Lemon Law Analysis

2019 Chevrolet Spark

NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data

✓ Reviewed by Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. · Updated June 2026
290
NHTSA Complaints
Active Recalls
2-4
Avg. Repair Attempts

The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.

As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 290 complaints against the 2019 Chevrolet Spark. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2019 Chevrolet Spark complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.

The 2019 Chevrolet Spark has generated 12 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2019 Chevrolet Spark has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Chevrolet pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.

Air Bags

Emerging PatternSong-Beverly Strength: Very Strong

Airbag defects are safety-critical and may trigger California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22. The 2019 Chevrolet Spark has 3 NHTSA complaints on record related to airbag warning lights, unexpected deployment, and sensor failures. Owner reports include: “The contact owned a 2019 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the contact had lost consciousness. The contact stated that an emergency services vehicle was behind her and had observed her go through an intersection, crash through and guardrail, and roll down an embankment. The contact was removed from the vehicle, still unconscious, and transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact stated that she had bruising on her sternum, ribs, and arms. The contact stated she was not advised about why she had lost consciousness. The contact stated that the vehicle had been towed to an impound lot and her insurance provider had written the vehicle off as a total loss. The contact had been advised by a police officer that her driver’s side air bags had not deployed. The contact was not sure that a police report had been issued. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.” (NHTSA Complaint #11657335)

Other Systems

Emerging PatternSong-Beverly Strength: Strong

The 2019 Chevrolet Spark has generated 1 NHTSA complaint for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Car is hesitating alot from a stop and has locked up. Engine light came on. Had it diagnosed and the codes came up Transmission control module (Tcm). Cant find the part and the ine i did find was 800. It’s only 6 years old and should not have Transmission problems and be locking up on me.” (NHTSA Complaint #11640960)

Powertrain

Emerging PatternSong-Beverly Strength: Moderate

Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2019 Chevrolet Spark have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 1 NHTSA complaint have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “I have a 2019 Chevy Spark after doing research it appears that the Spark has a high transmission failure” (NHTSA Complaint #11615655)

Air Bags,Seat Belts,Forward Collision Avoidance

Emerging PatternSong-Beverly Strength: Moderate

Airbag defects are safety-critical and may trigger California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22. The 2019 Chevrolet Spark has 1 NHTSA complaint on record related to airbag warning lights, unexpected deployment, and sensor failures. Owner reports include: “Friday morning, on June 16th I went out to start my car and I noticed an I code 95 on my dashboard. It also showed my ABS light, traction light, and airbag/seatbelt light. When I researched the I code 95 it said that my car had been in an accident and the airbag and seatbelt needs to be replaced. When I came home the previous night on June 15th there were no lights showing on my dashboard and I hadn’t been in an accident. I also had pulled into my designated parking spot with my front tires facing the curb. When I checked my car I noticed no dents or scratches on my car. I then went to Bob Hook Chevrolet which is the dealership where I purchased my car, and they ran a quick diagnostic with one of those sensors that you plug into your car. Upon review, the technician said there was probably an error in the sensor, and that the results showed that my passenger side sensor was malfunctioning for the airbag and the sensor on the right front bumper was causing my ABS and traction light to come on. The technician tried to reset the lights but they immediately came back on. He said he wasn’t sure why the lights came back on considering that I hadn’t been in an accident. This jeopardizes my safety and my passenger’s safety. If I did get in a car accident my passenger would be unprotected because the airbag doesn’t work. I would also be unprotected if my wheel decide to lock up during an accident. This could cause me to skid off the road. Also, it is summertime so it rains at least once every two weeks. My car is already small so I have less friction and gravity to help keep all fours wheel grounded. Anytime it rains I’m scared that my car may start to skid because the traction system isn’t working. And again if the traction isn’t working and I do start to skid my ABS cant help me because the sensor is malfunctioning. I get regular oil changes and do winter and summer maintenance inspections. They never noticed anything wrong with my car. There we no warning signs.” (NHTSA Complaint #11528223)

Speed Control

Emerging PatternSong-Beverly Strength: Moderate

Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2019 Chevrolet Spark has 1 NHTSA complaint for this defect type. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal from a complete stop, the pedal was stuck to the floorboard causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000. The VIN was unavailable.” (NHTSA Complaint #11437526)

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2019 Chevrolet Spark

The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2019 Chevrolet Spark by the NHTSA or Chevrolet. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.

Recall 18V774000

Component: AIR BAGS

Defect: See NHTSA database for details.

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.

California Lemon Law — Song-Beverly Act

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2019 Chevrolet Spark:

  • 4+ repair attempts for the same non-safety defect without resolution
  • 2+ repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
  • 30+ calendar days out of service for warranty repairs (cumulative, not consecutive)

Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Chevrolet to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Chevrolet must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.

What You Can Recover

If your 2019 Chevrolet Spark qualifies as a lemon under California law, Chevrolet may be legally required to:

  • Repurchase your vehicle — Full refund of your down payment, all monthly payments, registration fees, and incidental costs (towing, rentals), minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first repair attempt
  • Replace your vehicle — Provide a new, comparable vehicle at no cost to you
  • Pay your attorney’s fees — Under § 1794(d), Chevrolet pays all legal fees if you prevail
  • Civil penalty up to 2x damages — If Chevrolet willfully violated the Act, courts may award double the actual damages

Steps to Protect Your 2019 Chevrolet Spark Claim

Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.

Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Chevrolet a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Chevrolet dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.

Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Chevrolet pays your fees if you win.

Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Chevrolet a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.

2019 Chevrolet Spark Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2019 Chevrolet Spark as a lemon?

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.

Does Chevrolet pay my attorney fees?

Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Chevrolet is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.

Can I file a lemon law claim without an active recall?

Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.

What is the time limit to file a lemon law claim for my 2019 Chevrolet Spark?

California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.

Think Your 2019 Spark Qualifies?

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