Chevrolet Volt reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 1,866 complaints about the Chevrolet Volt with NHTSA since 2011, most often about electrical system and fuel and propulsion. Chevrolet has filed 8 warranty extensions and 19 service campaigns for it, and there are 8 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Chevrolet Volt? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Volt a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2011 on.
- Owner complaints
- 1,866
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 8
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Service campaigns
- 19
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Safety recalls
- 8
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Volt with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 34 | Transmission and drivetrain (47%) | 2 | 5 |
| 2018 | 225 | Electrical system (39%) | 2 | 9 |
| 2017 | 699 | Electrical system (44%) | 0 | 7 |
| 2016 | 169 | Electrical system (46%) | 1 | 7 |
| 2015 | 44 | Electrical system (41%) | 1 | 8 |
| 2014 | 93 | Airbags (34%) | 0 | 9 |
| 2013 | 308 | Airbags (52%) | 3 | 12 |
| 2012 | 245 | Electrical system (35%) | 2 | 10 |
| 2011 | 49 | Electrical system (47%) | 1 | 10 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Volt model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Chevrolet
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Chevrolet filed with NHTSA for the Volt, in its own words. A warranty extension means Chevrolet pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionMay 2024· Body and structure· model years 2017–2019
This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
- Warranty extensionApr 2024· Electrical system· model years 2016–2018
Special Coverage. On some vehicles, a malfunction involving the battery energy control module (BECM) may cause a reduced power mode, a no start condition, or a no charge condition.
- Warranty extensionMar 2024· Electrical system· model years 2016–2018
Special Coverage. On some vehicles, a malfunction involving the battery energy control module (BECM) may cause a reduced power mode, a no start condition, or a no charge condition.
- Warranty extensionAug 2016· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2011–2015
38170 - Special Coverage. The accelerator pedal can break at the stalk just below the housing due to the driver entering or exiting the vehicle with their foot resting on the accelerator pedal.
- Warranty extensionDec 2015· Airbags· model years 2011
15642 - special coverage. On some 2011 Model year chevrolet volt vehicles, the airbag indicator may illuminate.
- Warranty extensionJun 2015· Steering· model years 2011–2014
14232A - special coverage (warranty transaction information revised).
- Warranty extensionNov 2014· Steering· model years 2011–2014
14232 - special coverage. Some vehicles may have increased friction in the steering system.
- Warranty extensionNov 2014· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2011–2014
Special Coverage Adjustment ? Power Steering Stick-Slip
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2019
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2019
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2011–2019
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles.
- Service campaignFeb 2021· Electrical system· model years 2016–2018
Customer Satisfaction program - certain vehicles may have a condition related to the high voltage battery which could gradually lose the ability to maintain voltage.
- Service campaignDec 2019· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2011
N172130461 (18216) - Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain 2011 model year Chevrolet Volt vehicles equipped with a high voltage battery, may have a condition where it could gradually lose the ability to maintain voltage.
- Service campaignDec 2019· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2018–2019
N192259800 - Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the drive motor power inverter module is susceptible to a thermal over-stress failure.
- Service campaignSep 2019· Electrical system· model years 2012–2015
N172130462 02 - Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain 2012 - 2015 model year Chevrolet Volt vehicles and 2014–2016 model year Cadillac ELR vehicles equipped with a high voltage battery, may have a condition where it could gradually lose the ability to maintain voltage.
- Service campaignAug 2019· Electrical system· model years 2018
N192218430 - Customer Satisfaction Program. During service, certain vehicles equipped with OnStar (RPO UE1), may have received an incorrect and partially programmed/configured replacement OnStar module.
- Service campaignJun 2017· Electrical system· model years 2015
15086A - Customer Satisfaction Program. On certain passenger cars and light duty trucks, equipped with Gen 10 OnStar®, the embedded phone flash memory chip may become corrupted, causing the OnStar® system to become inoperative.
- Service campaignJun 2017· Electrical system· model years 2017
17228 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles, equipped with an automatic transmission (RPO MKV), may exhibit a condition where the driver notices a ?Propulsion Power is Reduced?
- Service campaignDec 2016· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2016–2017
16055 Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles may exhibit a condition where the driver notices a ?Propulsion Power is Reduced?
- Service campaignMar 2016· Electrical system· model years 2011–2016
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignMar 2016· Tires· model years 2016
26900 - customer satisfaction program. Some vehicles may have been built and shipped without the trunk well stored tire inflator kit components.
- Service campaignDec 2015· Electrical system· model years 2013
15747 - customer satisfaction program. Certain 2013 Model year buick encore, lacrosse, regal, verano, chevrolet camaro, cruze, equinox, malibu, volt, gmc terrain model vehicles equipped with panasonic color navigation and color connected radios (rpo uhq or ufu & UP9), may have a…
- Service campaignAug 2015· Electrical system· model years 2011–2015
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignApr 2015· Electrical system· model years 2015
14395A - customer satisfaction program (revised labor time). On some 2015 Model year buick encore, lacrosse, regal, and verano; cadillac ats, cts, elr, escalade, srx and xts; chevrolet colorado, corvette, cruze, equinox, impala, malibu, silverado, sonic, spark, ss, suburban,…
- Service campaignJan 2015· Body and structure· model years 2011–2015
14274 - customer satisfaction program. On certain 2010-2015 Model year cadillac srx and 2011-2015 Model year chevrolet volt vehicles, the manual liftgate gas strut may detach from the liftgate when the liftgate is closed and the piston rod could separate from the strut tube.
- Service campaignSep 2014· Electrical system· model years 2012–2013
12187C - customer satisfaction program (revised expiration date).
- Service campaignOct 2012· Electrical system· model years 2013
12241 - customer satisfaction program. Vehicles can be affected by incorrect calendar date information sent through the telematics systems.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Volt model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Electrical system703 (38%)
- Fuel and propulsion498 (27%)
- Transmission and drivetrain430 (23%)
- Engine367 (20%)
- Airbags294 (16%)
- Other or unspecified226 (12%)
- Brakes100 (5%)
- Cruise control and speed control49 (3%)
Safety recalls
8 recalls cover at least one Volt model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.
Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured.
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
An update to the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 (HPCM2) may have disabled the cell balancing function causing a low-voltage condition.
The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.
If the driver exits the vehicle without turning off the electrical system, the battery may drain low enough that the gasoline engine will automatically start itself to recharge the electric battery.
Due to a brake pressure modulator valve problem, the vehicles do not relieve brake pressure from the front brakes during an anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), or traction control event.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- PE23022Preliminary evaluation· opened Nov 2023, closed Mar 2025· Electrical system· model years 2016–2019
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
- DP22005Defect petition· opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023· Electrical system· model years 2011–2019
Pedestrian alert sounds
Led to recall 22V063000.
- PE19013Preliminary evaluation· opened Sep 2019, closed Jul 2021· Airbags· model years 2012–2013
Passenger Sensing System
- PE11037Preliminary evaluation· opened Nov 2011, closed Jan 2012· Electrical system· model years 2011–2012
Post-Crash EV Fire Hazard
NHTSA's own page for the 2019 Chevrolet Volt has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Chevrolet Volt reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2011 on: 1,866 owner complaints, 8 warranty extensions and 19 service campaigns Chevrolet filed, and 8 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2017 (699), 2013 (308), 2012 (245). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Volt?
Across every model year since 2011, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name electrical system (38%), fuel and propulsion (27%), transmission and drivetrain (23%). Chevrolet has filed 8 warranty extensions covering the Volt, listed on this page.
Which Volt model years have the most complaints?
2017 (699), 2013 (308), 2012 (245). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Volt with each other rather than with other models.
Has Chevrolet extended the warranty on the Volt?
Yes: body and structure (model years 2017–2019); electrical system (model years 2016–2018); electrical system (model years 2016–2018), and 5 more. A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Volt?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 8 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.