Volt (1st)
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
Engine Reliability Ratings
LUU - FFV, E-Flex, FAM
1.4L 4-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
1 additional engine variant with fewer than 10 complaints not shown.
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt
That's about 2.5x the typical rate for PHEVs in this dataset (median 5.7 per year). Above peer average — but high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints, so check the issue mix below before drawing conclusions.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 87 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Battery fires, smoke, thermal runaway. Includes any complaint with fire reported.
Battery & propulsion recalls (1)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. An update to the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 (HPCM2) may have disabled the cell balancing function causing a low-voltage condition.
Consequence: If the voltage drops, the vehicle may lose propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
Sample complaint excerpts
Electric Propulsion
- [2011] '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", ”Service Airbag" and check engine light have been on since I've owned it (Oct. 23). When plug car in it doesn't charge, but the EV
- [2011] THE CAR HAS PROCEEDED TO HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUES, WITH THE MOST PREDOMINANT AND LIFE THREATENING ISSUE BEING AN AIRBAG FAILURE...TWICE. OTHER ISSUES: RADIO, DOOR LOCKS, AND PARK ASSIST ENGAGE/DISENGAGE ON THEIR OWN. BRAKES NOT CATCHING CAUSING CAR TO ROLL. POWER FAILURE AND WON'T START. APRIL 2013, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED AT A RATE OF SPEED OVER 45MPH. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY; CAUSED PERSONA
- [2012] Coolant leaking and damage to Drive Motor Battery Coolant Radiator due to the design of the vehicle that allows for rocks and debris large enough to damage radiator through. There is a service bulletin (13-06-02-001A) for this issue. When the radiator is damaged, the driver will suddenly receive a check engine light, reduce propulsion notice, and engine not available message. The car will suddenl
High-Voltage Battery
- [2011] '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", ”Service Airbag" and check engine light have been on since I've owned it (Oct. 23). When plug car in it doesn't charge, but the EV
- [2012] Vehicle over-revs in cold weather. Engine runs excessively fast (4250 RPM) at highway speeds and around 3000 RPM when just sitting. Often times if I pull over and restart the car it will correct itself. This results in MPG as low as 22. The internet is full of examples of people with the exact same problem. I have seen no examples of the problem being solved. The engine will operate correctly in
- [2012] 7/6/2024 Was driving 45 mph on a busy road (running only on the gas engine of this plug-in hybrid). Propulsion Power Reduced message showed near the speedometer. My speed was immediately decreased. The check engine light also came on. Despite pressing the gas pedal, the speed could not be maintained and I had to pull off quickly before causing an accident. Luckily, no accident occurred but I fear
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2012] While traveling slowly (about 25mph) on an uphill grade, my Volt suddenly, with no warning messages or other alerts to me, lost propulsion, power brakes and power steering. This car is extremely hard to steer and to brake without the power assists, so I really had to wrestle with the wheel to avoid losing control of the car, and I really had to jam on the brake pedal to get it to a stop, even thou
- [2012] THE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY A PREVIOUS SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE VEHICLE INTERFACE CONTROL MODULE (VICM) WHICH WAS INSTALLED TO IMPROVE THE CAR, BUT WHICH MAY HAVE DISABLED THE CELL BALANCING FUNCTION, CAUSING THE VOLT TO ENTER A LOW-VOLTAGE CONDITION. THIS PUTS THE AFFECTED VOLTS INTO A SITUATION WHERE IT WOULD ENTER WHAT IS CALLED A LOW-POWER "LIMP-HOME" MODE, BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN COMPLETELY CAUSE THE V
- [2012] I HAVE HAD VARIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES-NOVEMBER OF 2012. FIRST BACK UP CAMERA WENT BLANK, JULY 2014 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HIGH VOLTAGE; NOVEMBER 14 ELECTRICAL ISSUE; JUNE 2015 UNINTENTIONAL RUNNING LIGHT ON; JULY 2015 SAME ISSUE; AUGUST 2015 CHECK ENGINE/ARIBAG LIGHT ON DEALER CHECKED AND RESET CODES . AUGUST 2016 CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT ON. WENT IN SEVERAL TIMES STEVE MOORE ORDERED PART THAT WOULD BE $
Charging System
- [2012] EVSE CHARGING CABLE STOPPED WORKING. GM FLIP FLOPPED OVER THE LAST YEAR ON WARRANTY COVERAGE. I HAVE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS WITH THE WARRANTY COVERAGE STATUS CHANGED FROM V (VOLTEC), TO BUMPER-TO-BUMPER, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AS OF DEC 1ST, 2017 (NOT WHAT I AGREED TO WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR). UNABLE TO CHARGE VEHICLE AT HOME WITHOUT IT. GM REPLACED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THES
- [2012] 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 CH
- [2012] THE STANDARD CHARGE CORD UNIT SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALER HAS FAILED TWICE, AND I BELIEVE IT POSES A FIRE RISK. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS 9/1/12 AT APPROX. 18,000 MILES. CORROSION WAS NOTED ON THE PLUG. THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN BLAMED RUST FROM A RECENT RAINSTORM AND REPLACED THE CHARGE CORD UNIT. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS YESTERDAY AT 32,350 MILES. THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED CHARGI
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2012] 7/6/2024 Was driving 45 mph on a busy road (running only on the gas engine of this plug-in hybrid). Propulsion Power Reduced message showed near the speedometer. My speed was immediately decreased. The check engine light also came on. Despite pressing the gas pedal, the speed could not be maintained and I had to pull off quickly before causing an accident. Luckily, no accident occurred but I fear
- [2012] 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOSING POWER FOR PROPULSION ON THE HIGHWAY/ROADS AT ALL SPEEDS. SHUTTING OFF. ELECTRIC CHARGE IS SUPPOSED TO SWITCH TO THE GASOLINE MOTOR WHEN IT IS LOW, BUT IT DOES NOT, AND VICE VERSA. IT SHOWS HYBRID BATTERY MANAGEMENT HAS A LOSS OF PROPULSION WITH A MESSAGE OF LOW PROPULSION POWER. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED WITH A RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK BECA
- [2012] WHILE DRIVING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER HAVING TO BASICALLY DEPRESS GAS PEDAL TO MAINTAIN SPEED WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY RECEIVING "REDUCED PROPULSION ERROR". DEALER CLEARED ERROR AND DID A REPROGRAM. AFTER PICKING UP VEHICLE RANGE WAS REDUCED APPROXIMATELY 1/3RD BUT CAR RAN. SHAME ON ME FOR NOT BEING MORE FORCEFUL ABOUT RANGE REDUCTION BECAUSE THIS BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS SUMMER JUNE 2020 COMPLAINED A
Thermal Events
- [2011] IN THE 6 YEARS THAT I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE, THE POWER CORD HAS BURN THROUGH 2 TIMES AND THE RECEPTACLE IN WHICH IT WAS PLUGGED WAS BURNED OUT 4 TIMES. I'M FORTUNATE MY HOUSE HASN'T CAUGHT FIRE. I FEEL THIS IS GM'S RESPONSIBILITY AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE 2ND REPLACEMENT OF THIS CORD.
- [2013] I arrived at the charging station and plugged the charging handle into the charge port. At this time an audible shorting sound was heard coming from inside the handle followed by a burst of flames and white smoke. This flame immediately went out and the smoke subsided slightly before building back up and darkening. By the time that the fire department arrived, the car's engine had caught fire resu
- [2013] MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW AND I JUST READ AN ARTICLE THE OTHER DAY THAT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE OVER THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAVE A SNAP-ON SCANNER FOR READING OBD2 PORTS ON A LARGE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES AND WHEN I PLUG MINE UP TO MY VOLT IT TELLS ME IT IS THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THIS SENSOR ONCE. THE DEALER TRIED TO ROB ME IN T
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Vehicle-Level Issues
These issues affect the Chevrolet Volt regardless of engine variant.
Recalls (5)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. An update to the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 (HPCM2) may have disabled the cell balancing function causing a low-voltage condition.
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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured November 8, 2013, to March 12, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the inner tie rod may not be tightened to specification allowing the tie rod to separate from the steering gear.
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."
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Alternatives in Compact Sedan
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt problems?
The 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt has accumulated 734 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Safety Systems, Electrical System, Fuel System. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.
Which Chevrolet Volt engine is most reliable?
The 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt was offered with 2 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 1.4L 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.
Is the 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt a good used car?
The 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 734 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt have?
The 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt has 734 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.
What recalls affect the 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt?
There are 5 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2011-2015 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.
What should I check before buying a used Chevrolet Volt?
Before buying a used Chevrolet Volt, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Safety Systems, Electrical System, Fuel System, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Volt?
The 2015 Chevrolet Volt received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 5 stars (9.3% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Optional. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 734 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.