Chevrolet Volt Engine Problems
Owners have filed 368 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Chevrolet Volt across 9 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (183). The words owners use most often: “egr valve” (25% of reports).
- 368engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $3,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 67%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.
- EGR valve: mentioned in 93 of 368 complaints (25%)
- Propulsion power: mentioned in 73 of 368 complaints (20%)
- Shift park: mentioned in 50 of 368 complaints (14%)
- Energy control: mentioned in 20 of 368 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Chevrolet Volt at $3,000, and half of them between $2,050 and $3,800.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2026), 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 engine problems happen?
Based on 119 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 368 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury.
Chevrolet Volt engine 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.
I am reporting a suspected Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) failure in my 2017 Chevrolet Volt. My vehicle has experienced multiple symptoms consistent with the known BECM defect documented by General Motors, including intermittent failure to start, reduced propulsion power, and failure to…
3rd failure of EGR valve (GM part 12691147, superseded by 19436521) on this vehicle. 10/10/2019 at 11,336 mi: Check Engine Light and Driver Information Center displayed "Loss of Propulsion" message; EGR valve diagnosed as cause and replaced by dealer under warranty at no cost. 11/2023 at approx…
I was driving back from [XXX] on XXX, when I received a "propulsion power limited" message on my dash with a check engine light. I pulled off to a nearby gas station and tried to scan the code to figure out what was going on when I then received the message "Engine unavailable" and the car shut…
While driving on a highway the car started to hesitate, a message appeared on the console "Propulsion power is reduced" and the engine light turn on. After driving some miles, a new message appeared: "Engine unavailable, service soon" and the car only ran on electric power, no motor engine. I had…
Received "reduced propulsion" message, with no engine detected. Car slowed to a near stop while driving on the Interstate highway. Very dangerous to have that suddenly happen. Message popped up randomly with no prior warning.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Volts have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 368 owner complaints about engine 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 engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Chevrolet Volt?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,000 (half paid between $2,050 and $3,800), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Chevrolet Volt?
The most frequent phrase is “egr valve”, in 93 of 368 complaints, followed by “propulsion power” (73).
Other Chevrolet Volt problems
- Electrical System problems (704)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (501)
- Power Train problems (432)
- Air Bags problems (310)
- Service Brakes problems (100)
See all Chevrolet Volt problems.