2018 Chevrolet VOLT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
222 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
24,579 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 50 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 84 of 222 complaints (37.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 62 | 27.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 29 | 13.1% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 84 |
| Power Train | 77 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 71 |
| Engine | 50 |
| Unknown Or Other | 40 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift | 7 |
Electrical System: 84; Power Train: 77; Fuel/Propulsion System: 71; Engine: 50; Unknown Or Other: 40; Service Brakes: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 172 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2022 | 31 |
| 2023 | 32 |
| 2024 | 43 |
| 2025 | 37 |
| 2026 | 15 |
2018: 6; 2019: 8; 2020: 24; 2021: 26; 2022: 31; 2023: 32; 2024: 43; 2025: 37; 2026: 15
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 62 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 29 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 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 11152980 · 2018-11-20 (November 20, 2018)
CHEVROLET VOLT CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN DEEP SNOW. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN SNOW AT A SPEED OF ONE MILE PER HOUR COVERING 6 MILES IN 6 HOURS AFTER FIRST SNOW IN NYC NOV 15, 2018. THE PROTECTIVE UNDER CARRIAGE PANEL THAT COVERS THE ELECTRICAL AND TUBING BECOMES BRITTLE AND BREAKS AWAY WHEN IMPACTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11152980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11180917 · 2019-02-18 (February 18, 2019)
GEN 2 VOLT HAS A PADDLE ON THE STEERING COLUMN THAT BRAKES THE VEHICLE AND ADDS SOME CHARGE TO THE MAIN BATTERY. (PART OF THR REGEN SYSTEM) SINCE IT BRAKES THE VEHICLE I BELIEVE THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD ILLUMINATE , THEY DON'T . IN THE OWNERS IT STATES THAT THE "BRAKE LIGHTS MAY COME ON"... MAY???..... I HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 2 DAYS. THE BCM WAS CHANGED AND THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX THE ISSUE, IT DID NOT. I AND OTHER VOLT FORM MEMBERS FEEL THIS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. 17/2018
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11180917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11222233 · 2019-06-24 (June 24, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD VIOLENTLY, SLOWED DOWN TO 45 MPH, AND THEN STALLED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY POWERED OFF THE ENGINE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY THE POLICE AND TOWED TO MAHER CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 2901 34TH ST N, ST PETERSBURG, FL 33713). THE DEALER FOUND SEVERAL FAILURE CODES AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PUMP OUTLET SEAL, INTERNAL FILTER, AND SPACER PLATE WERE ALL RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 11222233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11299936 · 2020-01-16 (January 16, 2020)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO POWER OFF VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK, AN ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON CONSOLE, "SHIFT TO PARK", AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT POWER OFF. VEHICLE IS IN PARK WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURS, BUT REQUIRES SHIFTING OUT OF PARK, POSSIBLY MULTIPLE TIMES, TO ALLOW VEHICLE TO POWER OFF. ISSUE OCCURS DURING EACH USE OF VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11299936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11129119 · 2018-09-12 (September 12, 2018)
COLLISION OCCURRED ON E DENNY WAY IN SEATTLE, APPROX 3:20 PM ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF CONSTANT BRAKE USE TO HOLD BACK THE CAR. ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWNHILL THE BRAKES FAILED, NO RESISTANCE WHATSOEVER AND THE CAR ROLLED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 15 FEET. THIS WAS A ONE-OFF INCIDENT AND DID NOT RECUR SO FAR. GM AND 3RD PARTY INSPECTORS FOUND NO ERROR CODES, BUT THE BRAKES INDEED FAILED, WHICH MAKES ME SUSPECT A DESIGN PROBLEM IN THE BRAKE-BY-WIRE SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE PEDAL PR…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11140756 · 2018-10-16 (October 16, 2018)
I RAN INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DURING NORMAL TRAFFIC ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, TWO MONTHS TO THE DAY OF PICKING UP MY 2018 VOLT. THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME MAY HAVE STOPPED QUICKLY, BUT IT WAS NOT A STOP THE VOLT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE. I WAS ON A STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I DRIVE EVERY DAY IN TRAFFIC. I HAD MENTIONED TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT THE VOLT'S BRAKES JUST DID NOT FEEL ON PAR WITH THE REST OF THE CAR AND WOULD BE THE ONLY ASPECT OF THIS EV EXPERIENCE I FOUND LACKING. I HAVE THE DATED TEXT MESSAGES TO PROVE THIS. N…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11140756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11141330 · 2018-10-18 (October 18, 2018)
LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. ERROR MESSAGE ON DASH AS WELL. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND NOT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A QUICK AVOIDANCE. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP FOUND DTC ERROR CODE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE POWER STEERING LOSS. DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPLACE OR FIX ANYTHING AS OF NOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11141330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11753393 · 2026-07-28 (July 28, 2026)
I was investigating a thumping sound coming from the vehicle when going over bumps. I discovered that the left fuel tank strap had completely broke into two pieces and was no longer holding up the tank. The fuel tank straps are not readily viewed on the vehicle until you lower/remove the underbody aerodynamic material. It appears that the underbody aerodynamic material may have been contributory by retaining dirt and trapping moisture in contact with the tank straps. The failed tank strap parts are available for inspection. No other indication …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11753393 at NHTSA ↗