Recall 17V307 covers 55,068 2016-2017 Chevrolet Spark vehicles for front passenger air bags that can injure unbelted children. Repair is free.
Chevrolet is recalling 55,068 2016-2017 Spark vehicles under recall 17V307 because the front passenger air bag can injure an improperly seated, unbelted child during a crash. The issue raises injury risk when the air bag deploys, and the dealer repair will be free once Chevrolet makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The front passenger air bag module in a 2016-2017 Chevrolet Spark sits inside the dashboard and inflates in a crash to help cushion the person in the front passenger seat. Its job is not just to inflate, but to inflate in a controlled path so the force is spread across the occupant as designed.
On affected Spark vehicles, the passenger air bag did not meet the required occupant-protection test for a young child seated improperly in the front passenger seat without a seat belt. In that position, with the child's chest close to the instrument panel, the deploying air bag can place too much force on the neck. The replacement air bag adds a folded-in flap that changes the air bag's path and reduces that neck force.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem appears only during air bag deployment in a crash, so an owner will not hear, see, or feel it in normal driving.
Who's affected?
The scope spans the 2016 and 2017 Spark, with the same front air bag component listed for both model years.
| 2016 Chevrolet Spark | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2017 Chevrolet Spark | front air bag |
| Units affected | 55,068 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific hatchback is included.
What's the safety risk?
The defect affects protection in a frontal crash with air bag deployment. An unbelted child in the front passenger seat faces a higher injury risk, so keep children properly belted and avoid seating a child there until the repair is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2017 Chevrolet Spark is included in this recall.
- Wait for Chevrolet's repair notice or dealer confirmation before scheduling service if the repair is not open for your VIN.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer with recall number 17V307 and ask about the free passenger air bag module replacement.
- Keep young children properly belted and out of the front passenger seat until the passenger air bag module replacement is complete.
- Bring the recall notice to the dealer if Chevrolet mailed one.
What happens at the repair
For this 2016-2017 Spark recall, Chevrolet's dealer repair is replacement of the passenger air bag module. Once the repair is available, a Chevrolet technician will remove the affected passenger air bag module and install a new module, with parts and labor free under the recall. The reimbursement statement says all covered vehicles are under warranty, so out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through existing warranty coverage, not through a separate reimbursement program. Ask the Chevrolet service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| May 9, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 9, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| May 9, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 5, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V307?
Recall 17V307 covers 55,068 2016-2017 Chevrolet Spark vehicles with a front passenger air bag module compliance defect. In a crash with air bag deployment, an unbelted child seated improperly in the front passenger seat has an increased risk of neck injury.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Chevrolet Spark is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Spark is included in recall 17V307. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer and ask for the passenger air bag module replacement under recall 17199. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair at no cost to the owner, and the remedy calls for dealers to replace the passenger air bag module free of charge. Use Chevrolet recall number 17199 when you call the dealer.
Is it safe to drive my Chevrolet Spark before the air bag recall is fixed?
The recall does not include a do-not-drive instruction. The stated risk is specific to a crash with frontal air bag deployment when an unbelted child is seated improperly in the front passenger seat. Keep children properly belted and seated in the correct position, and schedule the free repair.
When did Chevrolet notify owners about recall 17V307?
Chevrolet began the recall notification process on July 5, 2017. If you bought the Spark used or never received a letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, then call a Chevrolet dealer for the free repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V307000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V307 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V307000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →