Chevrolet Volt Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,869 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file for the Chevrolet Volt, across 9 model years (2011–2019). The 2017 model year has the most complaints (701). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
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Chevrolet Volt years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Volt year: 2013, 2017. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2017 Volt: 701 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2013 Volt: 308 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2012 Volt: 245 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2019 Volt: 34 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2015 Volt: 44 complaints, 1 recall
- 2011 Volt: 49 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet Volt problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 704 | 9 | 15 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 501 | 9 | 9 |
| Power Train problems | 432 | 9 | 3 |
| Engine problems | 368 | 9 | 6 |
| Air Bags problems | 310 | 8 | 9 |
| Service Brakes problems | 100 | 9 | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 67 | 8 | 4 |
| Seats | 55 | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 44 | 9 | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 22 | 8 | 2 |
| Structure | 22 | 7 | 3 |
| Visibility/wiper | 17 | 6 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 14 | 5 | 0 |
| Tires | 14 | 5 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 12 | 6 | 0 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 11 | 4 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Wheels | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat or Vehicle) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Chevrolet Volt problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2018: electrical system (87) · power train (85) · fuel/propulsion system (73) · engine (50)
- 2017: electrical system (312) · fuel/propulsion system (236) · power train (221) · engine (183)
- 2016: electrical system (77) · fuel/propulsion system (64) · power train (51)
- 2013: air bags (161) · electrical system (63) · fuel/propulsion system (53)
- 2012: air bags (86) · electrical system (86)
All Chevrolet Volt model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Volt | 34 | 2 | 5★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Volt | 225 | 2 | 5★ | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2017 Volt | 701 | 0 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Volt | 170 | 1 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2015 Volt | 44 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 Volt | 93 | 0 | 5★ | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2013 Volt | 308 | 3 | 5★ | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Volt | 245 | 2 | 5★ | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2011 Volt | 49 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Volt years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2013 (308), 2017 (701) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Volt year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Volt?
Electrical System, with 704 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Volt have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.