2011 Chevrolet VOLT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Chevrolet VOLT has 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: our volt was left overnight to charge using the supplied 120v level one charge cord that comes with the vehicle (therefore i consider it part of the vehicle.) in the morning the vehicle was not charged -- at some point during the night the charge failed after the battery accumulated just 5 miles of .

4 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

23 complaints

36%

• OUR VOLT WAS LEFT OVERNIGHT TO CHARGE USING THE SUPPLIED 120V LEVEL ONE CHARGE CORD THAT COMES WITH THE VEHICLE (THEREFORE I CONSIDER IT PART OF THE VEHICLE.) IN THE MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CHARGED -- AT SOME POINT DURING THE NIGHT THE CHARGE FAILED AFTER THE BATTERY ACCUMULATED JUST 5 MILES OF
• AS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, WHEN RUNNING ON BATTERY, IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LEFT RUNNING. UPON RETURNING HOME ONE DAY, I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND PLUGGED IT IN. I DIDN'T REALIZE AT THE TIME, THAT I HAD NOT TURNED OFF THE VOLT BY PRESSING THE BLUE POWER SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD. THE
• 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,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“OUR VOLT WAS LEFT OVERNIGHT TO CHARGE USING THE SUPPLIED 120V LEVEL ONE CHARGE CORD THAT COMES WITH THE VEHICLE (THEREFORE I CONSIDER IT PART OF THE VEHICLE.) IN THE MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CHARGED -- AT SOME POINT DURING THE NIGHT THE CHARGE FAILED AFTER THE BATTERY ACCUMULATED JUST 5 MILES OF ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

8 complaints

13%

• 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,
• SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AT STARTUP. ITS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR IN SEAT, SOUNDS LIKE ITS THE PRESSURE PLATE TO ACTIVATE AIR BAG IS BAD. SOUNDS LIKE A COMMON THING WITH THE VOLT?
• AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED DUE TO A FAILED SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HAD TO REPLACE WITH A USED SEAT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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, ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

6 complaints

• MY FIRST PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCE WITH THE 2011 CHEVY VOLT WAS AROUND OCTOBER, 2014. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I RECEIVED A "PROPULSION POWER REDUCED" INDICATION ON MY DASHBOARD AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHICH RESULTED IN A HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVER
• THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I PLUGGED IN THE VEHICLE TO CHARGE, AND GAVE THIS MESSAGE SERVICE HIGH VOLTAGE CHARGING SYSTEM
• MY 2011 VOLT FREQUENTLY SHOWS "PROPULSION POWER REDUCED" AFTER THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DEPLETED AND ON RESTART. THIS AFFECTS PERFORMANCE, ACCELERATION AND THUS SAFETY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES UNTIL THE SYSTEM REBALANCES ITSELF. THIS CONDITION BEGAN BACK IN 2015 SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT IS FIRST NOTED IN DEALE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY FIRST PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCE WITH THE 2011 CHEVY VOLT WAS AROUND OCTOBER, 2014. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I RECEIVED A "PROPULSION POWER REDUCED" INDICATION ON MY DASHBOARD AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHICH RESULTED IN A HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

• WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE IS IN PARK. ENGINE DOES NOT WANT TO SHUT DOWN.
• MY 2011 VOLT FREQUENTLY SHOWS "PROPULSION POWER REDUCED" AFTER THE BATTERY HAS BEEN DEPLETED AND ON RESTART. THIS AFFECTS PERFORMANCE, ACCELERATION AND THUS SAFETY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES UNTIL THE SYSTEM REBALANCES ITSELF. THIS CONDITION BEGAN BACK IN 2015 SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT IS FIRST NOTED IN DEALE
• The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal whining sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of th

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE IS IN PARK. ENGINE DOES NOT WANT TO SHUT DOWN.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

3 complaints

• THE REAR END OF THIS CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS SLIPPING OUT WHEN YOU ENTER A CURVE AT 60 TO 65 MPH. GM CALLS IT SENSITIVE STEERING BUT I CALL IT SCARY AND UNSAFE. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, HE DROVE OVER THE RUMBLE STRIPS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND THE POWER STEERING TO STOP WORKING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD
• '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 engi

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE REAR END OF THIS CAR FEELS AS IF IT IS SLIPPING OUT WHEN YOU ENTER A CURVE AT 60 TO 65 MPH. GM CALLS IT SENSITIVE STEERING BUT I CALL IT SCARY AND UNSAFE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 64 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: OUR VOLT WAS LEFT OVERNIGHT TO CHARGE USING THE SUPPLIED 120V LEVEL ONE CHARGE CORD THAT COMES WITH THE VEHICLE (THEREFORE I CONSIDER IT PART OF THE VEHICLE.) IN THE MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CHARGED -- AT SOME POINT DURING THE NIGHT THE CHARGE FAILED AFTER THE BATTERY ACCUMULATED JUST 5 MILES OF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: 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,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: MY FIRST PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCE WITH THE 2011 CHEVY VOLT WAS AROUND OCTOBER, 2014. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED, I RECEIVED A "PROPULSION POWER REDUCED" INDICATION ON MY DASHBOARD AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHICH RESULTED IN A HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE IS IN PARK. ENGINE DOES NOT WANT TO SHUT DOWN.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)