What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 Chevrolet Volt

Typical pattern

3.9% of complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Volt came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2012 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (87 complaints), typically at 6.8 yr or about 74,000 miles.

Complaints
359
Median age at failure
7.2 yr
Median mileage
77,000 n=270
Crash / fire / tow
7.2% of reports
Safety recalls
2

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
87 reports · 74,000 mi
6.8 yr
10.3%
Air bags
87 reports · 98,000 mi
8.1 yr
4.6%
Fuel / propulsion
37 reports · 78,000 mi
7.8 yr
0%
Engine
26 reports · 57,000 mi
7.3 yr
7.7%
Service brakes
23 reports · 62,000 mi
6.6 yr
13%
Power train
22 reports · 60,000 mi
6.5 yr
9.1%
Other
17 reports · 50,000 mi
6.0 yr
11.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V145000 2015-03-13
Electrical system:ignition

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.

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.

13V271000 2013-06-27
Electronic stability control (esc)

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."

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.

In owners’ own words

Power train 9,000 mi 1.4 yr in service
UPON BRAKING AND PASSIVE DECELERATION THE CAR MAKES A LOUD AUDIBLE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATES IT IS A REGENERATIVE BRAKE BEARING FAILURE. THIS ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE BEARING CAGE FAILING CAUSING THE BEARING TO LOSE ITS INTEGRITY. HTTP://GM-VOLT.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?17877-LOUD-WHINING-DURING-REGEN. *TR
Power train 12,000 mi 2.4 yr in service
WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME MY CAR WOULD SURGE THEN LOSE POWER. I PRESSED THE ONSTAR BUTTON AND A VEHICLE TEST WAS CONDUCTED. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED ATTENTION. ALSO, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AND I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I WAS ON A RURAL ROAD SO NO ONE ELSE WAS AFFECTED. HAD I BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE THIS COULD HAVE AFFECTED OTHERS AND MYSELF IN A NEGATIVE WAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND JESSUP AUTO IN CATHERDRAL CITY, CA KEPT IT SEVERAL DAYS AND CORRECTED THE ISSUE. THE MAIN ISSUE IS LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Power train 22,292 mi 3.8 yr in service
WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD COME TO A STOP, THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD ENGAGE BY ITSELF. THE ONLY WAY TO DISENGAGE IT WAS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME I DID THIS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DISABLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROADWAY. THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY CHARGING PORT SENDING OUT A FALSE PROXIMITY SIGNAL TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER, MAKING IT THINK IT WAS CHARGING...UPDATED 08/27/15 *BF
Fuel / propulsion 14 mi 8 mo in service
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

Other Volt model years

201920182017201620152014201320122011

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