2012 Chevrolet VOLT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
245 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 185 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 84 of 245 complaints (34.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 60 | 24.5% |
| Braking behavior | 33 | 13.5% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 4.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 84 |
| Electrical System | 78 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 37 |
| Engine | 26 |
| Service Brakes | 23 |
| Power Train | 22 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Seats | 14 |
Air Bags: 84; Electrical System: 78; Fuel/Propulsion System: 37; Engine: 26; Service Brakes: 23; Power Train: 22; Unknown Or Other: 17; Seats: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 33 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 43 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 48 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 33; 75,000 to 99,999: 43; 100,000 to 149,999: 48; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 60 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 | 1 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 31 |
| 2019 | 40 |
| 2020 | 33 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2011: 1; 2012: 6; 2013: 8; 2014: 15; 2015: 15; 2016: 16; 2017: 21; 2018: 31; 2019: 40; 2020: 33; 2021: 22; 2022: 14; 2023: 9; 2024: 8; 2025: 2; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 60 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 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 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 10445929 · 2012-01-30 (January 30, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR REVERSE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE THE VEHICLE WAS TO A WALL OR A PERSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO AND INJURE TWO PEDESTRIANS WHILE REVERSING. THE DEALER MADE AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128. UPDATED 02…
Owner-reported narrative. 32 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466400 · 2012-07-18 (July 18, 2012)
NO ACCIDENT: THE DEGREE OF DISTORTION IN REAR GLASS IS UNSAFE. OPTICS MAY NOT MEET AUTO GLASS AND OR FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE WORKED IN THE GLASS INDUSTRY IN QUALITY CONTROL AND THIS GLASS WOULD NOT MEET COMPANY OR FEDERAL STANDARDS. WITH DISTORTION THIS BAD THE PARTICLE SIZE COULD BE AN ISSUE AS WELL. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. GM HAS AGREED TO REPLACE MY GLASS, HOWEVER I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER REAR WINDOWS IN THAT SAME RUN TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10471278 · 2012-08-17 (August 17, 2012)
THERE IS AN APPARENT DESIGN FLAW IN THE CHEVY VOLT RELATED TO AN INDIVIDUAL EXITING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWERING DOWN THE SYSTEMS WHICH COULD RESULT IN CO POISONING OR DEATH AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARDS IN THE RIGHT SITUATION. THE VOLT USES A KEY FOB SYSTEM AND PUSH BUTTON START. KEY FOBS ARE ALREADY PROVING TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WITH THE VOLT, THE SITUATION IS EXACERBATED. SINCE THE CAR IS VIRTUALLY SILENT, IT IS VERY EASY FOR A PERSON TO FORGET TO TURN OFF THE CAR, AND WHEN THEY EXIT, THE LACK OF ANY ENGINE NOISE WILL OFTEN NOT GIVE THEM T…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472984 · 2012-08-29 (August 29, 2012)
8/24/12 POWER STEERING FAILED 2X. FIRST TIME FOR ABOUT 2MIN. SECOND TIME ON 8/26/12 FOR 15 TO 20 SECONDS ALMOST HIT A CAR IN NEXT LANE WHILE TURNING ON 8/24. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10476962 · 2012-09-25 (September 25, 2012)
WAS DRIVING VOLT AT LOW SPEED IN TRAFFIC. ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH MODES (NORMAL TO SPORT). THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PRESSING A BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD TWICE IN QUICK SUCCESSION. THE BUTTON IS LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE START/STOP BUTTON. I ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED THE START/STOP BUTTON TWICE IN QUICK SUCCESSION, WHICH SHUTS THE CAR OFF. THE CAR SHUT OFF AND I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT UNTIL I CAME TO A FULL STOP, SHIFTED THE CAR TO PARK, AND PRESSED THE BRAKE. THE RESULTED IN A SMALL TRAFFIC BACKUP BEHIND ME. HOWEVER, THIS THE DESIGN AND PLACEMEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10476962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10487226 · 2012-12-03 (December 3, 2012)
DRIVER HAD RETURNED HOME, STOPPED CAR, DEPRESSED GEAR SHIFTER BUTTON TO PUT GEAR IN PARK, AND WAS ELECTROCUTED FROM THE POINT OF GEAR SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY SLATED TO BE "REPURCHASED" BY GM DUE TO OTHER ONGOING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DRIVER FOR USE WHILE THE NEW VEHICLE WAS BEING BUILT BY GM FOR DELIVERY TO THE DRIVER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL MALFUNCTIONING REPAIRS, THE LAST TIME BEFORE INCIDENT (INCLUDING A MALFUNCTION WITH THE MAIN BATTERY COMPONENT THE DEALER …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10494625 · 2013-01-24 (January 24, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DRIVING OVER A RUMBLE STRIP ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494625 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V271000 · Service Brakes | Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
Reported: 2013-06-27 (June 27, 2013)
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, through April 17, 2012. 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. One or both front brakes may lock up and not release. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems"' and No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Consequence: If the brakes lock up it could cause a loss of steering control and/or a lengthened distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will install a new brake pressure modulator valve free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 12, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's recall number is 13184.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗