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U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Chevrolet VOLT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

308 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

67,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 213 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 160 of 308 complaints (51.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues5618.2%
Braking behavior247.8%
Transmission and shifting134.2%
Engine operation92.9%
Steering behavior92.9%
Fuel system concerns10.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
160
Fuel/Propulsion System
53
Electrical System
52
Engine
37
Seats
31
Power Train
24
Service Brakes
19
Unknown Or Other
15
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags160
Fuel/Propulsion System53
Electrical System52
Engine37
Seats31
Power Train24
Service Brakes19
Unknown Or Other15

Air Bags: 160; Fuel/Propulsion System: 53; Electrical System: 52; Engine: 37; Seats: 31; Power Train: 24; Service Brakes: 19; Unknown Or Other: 15

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
38
25,000 to 49,999
29
50,000 to 74,999
60
75,000 to 99,999
47
100,000 to 149,999
33
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00038
25,000 to 49,99929
50,000 to 74,99960
75,000 to 99,99947
100,000 to 149,99933
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 38; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 60; 75,000 to 99,999: 47; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 6

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (60). 95 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2012
2
2013
7
2014
17
2015
7
2016
9
2017
12
2018
37
2019
71
2020
51
2021
35
2022
22
2023
14
2024
13
2025
8
2026
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20122
20137
201417
20157
20169
201712
201837
201971
202051
202135
202222
202314
202413
20258
20263

2012: 2; 2013: 7; 2014: 17; 2015: 7; 2016: 9; 2017: 12; 2018: 37; 2019: 71; 2020: 51; 2021: 35; 2022: 22; 2023: 14; 2024: 13; 2025: 8; 2026: 3

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 56 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10487534 · 2012-12-06 (December 6, 2012)

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME, IT WAS VERY DARK OUTSIDE ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY GOING 60-60MPH AND WANTED TO SWITCH OVER TO ELECTRIC "HOLD" MODE SO I COULD SAVE THE ELECTRIC BATTERY FOR CITY DRIVING. I GLANCED OVER AND HIT THE "DRIVE MODE" BUTTON THREE TIMES THINKING I WAS GOING TO SEND THE DRIVE MODE DOWN TO "HOLD". INSTEAD WHAT I DID WAS POWERED OFF THE CAR BY HITTING THE POWER BUTTON. (THE TWO BUTTONS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND BOTH REQUIRE MULTIPLE PRESSES TO WORK). SO THERE I WAS, THE CAR WENT BLACK INSIDE AND THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF OU…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487534 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10520732 · 2013-06-19 (June 19, 2013)

I LEASED A NEW 2013 VOLT ON FRIDAY AND DROVE IT TO WORK AND HOME ON MONDAY. THE BATTERY DISPLAY SHOWED IT WAS AT MINIMUM, ZERO MILES REMAINING. THE VOLT WAS RUNNING WITH THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. AS I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT, "'PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED"', "'ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE"', AND "SERVICE STABILITRAC" DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. AFTER GOING ABOUT 500 FEET, I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE VOLT STALLED. I TURNED ON THE FLASHERS AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE POWER BY PRESSING THE BRAKE …

Owner-reported narrative. 196 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520732 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10501971 · 2013-03-07 (March 7, 2013)

ANTILOCK FEATURE OF BRAKES WILL NOT ENGAGE ON ICE/SNOW UNLESS BRAKES ARE SLAMMED HARD. AT LEAST THREE TIMES, I HAVE SLID SLOWLY THROUGH AN ATTEMPTED STOP. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED TWICE WHILE GENTLY BREAKING WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL. THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND VEHICLE GOES INTO A SLIDE. IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, BUT NOW I KNOW TO SLAM THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE ANTILOCK FEATURE WILL THEN OPERATE AND TERMINATE THE SKID AND STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501971 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10519717 · 2013-06-13 (June 13, 2013)

I BOUGHT A 2013 VOLT 2 WEEKS AGO. WHILE AT THE CVS DRIVE THROUGH TODAY THE CAR STARTED TO BEEP WARNING LIGHTS WHEN OFF, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARD. THE BRAKES COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING, NO PUMPING OR ANYTHING. I MADE IT INTO A PARKING SPACE TO AWAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE ON THE ERROR MESSAGES WERE GONE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOLID AGAIN. I STARTED TO MOVE THE CAR AND THE ERRORS CAME BACK AND BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. THE EXPERIENCE WAS OVERALL KINDA SCARY. I …

Owner-reported narrative. 749 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519717 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10578140 · 2014-04-08 (April 8, 2014)

MY CHEVY VOLT WAS AT A CAR WASH AND THE ATTENDANT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE STILL IN "D" GEAR. THE CAR IS ABLE TO ROLL AND MOVE WHILE IN THIS GEAR. I WAS SURPRISED SO I TESTED IT FOR MYSELF, AND SURE ENOUGH YOU'RE ABLE TO TURN THE POWER OFF AND EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE STILL IN 'D'. EVERY CAR I'VE OWNED (AUTOMATIC) FORCES YOU TO SHIFT INTO P OR N BEFORE ALLOWING THE KEY TO REMOVE. THIS IS A GREAT CONCERN FOR ME, SO I CALLED MY VOLT ADVISOR TODAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS ROLLED INTO THEIR GARAGE, AND THE BEHAVIOR WAS BY DESIG…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578140 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10617670 · 2014-07-30 (July 30, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE PULLING OUT THE DRIVEWAY AT 10 MPH, THE PARKING BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE BATTERY CHARGING RECEPTACLE CAUSING THE RESISTANCE OF THE INTERLOCK TO DROP OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE PARKING BRAKE BECOMING ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT CAUS…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10617670 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10498372 · 2013-02-16 (February 16, 2013)

AT ANY SPEED OVER 57MPH, IF YOU LEAVE THE STEERING WHEEL CENTERED (SUCH AS ON A LONG STRAIGHTAWAY) THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK IN THAT CENTER POSITION. IT TAKES SIGNIFICANT FORCE TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF THAT CENTER LOCKED POSITION. CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT HAS SO FAR BEEN UN-WILLING TO FIX IT IN MY VEHICLE (THEY WILL NOT SEND THE PART TO THE DEALERSHIP). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498372 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11687358 · 2025-09-15 (September 15, 2025)

Fuel leaking from fuel tank at filler inlet. Defect in fuel tank assembly. Large puddle of gasoline formed under car after refueling causing buildup of fumes in closed garage. Vehicle has not been inspected by anyone other than owner. There were no warning lamps prior to failure.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11687358 at NHTSA ↗