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U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet VOLT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,860 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

50,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 884 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 660 of 1,860 complaints (35.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues50026.9%
Transmission and shifting1699.1%
Braking behavior1608.6%
Engine operation1045.6%
Steering behavior733.9%
Fuel system concerns110.6%

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.

Electrical System
660
Fuel/Propulsion System
495
Power Train
409
Engine
366
Air Bags
307
Unknown Or Other
225
Service Brakes
100
Vehicle Speed Control
67
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System660
Fuel/Propulsion System495
Power Train409
Engine366
Air Bags307
Unknown Or Other225
Service Brakes100
Vehicle Speed Control67

Electrical System: 660; Fuel/Propulsion System: 495; Power Train: 409; Engine: 366; Air Bags: 307; Unknown Or Other: 225; Service Brakes: 100; Vehicle Speed Control: 67

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
209
25,000 to 49,999
224
50,000 to 74,999
172
75,000 to 99,999
143
100,000 to 149,999
115
150,000 and above
21
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000209
25,000 to 49,999224
50,000 to 74,999172
75,000 to 99,999143
100,000 to 149,999115
150,000 and above21

Under 25,000: 209; 25,000 to 49,999: 224; 50,000 to 74,999: 172; 75,000 to 99,999: 143; 100,000 to 149,999: 115; 150,000 and above: 21

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (224). 976 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.

2011
3
2012
9
2013
18
2014
39
2015
35
2016
47
2017
73
2018
123
2019
190
2020
279
2021
213
2022
167
2023
187
2024
271
2025
142
2026
64
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20113
20129
201318
201439
201535
201647
201773
2018123
2019190
2020279
2021213
2022167
2023187
2024271
2025142
202664

2011: 3; 2012: 9; 2013: 18; 2014: 39; 2015: 35; 2016: 47; 2017: 73; 2018: 123; 2019: 190; 2020: 279; 2021: 213; 2022: 167; 2023: 187; 2024: 271; 2025: 142; 2026: 64

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 500 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 169 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 160 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 10452948 · 2012-03-26 (March 26, 2012)

OUR VOLT WAS LEFT OVERNIGHT TO CHARGE USING THE SUPPLIED 120V LEVEL ONE CHARGE CORD THAT COMES WITH THE VEHICLE (THEREFORE I CONSIDER IT PART OF THE VEHICLE.) IN THE MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CHARGED -- AT SOME POINT DURING THE NIGHT THE CHARGE FAILED AFTER THE BATTERY ACCUMULATED JUST 5 MILES OF ESTIMATED RANGE. THE SOCKET INTO WHICH THE CHARGE CORD HAD BEEN PLUGGED, THE RECEPTACLE OF A KILL-A-WATT CHARGE MEASURING DEVICE, WAS SCORCHED AND PARTIALLY MELTED. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SMALL ELECTRICAL FIRE AT THE POINT WHERE THE VOLT'S CORD PLU…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,482 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452948 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10556909 · 2013-12-21 (December 21, 2013)

AS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, WHEN RUNNING ON BATTERY, IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LEFT RUNNING. UPON RETURNING HOME ONE DAY, I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND PLUGGED IT IN. I DIDN'T REALIZE AT THE TIME, THAT I HAD NOT TURNED OFF THE VOLT BY PRESSING THE BLUE POWER SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD. THE NEXT MORNING, I CAME INTO MY ENCLOSED GARAGE AND COULD HEAR THE VOLT'S GAS POWERED GENERATOR RUNNING. I LOOKED AT THE DASH DISPLAY AND COULD SEE THE VOLT HAD NOT CHARGED, HAD USED UP ALL REMAINING BATTERY, AND HAD BEEN RUNNING ON GAS GENERATOR FOR S…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,648 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556909 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10573309 · 2014-03-19 (March 19, 2014)

THE CAR HAS PROCEEDED TO HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUES, WITH THE MOST PREDOMINANT AND LIFE THREATENING ISSUE BEING AN AIRBAG FAILURE...TWICE. OTHER ISSUES: RADIO, DOOR LOCKS, AND PARK ASSIST ENGAGE/DISENGAGE ON THEIR OWN. BRAKES NOT CATCHING CAUSING CAR TO ROLL. POWER FAILURE AND WON'T START. APRIL 2013, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED AT A RATE OF SPEED OVER 45MPH. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY; CAUSED PERSONAL INJURY. GM SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR, AND PULLED THE DATA. RESPONSE BACK WAS ?NO EVENT RECORDED? AND WAS DISMISSED. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING HAPPENED, ESP…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,606 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573309 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10956605 · 2017-02-23 (February 23, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE B-BEARING JOINT DISINTEGRATED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MAKE LOUD NOISES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC B-BEARING JOINT WITH A METAL ONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956605 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11469570 · 2022-06-16 (June 16, 2022)

Several times over the 2 years I have owned this vehicle while driving an almost complete loss of braking occurs with a service notice for the ABS system. If you turn off the ignition and restart it the braking works fine. I am in the process of having the Electronic Brake Control Module - GM (84070136) and the Brake Pressure Modulator Valve - GM (23283683) replaced. i believe that there is a design flaw in this system in that a problem of the ABS should not eliminating the ability to stop the vehicle. This is costing me $3500, but the point is…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11469570 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11566740 · 2024-01-20 (January 20, 2024)

'11 Chevy Volt hybrid was daily driver of 100+ miles, multiple trips both highway and city for last 2 1/2 months. Breaks and rotors have been replaced all the way around, fresh oil changes as needed and filters. Warning on dash "Service High Voltage Charging System", ”Service Airbag" and check engine light have been on since I've owned it (Oct. 23). When plug car in it doesn't charge, but the EV charges while driving. Car generally switches back and forth from EV to ICE without issues. No other issues have been noted. 1/18/24 Start car and dri…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11566740 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10423239 · 2011-09-04 (September 4, 2011)

I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT A MERGE POINT, WHEN VEHICLE "STALLED". I AND DEALER WORKER COULD NOT RESTART FOR 45 MINUTES, AT WHICH TIME IT FINALLY STARTED. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP, CHECKED OUT BRIEFLY, SEEMED OK. DROVE IT AGAIN LESS THAN A MILE, AND FOR 2ND TIME, AGAIN STALLED FOR APPROX. 45 MIN. CAR COULDN'T BE STARTED. FINALLY CAR RESPONDED AND DROVE 2ND TIME TO DEALER, WHERE IT WAS LEFT FOR ANALYSIS AND POSSIBLE REPAIR. CAR PURCHASED AUG. 30 2011, INCIDENT SEPT. 1, BEGINNING 7-8AM. CAR IS NOW IN DEALER'S HANDS FOR POSSIBLE REPAIR. CHEVROLET VOLT H…

Owner-reported narrative. 83 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423239 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10402364 · 2011-05-23 (May 23, 2011)

THE REAR END OF THIS CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS SLIPPING OUT WHEN YOU ENTER A CURVE AT 60 TO 65 MPH. GM CALLS IT SENSITIVE STEERING BUT I CALL IT SCARY AND UNSAFE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 55 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402364 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10577125 · 2014-04-03 (April 3, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, HE DROVE OVER THE RUMBLE STRIPS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND THE POWER STEERING TO STOP WORKING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO MANEUVER AND THE CHECK POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577125 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11585428 · 2024-04-26 (April 26, 2024)

Driver display is blank (no speed, gear position, odometer, gas tank, etc), with the exception of some warning icons like tire pressure and passenger seat belt status. Does no return after turning off power.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11585428 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10808675 · 2015-12-07 (December 7, 2015)

WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK: BACK PRESSURE IS SENSED BY GAS STATION PUMP AND STOPS THE FLOW OF GAS AFTER A QUICK MOMENT. CONTINUING THESE SHORT BURSTS CAN TAKE A LONG WHILE. IF TRYING TO FUEL SLOWLY BELOW THE THRESHOLD OF THE BACK PRESSURE BEING SENSED BY THE PUMP, IT COULD RESULT IN GASOLINE FLOWING AND SQUIRTING OUT OF THE GAS TANK OPENING, ONTO: THE CAR, TIRE, BRAKES, UNDERSIDE OF CAR & THE ATTENDANT FILING THE GAS TANK.

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808675 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2011
1
2012
2
2013
3
2014
0
2015
1
2016
1
2017
0
2018
2
2019
2
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20111
20122
20133
20140
20151
20161
20170
20182
20192

2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 0; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 0; 2018: 2; 2019: 2

Year-by-year records

Chevrolet VOLT model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
2011491Not available
20122452+1
20133083+1
2014930-3
2015441+1
201616910
20176960-1
20182222+2
20193420