YearToAvoid

2019 Chevrolet Spark Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

44/100

#6 most-complained of 10 Spark years

The 2019 Chevrolet Spark has 14 NHTSA complaints, 1 recall, and a Complaint Index of 44, ranking 6th worst out of 10 model years with a 'Good' verdict. Airbags account for 50% of complaints, tied to one recall covering the Sensing Diagnostic Module.

Complaints
14
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
33
29.5 city / 37.5 hwy

Top 2019 Chevrolet Spark problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags7 (50%)
  2. Brakes2 (14%)
  3. Engine2 (14%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (14%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain2 (14%)
  6. Electrical System1 (7%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (7%)
  8. Other1 (7%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (7%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (7%)

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during frontal collisions, sometimes bending the car's frame.
  • A deployed airbag caused a foot-area component to expel debris, causing significant injury during a low-speed school zone crash.
  • Loss of consciousness while driving around 50 MPH led to a crash and rollover, with no reported airbag deployment.
  • Brakes produce a loud noise and reduced stopping confidence, recurring every couple of months despite repeated dealer visits.
  • The accelerator pedal became stuck to the floorboard from a stop, causing unintended acceleration with no warning light.
  • Owners report a pattern of transmission failure based on their own research into the model.
2019 Chevrolet Spark complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2019Mar 2020Sep 2020Oct 2021Jun 2023Feb 2025Jun 2026
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2019 to Jun 2026; peak Nov 2019 (3).

2019 Chevrolet Spark recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V774000Nov 1, 2018Airbags12 vehicles

    Air bags: air bag/restraint control module

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.

    Risk: If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18365.

2019 Chevrolet Spark fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29.5 MPG
Highway
37.5 MPG
Combined
33 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2019 compared with other Spark years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Caution5629133
2018Best09033
2019Good4414133
2020Avoid7819033
2021Good336033

All Chevrolet Spark years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Spark reliable?
Compared to other Spark model years, 2019 rates 'Good' with a Complaint Index of 44 and ranks 6th worst out of 10 years tracked, meaning several other years score worse.
What problems does the 2019 Chevrolet Spark have?
NHTSA lists 14 complaints for the 2019 Spark, with airbags being the top problem area at 50% of complaints, followed by brakes, engine, suspension, and transmission issues at 14% each.
Does the 2019 Chevrolet Spark have a recall?
Yes, one recall (campaign 18V774000) covers the airbag Sensing Diagnostic Module, which may have been left in manufacturing mode, potentially preventing proper airbag deployment.
How does the 2019 Spark compare to other years?
The 2019 Spark's Complaint Index of 44 is lower than 2013 (89), 2014 (100), 2015 (67), and 2020 (78), but higher than 2016 (22), 2018 (0), and 2021 (33).
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Chevrolet Spark?
EPA rates the 2019 Spark at 33 mpg combined (29.5 city / 37.5 highway), with an annual fuel cost of $1,950.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.