TireKick

Model-year record

2018 Chevrolet Spark
Image: Wikimedia Commons contributor · See source file

2018 Chevrolet Spark

See the complaints, recalls, crash rating, and fuel economy in the public record. Then check the mileage and history of the car you found.

This page shows records, not a buy or avoid call.

The same model year can include a well-kept car and a neglected one. Use these records to plan what to check. Use the specific-car check when you know the mileage.

Complaints filed

9

Reports to NHTSA, 2018

Safety recalls

0

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Not rated

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

33

EPA estimate

Known issues

Service Brakes issues lead owner complaints (33% of 9 reports), followed by power train (22%).

Service Brakes33% · 3 reports
Power Train22% · 2 reports
Vehicle Speed Control22% · 2 reports
Air Bags11% · 1 report
Engine11% · 1 report

Share of all 9 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11515828, ODI 11482383, ODI 11181650.

Individual complaint reports(9)

Showing the 9 most recent reports
Air BagsJul 2026 · ODI 11748573Details +

I have received a Code 95 error message for my 2018 Chevrolet Spark, which per the GM owner's manual means that there is an air bag problem. But, the alert does not appear consistently when operated. When driving, it does not appear. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The code only comes on after the car has been idling and not being driven (for example, it takes 2-3 minutes while in park but the engine being on for the code to come up on the screen). If the car is put into drive a minute or less after turning the ignition, the code does NOT appear; it only does when parked and the engine is running after a few minutes. The car is available for inspection upon NHTSA/DOT request. My safety is put at risk if the air bag does not deploy; if the alert code does not consistently appear when the car is in operation, it puts my safety at risk because I would not have any indication that there is a possible problem. The car has not been inspected by the manufacturer (to my knowledge), police, insurance representatives, or others. This has occurred at least three times since the start of 2026, with the most recent occurrence in June 2026.

Reported
Jul 2026
Incident date
Jun 2026
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11748573 at NHTSA →
Vehicle Speed ControlApr 2026 · ODI 11733470Details +

Okay, I can press the gas and try to go one speed.And my car will go either way, too slow for that gear or way too fast.For that gear , I have almost been several wrecks , because it's either going too slow , went when i'm supposed to be going to certain speed or it's going to fast one supposed to be going to certain speed

Reported
Apr 2026
Incident date
Apr 2026
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11733470 at NHTSA →
Service BrakesApr 2023 · ODI 11515828Details +

The contact's husband owns a 2018 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that the brake booster failed while driving at various speeds on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer yearly for the brake booster repair since the initial failure; however, the most recent failure occurred within six months. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

Reported
Apr 2023
Incident date
Jul 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11515828 at NHTSA →
Service BrakesSep 2022 · ODI 11482383Details +

This is the third time while driving that my brakes have simply just gone out. It’s usually on the freeway while at high speeds and I’m nearly not able to stop. This is the third time in three years. No lights come on on the dashboard and no warnings happened at all the brakes just simply stopped working. It takes extreme pressure to try to stop and I’m usually told that it’s some part of the vacuum.

Reported
Sep 2022
Incident date
Sep 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11482383 at NHTSA →
Power TrainNov 2020 · ODI 11376447Details +

AT A COMPLETE STOP.. IT SEEMS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT ACCELERATE

Reported
Nov 2020
Incident date
Nov 2020
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11376447 at NHTSA →
Power TrainFeb 2020 · ODI 11307905Details +

WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CAR CAN'T DECIDE IF IT WANTS TO MOVE OR NOT AND IT WILL JUST SIT AND REV AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AS I AM PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC

Reported
Feb 2020
Incident date
Jul 2018
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11307905 at NHTSA →
Vehicle Speed ControlFeb 2019 · ODI 11181644Details +

MY CHEVROLET SPARK CANNOT DECIDE WHAT GEAR IT WANTS TO BE IN, CAUSING DELAYS THAT ARE DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR TURNING ACROSS LINES OF TRAFFIC. FOR INSTANCE, I SLOW DOWN TO GET INTO THE CENTER TURNING LANE OF A 5-LANE STREET AND THEN WHEN CLEAR, I ACCELERATE TO MAKE THE TURN. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT MAKES A SHORT STALL AS IT CAN'T DECIDE IF IT NEEDS TO GET INTO A HIGHER OR LOWER GEAR. IT CLEARLY TAKES A LONG TIME AND GOES UP AND DOWN WHICH PLACES ME UNCOMFORTABLY TOO CLOSE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. OTHER TIMES WHEN I PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC, THE SAME SCENARIO REPEATS. I WONDER IF IT SHIFTS INTO A TOO HIGH A GEAR TOO SOON THEN DOWN SHIFTS ONE GEAR AND THEN UPSHIFTS AS THE CAR STARTS TO ACCELERATE. SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHEN I SLOW TO ADJUST TO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THEN ACCELERATE AFTER SLOWING, THE CAR LAG/STALL HAPPENS AS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP AND DOWN THROUGH THE GEARS. THE CAR JUST CAN'T DECIDE WHAT IS THE BEST GEAR TO BE IN. I FEEL THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS. IT CERTAINLY MAKES ONE VERY UNEASY WHEN YOU PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND THEN THE CAR BARELY MOVES FOR A VERY CRITICAL SECOND OR TWO.

Reported
Feb 2019
Incident date
Feb 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11181644 at NHTSA →
Service BrakesFeb 2019 · ODI 11181650Details +

FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN BRAKING, A THUMPING SOUND IS HEARD IN THE REAR DRUM BRAKES OF MY BRAND NEW CHEVY SPARK. I CANNOT DECIDE WHICH ONE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM, OR BOTH. IT WILL GO AWAY AFTER A WHILE. IT OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN I NEED TO BRAKE HARD, BUT NOT ALWAYS. AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY DAY. THE CAR IS NEW. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE VERY FIRST OIL CHANGE, I ASKED THEM TO LOOK INTO IT. THEY KEPT THE CAR 3 DAYS. THEY SAID THEY DROVE IT BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANY NOISE. TO MY SURPRISE, DURING THOSE THREE DAYS, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT PULL THE WHEEL AND LOOK INSIDE THE DRUM FOR A BROKEN SPRING, WARPING, DELAMINATION OR SOME OTHER COMPONENT DEFECT OR SYSTEM FAILURE. I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH DRUM BRAKES MAKING THIS SOUND.

Reported
Feb 2019
Incident date
Feb 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11181650 at NHTSA →
EngineSep 2018 · ODI 11128735Details +

THIS IS A PERIODIC OCCURANCE WHEN GOING STARTING AT 0MPH AT ANY POINT DURING A TRIP. NORMALLY THE ENGINE WILL REV SMOOTHLY BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GOING FROM A COMPLETE STOP TO GETTING TO AT LEAST 30MPH IT FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE IS JUST TAKING IN AIR AND IT JUST REVS UP AND THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL BUT DOESNT ACTUALLY ACCELLERATE PROPERLY AND THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT IF YOU HAVE TO MOVE SUDDENLY TO AVOID BEING HIT. I HAVE THE LT1 MODEL SPECIFICALLY.

Reported
Sep 2018
Incident date
Sep 2018
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11128735 at NHTSA →

Recalls

No recalls are listed for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change when NHTSA publishes new information.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2018 Chevrolet Spark 5 HB FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover
Not rated

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
Spark1.4L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive293933
Spark1.4L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive303833

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

These are affiliate links. TireKick may earn a fee if you use one.

Compare the year-by-year record

Open another year for its own evidence-gated decision. TireKick does not crown a best year from raw complaint totals.

2018 Chevrolet Spark: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2018 Chevrolet Spark?

Owners filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Spark. This is raw owner-reported complaint volume with no production or exposure normalization, so it is not a reliability score or a best/worst-year ranking.

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Chevrolet Spark?

The most-reported problem areas are Service Brakes (33% of complaints) and power train (22%).

How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Spark have?

No safety recalls are on record for the 2018 Chevrolet Spark as of Jul 2026.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Chevrolet Spark get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Chevrolet Spark at 33 mpg combined.