Volt (2nd)
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
Engine Reliability Ratings
L3A - DI, VVT, HYBRID, GEN 1
1.5L 4-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt
That's roughly 7.2x the typical rate for PHEVs in this dataset (median 5.7 per year). This generation has materially more battery & propulsion complaints than its peers, even after accounting for sales volume.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 202 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.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Battery fires, smoke, thermal runaway. Includes any complaint with fire reported.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Sample complaint excerpts
Electric Propulsion
- [2016] After experiencing loss of power and loss of propulsion on the highway, took the car to Tropical Chevrolet in Miami Shores, FL. after diagnosing the car for 287.37 (credited to the estimate total of 3101.20), the dealership replaced the Battery Energy Control Module and bled the battery pack cooling system. We paid the bill (2665.89). On January 4, 2026 the check engine light came on again when t
- [2016] This vehicle has had multiple incidents of surging of the propulsion system both on battery power and when powered by the internal combustion engine, causing loss of propulsion and sudden acceleration almost causing collisions multiple times. We have paid for over $4,000 in repairs that are not covered under the propulsion system warranty, and these repairs have not remedied the issue.
- [2016] Battery Energy Control Module Malfunction. It is a known issue with this system failing on the chevy volt. There is a service bulletin on this problem. 18-NA-261 is the service bulletin. The car will not start and when it does start it has loss of power while driving. Chevy is only fixing certain VIN numbers even thou it pulls up the same codes in their bulletin. Chevy only gave extended warrantie
High-Voltage Battery
- [2016] After experiencing loss of power and loss of propulsion on the highway, took the car to Tropical Chevrolet in Miami Shores, FL. after diagnosing the car for 287.37 (credited to the estimate total of 3101.20), the dealership replaced the Battery Energy Control Module and bled the battery pack cooling system. We paid the bill (2665.89). On January 4, 2026 the check engine light came on again when t
- [2016] Battery Energy Control Module Malfunction. It is a known issue with this system failing on the chevy volt. There is a service bulletin on this problem. 18-NA-261 is the service bulletin. The car will not start and when it does start it has loss of power while driving. Chevy is only fixing certain VIN numbers even thou it pulls up the same codes in their bulletin. Chevy only gave extended warrantie
- [2016] Vehicle suddenly lost power and displayed shift to park on display. Vehicle will not respond or display any status other than shift to park. Vehicle towed to dealership. Diagnosis of their mechanic is failed BECM module. Vehicle was brought to dealership 3yrs ago with infotainment center problems. Infotainment Software was updated but problem persisted. 2 years ago it was brought to dealership wit
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2016] Vehicle has been to dealership numerous times starting in 2021 to address issue with loss of power between ev and gas. No results were found, but I believe the BECM was failing for awhile. Vehicle has continued to lose power until this year check engine light came on. 12V battery was changed and no change. Dealership said vehicle was fixed. It barely made it home and light came back on. Loss of pr
- [2016] Vehicle suddenly lost power and displayed shift to park on display. Vehicle will not respond or display any status other than shift to park. Vehicle towed to dealership. Diagnosis of their mechanic is failed BECM module. Vehicle was brought to dealership 3yrs ago with infotainment center problems. Infotainment Software was updated but problem persisted. 2 years ago it was brought to dealership wit
- [2017] Approximately 3.5 weeks ago my 2017 Chevrolet Volt (105K miles) would not start and then, when it did, was in "Reduced Power Mode". I had to drive home 25+ miles in this low power mode. I brought to my local mechanic (not a Chevrolet dealership) first. They did a diagnostic and told me the issue was "Battery Energy Control Module" - a known issue in 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volts affecting 19,000 vehi
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2016] In May 2025, the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve failed on my 2016 Chevy Volt with approx. 60,000 kms / 40,000 miles on it - that cost me approximately $3,000 to fix. In my opinion that should have been covered under warranty given that it is a common failure point on second generation Volts. Note that the EGR value (OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer) is a readily available part. In O
- [2016] The EGR valve in the 2016 Chevy volt will fail blowing fuse 3 which will also take out the engine oil pressure control solenoid, the evap emission purge solenoid valve, the engine coolant thermostat heater, and the oxygen sensor 1 as they all share the same fuse. The car will tell you that the engine is unavailable and, if you are out of hybrid battery power, will leave you unable to move the vehi
- [2016] On [XXX], this Volt was towed to the Dealer because the Volt would not start, would not charge, and the engine light was on. The Dealer claimed that the problem was the Chevrolet Volt Battery Energy Control Module (BECM), GM Part # 24296900, which was covered under the GM hybrid VOLTEC warranty (8 years, 100,000 miles). On [XXX], 2024, this Volt (VIN [XXX] ) was towed to the Dealer again beca
Thermal Events
- [2017] The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH the message "low brake fluid" suddenly displayed before multiple warning lights began to illuminate and the vehicle stalled. While the vehicle was coasting on the shoulder the contact discovered that the braking system had malfunctioned and the vehicle did not stop when pressing the brake pedal. Afte
- [2017] Unknown what caused the fire per fire department. I drove to my bosses house and parked the car for about 15 minutes. I was about to leave in the car right before the fire started. At 12:05PM on 09/22/21 the car started smoking and fire appearing under the car. My safety and other by standers was put at risk by the thick black smoke and flying debris from the car. Thankfully I was not driving when
- [2017] The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while the vehicle was standstill when the battery charger plug caught fire. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with his fire extinguisher. The fire department nor the police department was not contacted. The contact stated no one was injured or seek medical attention. The contact stated the vehicle was still drivable but unable to
Charging System
- [2017] My 2017 Chevy Volt stalled, wont charge, safely concerns. safety-related special coverage is being denied by local Chevy dealer. Check Engine light codes U2603-06, U2623, well known issue in chevy volt community, that points to Chevy faulty BECM. Chevy replace these to some selected 2016-2018 vehicles, but they wont cover mine, while I have same exact issue. Please help to push on Chevy to cover a
- [2017] While driving the vehicle, the car shut down. Thankfully I was coming to a yield at a round about after exiting the Interstate. I was finally able to get it to restart and proceeded on my way. If this had happened on the Interstate myself, and other drivers would be at risk due to unassisted steering and braking. I also have experienced intermittent periods of "Reduction of Power" while on the int
- [2017] The gm repair started the "vehicle power control module" - gm (24296765) is bad. Cause the car to stop, and not restart, 12v won't charge. dealership states the part on back order over 60 days, not expecting it any time soon.
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 (3)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
All Generations
Alternatives in Compact Sedan
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt problems?
The 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt has accumulated 1,094 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Electrical System, Transmission, 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 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt was offered with 1 engine option. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 1.5L 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.
Is the 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt a good used car?
The 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 1,094 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 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt have?
The 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt has 1,094 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 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt?
There are 3 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2016-2019 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 Electrical System, Transmission, 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 2019 Chevrolet Volt received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 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. 1,094 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.