2012 Chevrolet VOLT
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Chevrolet VOLT has 358 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 284. The most common issue is air bags problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: i was making a left hand turn and was hit by an suv who ran a red light doing about 35 or 40 miles per hour on front of my car. it hit the front of my car spinning it to the right [about 160 degree turn] when my car spun i hit the back of my head and left shoulder on the door pillar, my head hurt an. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
358
Total Complaints
2
Recalls Issued
5/5
Safety Stars
1.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
AIR BAGS
87 complaints- • I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND WAS HIT BY AN SUV WHO RAN A RED LIGHT DOING ABOUT 35 OR 40 MILES PER HOUR ON FRONT OF MY CAR. IT HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR SPINNING IT TO THE RIGHT [ABOUT 160 DEGREE TURN] WHEN MY CAR SPUN I HIT THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND LEFT SHOULDER ON THE DOOR PILLAR, MY HEAD HURT AN
- • I WAS TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT CITY STREET WHEN I WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE COMING OFF A SIDE STREET THAT HAD LOST CONTROL OF THEIR CAR. I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. I WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DOOR FRAME ABOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TA
- • MY 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSOR THAT DETECTS THE WEIGHT OF A INDIVIDUAL IN THE SEAT. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND BEGAN AROUND 19,000 MILES. IT HAS GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE IF I HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE CAR, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON
“I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND WAS HIT BY AN SUV WHO RAN A RED LIGHT DOING ABOUT 35 OR 40 MILES PER HOUR ON FRONT OF MY CAR. IT HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR SPINNING IT TO THE RIGHT [ABOUT 160 DEGREE TURN] WHEN MY CAR SPUN I HIT THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND LEFT SHOULDER ON THE DOOR PILLAR, MY HEAD HURT AN”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2012 Chevrolet VOLT
Based on 270 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 77K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
BODY/STRUCTURE
STEERING
OTHER
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (2)
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.
Charging Cost Calculator for 2012 Chevrolet VOLT
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Chevrolet VOLT
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Chevrolet VOLT Service Intervals
GM Oil Life System dynamically calculates oil change interval. DEXOS-approved oil required.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Chevrolet New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Chevrolet. If you're buying a used 2012 VOLT, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Chevrolet dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
EV Incentives for 2012 Chevrolet VOLT
Updated 2026-07Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30
Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.
State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)
Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 358 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND WAS HIT BY AN SUV WHO RAN A RED LIGHT DOING ABOUT 35 OR 40 MILES PER HOUR ON FRONT OF MY CAR. IT HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR SPINNING IT TO THE RIGHT [ABOUT 160 DEGREE TURN] WHEN MY CAR SPUN I HIT THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND LEFT SHOULDER ON THE DOOR PILLAR, MY HEAD HURT AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: THERE IS AN APPARENT DESIGN FLAW IN THE CHEVY VOLT RELATED TO AN INDIVIDUAL EXITING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWERING DOWN THE SYSTEMS WHICH COULD RESULT IN CO POISONING OR DEATH AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARDS IN THE RIGHT SITUATION. THE VOLT USES A KEY FOB SYSTEM AND PUSH BUTTON START. KEY FOBS ARE ALREA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: NO ACCIDENT: THE DEGREE OF DISTORTION IN REAR GLASS IS UNSAFE. OPTICS MAY NOT MEET AUTO GLASS AND OR FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE WORKED IN THE GLASS INDUSTRY IN QUALITY CONTROL AND THIS GLASS WOULD NOT MEET COMPANY OR FEDERAL STANDARDS. WITH DISTORTION THIS BAD THE PARTICLE SIZE COULD BE AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT A MERGE POINT, WHEN VEHICLE "STALLED". I AND DEALER WORKER COULD NOT RESTART FOR 45 MINUTES, AT WHICH TIME IT FINALLY STARTED. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP, CHECKED OUT BRIEFLY, SEEMED OK. DROVE IT AGAIN LESS THAN A MILE, AND FOR 2ND TIME, AGAIN STALLED FOR APPROX. 45 MIN. CAR COULDN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Chevrolet dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet VOLT — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 358
- Recalls
- 2
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 8
- Injury reports
- 11
- Segment avg
- 284
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Chevrolet VOLT