Showing the 2017 Spark Activ. EPA's version Spark ACTIV, and NHTSA's VIN data, show it with a 1.4 L engine, but that may not be every version of it, so the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
32–33 mpgcombined; city 29–30, highway 37–38; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$9,840–$10,150U.S. average; Ohio $8,790–$9,070 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2017 Spark. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Spark. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power train
9
1
0
0
Service brakes
8
3
0
4
Air bags
5
2
0
5
Electrical system
5
0
0
0
Engine
4
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
3
0
0
0
Unknown or other
2
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
1
0
0
0
Seat belts
1
0
0
0
Seats
1
0
0
0
Steering
1
1
0
0
4 more parts
Suspension
1
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Wheels
1
1
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2017 Spark over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Spark vehicles. In the event of a crash, if a young child is seated improperly and not wearing a seat belt while in the front passenger seat, deployment of the front passenger air bag may injure the occupant's neck. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash with a frontal air bag deployment, an unbelted child in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17199.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 941 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2017 Spark, the latest on Sep 26, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (399), electrical system (190), engine and engine cooling (97), power train (87), engine (86).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Defect petition DP22005 Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2017 Spark.
EPA class: subcompact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 7–8 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Spark Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
30 / 38 / 33
Spark Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
29 / 38 / 33
Spark ACTIV Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Regular Gasoline
30 / 37 / 33
Spark ACTIV Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
29 / 37 / 32
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data