2011 Chevrolet VOLT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
72,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 49 complaints (44.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 22.4% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.2% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.0% |
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 | 22 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Seats | 2 |
Electrical System: 22; Air Bags: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Engine: 4; Power Train: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Steering: 3; Seats: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 7; 2018: 5; 2019: 8; 2020: 7; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10430808 · 2011-10-19 (October 19, 2011)
THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I'M CONCERNED MAY IMPACT OTHER VOLTS. HERE'S THE BACKGROUND. ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE AT A VERY SLOW RATE AND GOT HALFWAY THROUGH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD 'CRUNCHING' SOUND. I GOT OUT WONDERING WHAT THE THE NOISE WAS AND SAW THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR DOWN AND DIRECTLY SITTING ON THE TIRE. THE CONTROL ARM OR STRUT OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT HAD SEEMINGLY COLLAPSED. LOOKING MORE CLOSELY, IT LOOKED LIKE THE WHEEL HAD PRACTICALLY COME OFF. GREASE WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE DR…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10430808 at NHTSA ↗
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 10525649 · 2013-07-18 (July 18, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE FUEL MAX TIRES, SIZE 215-55-17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO LOW TIRE PRESSURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,445. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,445 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533692 · 2013-08-05 (August 5, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533692 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 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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V145000 · Electrical System:Ignition | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Reported: 2015-03-13 (March 13, 2015)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Volt vehicles manufactured August 25, 2010, to June 26, 2013. 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.
Consequence: If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine management software to limit the time that the stationary vehicle can be left in the ON position, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14617.
NHTSA campaign record ↗