers who may be statistically more exposed to crash risk. On the recall side, the picture is relatively contained, with just one recall logged across the 2019-2022 span. That is a low number by any measure, though it does not substitute for the peace of mind that solid crash-test scores would provide. Owner complaints tell a more pointed story. Across those model years, NHTSA received 42 complaints, including 13 that describe a crash and 17 that allege an injury. Two complaints involve fire. These are unverified allegations, not confirmed defects, but the ratio of crash and injury reports to total complaints is notably high and worth taking seriously. In a segment where occupant protection is already constrained by vehicle size and mass, the absence of crash-test data makes those complaint numbers harder to contextualize and easier to worry about. Bottom line: the Spark's single recall is reassuring, but the untested safety profile and the complaint composition give us pause. Shoppers should weigh those factors carefully.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally find the Spark acceptable as a stripped-down urban runabout, praising its compact footprint and ease of parking in tight city environments. Most note that the interior materials and overall refinement reflect the car's entry-level price point, with modest comfort on longer drives. Driving dynamics are described as adequate for low-speed urban use rather than engaging, and value is seen as highly dependent on the buyer's specific, limited needs.
- NHTSA did not conduct crash tests on the 2019-2022 Spark, so there are no official star ratings available for any of the model years we cover. Shoppers cannot compare government crash performance against segment rivals the way they normally would.
- Owner complaints include 13 crash-related reports and 17 injury allegations out of 42 total complaints across the covered model years. While these are unverified, the proportion of crash and injury claims is high relative to total complaint volume and warrants attention.
- Two complaints across the covered years involve fire. These are unverified allegations, but fire-related reports in any volume are a flag worth noting, particularly for a small vehicle where exit options in an emergency are limited.
- Only one recall was issued across the full 2019-2022 range, which is a relatively low number. However, a clean recall record does not offset the absence of crash-test data, and shoppers should not treat the two as equivalent measures of safety.
Most-recalled year on record: 2019 Chevrolet Spark with 1 recalls.