2016 Chevrolet VOLT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
169 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
43,045 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 73 of 169 complaints (43.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 56 | 33.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 11.2% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 4.1% |
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 | 73 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 63 |
| Power Train | 50 |
| Engine | 48 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
Electrical System: 73; Fuel/Propulsion System: 63; Power Train: 50; Engine: 48; Unknown Or Other: 20; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Service Brakes: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 109 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 29 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 51 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 13 |
2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 13; 2020: 29; 2021: 15; 2022: 12; 2023: 16; 2024: 51; 2025: 11; 2026: 13
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 56 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 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 10825884 · 2016-02-12 (February 12, 2016)
WHILE I WAS DRIVING EAST ON HWY 80 IN VACAVILLE, CA, AT APPROXIMATELY 1:15 PM, I WAS LITERALLY BLINDED BY SUN FROM THE CHROME REFLECTION ON THE DASH BOARD. BECAUSE OF THIS, I ALMOST REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRON OF ME AS I HAD DARK SPOTS IN MY VISION FROM THE REFLECTION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10825884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10904798 · 2016-09-08 (September 8, 2016)
THE ENTIRE CONTROL WINDOW WAS BLANK AND I COULDN'T GET IT TO COME BACK AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR. THE RADIO AND FUNCTIONS STILL WORKED, JUST COULDN'T SEE ANY OF THE FUNCTIONS TO OPERATE THEM. THIS WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AND DURING THE ENTIRE DRIVE ON CITY STREETS AND A HIGHWAY
Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10904798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10906933 · 2016-09-15 (September 15, 2016)
THERE'S AN ODD SITUATION WHEN I'M IN THE ELECTRIC MODE AND AM PASSING OVER A BUMPY BIT OF ROAD: THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES AUTOMATICALLY. THE PART THAT IS TROUBLING IS THAT THESE ARE TIMES WHEN THE DRIVER WOULD WANT TO SLOW DOWN. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES. I'VE BEEN LUCKY, SO FAR. BUT I HOPE THIS IS REMEDIED SOON.
Owner-reported narrative. 8 miles reported. Look up ODI 10906933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10911019 · 2016-10-02 (October 2, 2016)
2016 CHEVY VOLT WOULDN'T START, LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, CURRENT ON MAINTENANCE. TOWED IT TO DEALER, THEY SAID THERE WERE SOME RECALLS - BUT COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG. GOT IT BACK AFTER 2 DAYS, WAS FINE - THEN ON 9/22/16 WOULDN'T START AGAIN - I WAS STRANDED IN THE DARK, GOT IT JUMP STARTED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SINCE IT WAS RUNNING FINE HE DIDN'T TAKE IT IN. TOLD ME NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS TO GET IT TOWED IN. WOULDN'T START AGAIN YESTERDAY, UNRELIABLE CAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10911019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10943712 · 2017-01-08 (January 8, 2017)
IN REGARD TO RECALL 16055 REPROGRAM HYBRID POWERTRAIN CONTROL; MODULE 2. I HAD THIS RECALL DONE ON JANUARY 5, 2017. THIS SERVICE CHANGES SOME SETTINGS WITHOUT NOTIFICATION TO THE OWNER. CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IT CHANGES THE ENGINE RUN ON REMOTE START FROM OFF TO ON. IF THE OWNER STARTS THEIR CAR TO WARM UP IN THE GARAGE THE ENGINE WILL RUN UNKNOWING TO THE OWNER. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE BUILDUP OF CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE GARAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10943712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958862 · 2017-03-06 (March 6, 2017)
MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A LEFT TURN LANE AT AN INTERSECTION. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE THE CAR THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS, THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE. I REPEATEDLY TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR SEEMED TO NOT EVEN IDLE BECAUSE IT WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED. AFTER A WHILE THERE WAS SOME WEIRD NOISES AND THE CAR DID SOME UNUSUAL SHAKING. I ALSO OBSERVED ON MY DASHBOARD THAT THE CAR WAS SWITCHING BETWEEN THE ELECTRIC BATTERY POWER AND THE GAS FUEL POWE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,080 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11089585 · 2018-04-23 (April 23, 2018)
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHERE THE CENTER DISPLAY CONSOLE GOES BLANK ON STARTING THE CAR AND IS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. THIS DISPLAYS VITAL INFORMATION SUCH AS LOCATION, CHARGE CAPACITY, CLIMATE CONTROLS, ETC. COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO RESET THIS. IT CORRECTS ITSELF AFTER THE CAR IS OFF FOR A BIT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TWO DAYS. THIS IS FOR CASE ID NUMBER 10872363.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,281 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113086 · 2018-07-23 (July 23, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (F H DAILEY CHEVROLET, 900 MARINA BLVD, SAN LEANDRO, CA 94577), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113086 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.
17V621000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2017-10-05 (October 5, 2017)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17387.
NHTSA campaign record ↗