2018 Chevrolet VOLT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 11140264 · 2018-10-14 (October 14, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND SUDDENLY CAR DISPLAYED WARNING ON DASH BOARD TO SHIFT THE CAR IN PARK POSITION. CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER FROM ENGINE. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER CAR FROM LEFT MOST LANE TO BUFFER LANE BETWEEN FREEWAY AND EXIT. MY MOVE UNTIL IT HAD MOMENTUM. BUT THEM IT STOPPED ON FREEWAY. AFTER STOPPING CAR, IT DID NOT START OR STOP ENGINE. IT DISPLAYED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WHILE RESTARTING CAR, IT KEEP DISPLAYING "INITIALIZING" AND IMMEDIATELY SYSTEM REBOOT BY ITSELF. CAR DID NOT START AT ALL AND EVENTUALLY …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,491 miles reported. Look up ODI 11140264 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 11142769 · 2018-10-25 (October 25, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 60 MPH, THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK' APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER SHIFTED TO PARK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL DOWN TO DRIVE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE CARS WERE APPROACHING FROM BEHIND WITH HIGH SPEED. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO PRESS THE VEHICLE 'START' BUTTON, WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO PULL DOWN TO NEUTRAL AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142769 at NHTSA ↗
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 11194126 · 2019-04-05 (April 5, 2019)
WHEN MY GAS ENGINE IS WARMED UP AND UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE, THERE WOULD BE THIS BURNT PLASTIC SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING LIKE THIS FOR THE PAST 3000 MILES OR SO. IT'S A CLEAR BURNT PLASTIC SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND IT IS ALWAYS AFTER THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP. I USE MY GAS ENGINE ALL THE TIME. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL FOR HYBRID TO BURN STUFF OFF AS IT ISN'T RUN ALL THE TIME, BUT THE CAR HAS 6700 MILES. IT'S A STRETCH TO BLAME IT ON BREAK IN OIL. SOME OF THE SMELL GETS INTO THE CABIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194126 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.
18V576000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
Reported: 2018-08-30 (August 30, 2018)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V673000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other
Reported: 2018-09-26 (September 26, 2018)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18315.
NHTSA campaign record ↗