2013 Chevrolet VOLT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Chevrolet VOLT has 448 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: when a cell phone is placed on the center of the passenger seat, the passenger seat belt warning light illuminates and arms the passenger air bag. no weight required. *tt. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 13 crash reports 15 injuries

448

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

161 complaints

36%

• WHEN A CELL PHONE IS PLACED ON THE CENTER OF THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND ARMS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. NO WEIGHT REQUIRED. *TT
• WAS ENTERING HIGHWAY IN THE DARK AND WENT TO PUT THE CAR INTO "HOLD" MODE TO RUN THE GAS ENGINE AND SAVE BATTERY CHARGE. THIS REQUIRES PUSHING A BUTTON 3 TIMES. I REACHED OVER AND PUSHED THE BUTTON. ACCIDENTLY WAS PUSHING THE "POWER" BUTTON WHICH IS RIGHT BELOW THE "MODE" BUTTON SHUTTING DOWN THE CA
• PAID DEALER $160 TO FIND OUT PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE HAD FAILED. THEY'RE ASKING FOR ANOTHER $820 (MOSTLY LABOR) TO FIX THE ISSUE BY REPLACING WITH PART #22968438 IN THE PASSENGER SEAT...SO I'M DRIVING AROUND WITH A BAD AIRBAG I GUESS. CAN'T SEE SPENDING 1000.00 RIGHT NOW TO FIX A BLINKING WARNIN

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

“WHEN A CELL PHONE IS PLACED ON THE CENTER OF THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND ARMS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. NO WEIGHT REQUIRED. *TT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

63 complaints

14%

• I WAS ON MY WAY HOME, IT WAS VERY DARK OUTSIDE ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY GOING 60-60MPH AND WANTED TO SWITCH OVER TO ELECTRIC "HOLD" MODE SO I COULD SAVE THE ELECTRIC BATTERY FOR CITY DRIVING. I GLANCED OVER AND HIT THE "DRIVE MODE" BUTTON THREE TIMES THINKING I WAS GOING TO SEND THE DRIVE MODE DOWN TO
• CAR GAS ENGINE STARTED, (ENGINE RUNNING DUE TO TEMP). RAN FOR JUST A FEW SECONDS, THEN SHUT DOWN AND WENT INTO "SERVICE MODE" - KILLING BOTH THE GAS ENGINE AND ELECTRIC MOTOR - WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY BUTTONS ON DASH. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ERRONEOUSLY DEPRESSED THE DRIVE MODE BUTTON AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500 AND CU

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

“I WAS ON MY WAY HOME, IT WAS VERY DARK OUTSIDE ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY GOING 60-60MPH AND WANTED TO SWITCH OVER TO ELECTRIC "HOLD" MODE SO I COULD SAVE THE ELECTRIC BATTERY FOR CITY DRIVING. I GLANCED OVER AND HIT THE "DRIVE MODE" BUTTON THREE TIMES THINKING I WAS GOING TO SEND THE DRIVE MODE DOWN TO ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

53 complaints

12%

• I LEASED A NEW 2013 VOLT ON FRIDAY AND DROVE IT TO WORK AND HOME ON MONDAY. THE BATTERY DISPLAY SHOWED IT WAS AT MINIMUM, ZERO MILES REMAINING. THE VOLT WAS RUNNING WITH THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. AS I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT, "'PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED"', "'ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE"',
• CAR GAS ENGINE STARTED, (ENGINE RUNNING DUE TO TEMP). RAN FOR JUST A FEW SECONDS, THEN SHUT DOWN AND WENT INTO "SERVICE MODE" - KILLING BOTH THE GAS ENGINE AND ELECTRIC MOTOR - WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY BUTTONS ON DASH. *TR
• MY CHEVY VOLT WAS AT A CAR WASH AND THE ATTENDANT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE STILL IN "D" GEAR. THE CAR IS ABLE TO ROLL AND MOVE WHILE IN THIS GEAR. I WAS SURPRISED SO I TESTED IT FOR MYSELF, AND SURE ENOUGH YOU'RE ABLE TO TURN THE POWER OFF AND EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE STILL IN 'D'. EVERY CAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I LEASED A NEW 2013 VOLT ON FRIDAY AND DROVE IT TO WORK AND HOME ON MONDAY. THE BATTERY DISPLAY SHOWED IT WAS AT MINIMUM, ZERO MILES REMAINING. THE VOLT WAS RUNNING WITH THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. AS I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT, "'PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED"', "'ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE"',”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

38 complaints

• I WAS ON MY WAY HOME, IT WAS VERY DARK OUTSIDE ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY GOING 60-60MPH AND WANTED TO SWITCH OVER TO ELECTRIC "HOLD" MODE SO I COULD SAVE THE ELECTRIC BATTERY FOR CITY DRIVING. I GLANCED OVER AND HIT THE "DRIVE MODE" BUTTON THREE TIMES THINKING I WAS GOING TO SEND THE DRIVE MODE DOWN TO
• I LEASED A NEW 2013 VOLT ON FRIDAY AND DROVE IT TO WORK AND HOME ON MONDAY. THE BATTERY DISPLAY SHOWED IT WAS AT MINIMUM, ZERO MILES REMAINING. THE VOLT WAS RUNNING WITH THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. AS I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT, "'PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED"', "'ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE"',
• MY CHEVY VOLT WAS AT A CAR WASH AND THE ATTENDANT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE STILL IN "D" GEAR. THE CAR IS ABLE TO ROLL AND MOVE WHILE IN THIS GEAR. I WAS SURPRISED SO I TESTED IT FOR MYSELF, AND SURE ENOUGH YOU'RE ABLE TO TURN THE POWER OFF AND EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE STILL IN 'D'. EVERY CAR

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

35 complaints

• WHEN A CELL PHONE IS PLACED ON THE CENTER OF THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND ARMS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. NO WEIGHT REQUIRED. *TT
• WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A MODERATE RATE OF DECELERATION, I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVERS SEAT HAD FORWARD/BACKWARD PLAY IN IT. THE ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND NOTICING THAT MY SEAT BACK SHIFTED FORWARD (~1/2" OF PLAY). I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE AT A STOP BY SHIFTING MY WEIGHT
• SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING DURING OR SHORTLY AFTER SOMEONE SITS IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO SEE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES "OFF" FOR EXTENDED PERIOD. DEALER STATES IT IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST YEAR. BELIEVE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, AND ALSO A SA

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

“WHEN A CELL PHONE IS PLACED ON THE CENTER OF THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND ARMS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. NO WEIGHT REQUIRED. *TT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 448 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: WHEN A CELL PHONE IS PLACED ON THE CENTER OF THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND ARMS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. NO WEIGHT REQUIRED. *TT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I WAS ON MY WAY HOME, IT WAS VERY DARK OUTSIDE ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY GOING 60-60MPH AND WANTED TO SWITCH OVER TO ELECTRIC "HOLD" MODE SO I COULD SAVE THE ELECTRIC BATTERY FOR CITY DRIVING. I GLANCED OVER AND HIT THE "DRIVE MODE" BUTTON THREE TIMES THINKING I WAS GOING TO SEND THE DRIVE MODE DOWN TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: I LEASED A NEW 2013 VOLT ON FRIDAY AND DROVE IT TO WORK AND HOME ON MONDAY. THE BATTERY DISPLAY SHOWED IT WAS AT MINIMUM, ZERO MILES REMAINING. THE VOLT WAS RUNNING WITH THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. AS I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT, "'PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED"', "'ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE"',
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I WAS ON MY WAY HOME, IT WAS VERY DARK OUTSIDE ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY GOING 60-60MPH AND WANTED TO SWITCH OVER TO ELECTRIC "HOLD" MODE SO I COULD SAVE THE ELECTRIC BATTERY FOR CITY DRIVING. I GLANCED OVER AND HIT THE "DRIVE MODE" BUTTON THREE TIMES THINKING I WAS GOING TO SEND THE DRIVE MODE DOWN TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)