Chevrolet Volt Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 704 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Volt across 9 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (312). The words owners use most often: “shift park” (27% of reports).
- 704electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 13mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 55%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Shift park: mentioned in 187 of 704 complaints (27%)
- Turn off: mentioned in 108 of 704 complaints (15%)
- Propulsion power: mentioned in 74 of 704 complaints (11%)
- Energy control: mentioned in 53 of 704 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Chevrolet Volt at $1,700, and half of them between $1,050 and $2,550.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 314 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 704 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 11 a fire, 13 an injury.
Chevrolet Volt electrical system complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition; engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 2017 Chevrolet Volt, with 97,758 miles, experienced a failure that rendered the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle would not start or operate normally. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Chevrolet dealership for diagnosis. After several days, the dealership confirmed that the Battery Energy…
2017 Chevy Volt, lost propulsion and stalled on a highway in 3 separate instances. GM Case # XXX: The first instance, in late 2021, resulted in a BECM replacement. The following instances, XXX and SXXX, had the exact same symptoms: loss of propulsion on highway, shift to park, full charge but 0…
FAILURE SUMMARY & SAFETY RISK: While operating in live traffic, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power and entered a "Propulsion Power Reduced" failsafe mode, creating a severe rear-end collision hazard. The vehicle is currently grounded and remains available for inspection upon…
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the "Propulsion Power Reduced" and "Shift to Park" messages were intermittently displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle lost automotive power and stalled, and the contact pulled over to the…
The vehicle frequently fails to register that the transmission has been shifted into Park. When this happens the instrument cluster displays "Action Required / Shift to Park" and the power (STOP/START) button will not shut the vehicle off. The condition is intermittent. I can usually clear it only…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Volts have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 704 owner complaints about electrical system for the Chevrolet Volt. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Volt electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Volt?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,700 (half paid between $1,050 and $2,550), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Volt?
The most frequent phrase is “shift park”, in 187 of 704 complaints, followed by “turn off” (108).
Other Chevrolet Volt problems
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (501)
- Power Train problems (432)
- Engine problems (368)
- Air Bags problems (310)
- Service Brakes problems (100)
See all Chevrolet Volt problems.