2011 Chevrolet Volt Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Volt years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 7th of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. That ranks 7th out of 9 Volt model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (23 complaints, 47%), typically at around 64,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 49owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2011 Chevrolet Volt problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 23 | 47% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 16% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 12% | 90,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 8% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 6% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 6% | 28,606 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 6% | 15,528 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 4% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 4% | 6,028 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 2% | 84,763 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 2% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 2% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 2% | 17,445 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 2% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | 12,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2011 Chevrolet Volt recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition; engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
- Post-Crash EV Fire Hazard (PE11037) — opened Nov 25, 2011, closed Jan 20, 2012.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that water was accumulating inside the driver's side taillight assembly. The contact stated that the water caused a short circuit in the taillight, and the passengerâs side turn signal became inoperable. The contact had taken the vehicle…
I was stopped at a red light with my foot on the brake. When the light turned green, I released the brake and the car suddenly accelerated forward on its own, without me touching the accelerator. As soon as the car surged forward, I immediately pressed the brake pedal hard to stop it but instead of…
Driver display is blank (no speed, gear position, odometer, gas tank, etc), with the exception of some warning icons like tire pressure and passenger seat belt status. Does no return after turning off power.
'11 Chevy Volt hybrid was daily driver of 100+ miles, multiple trips both highway and city for last 2 1/2 months. Breaks and rotors have been replaced all the way around, fresh oil changes as needed and filters. Warning on dash "Service High Voltage Charging System", âService Airbag" and check…
The car quit running when my wife was driving the car when the mileage range went down to 4 miles range remaining. The car was towed to the local Chevrolet dealership who charged over $1,000 to reset the electronics so car would run. I was advised that if battery range was run down to a low mileage…
Other Chevrolet Volt years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Volt | 34 | 2 |
| 2018 Volt | 225 | 2 |
| 2017 Volt | 701 | 0 |
| 2016 Volt | 169 | 1 |
| 2015 Volt | 44 | 1 |
| 2014 Volt | 93 | 0 |
| 2013 Volt | 308 | 3 |
| 2012 Volt | 245 | 2 |
| 2011 | 49 | 1 |
See all Chevrolet Volt problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt?
Owners most often report electrical system, air bags, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 23 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Chevrolet Volt?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2011 Chevrolet Volt a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Volt model years, the 2011 has far fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.