2017 Chevrolet VOLT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2017 Chevrolet VOLT has 1190 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 14.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: 2017 chevrolet volt extreme engine hazard: on 22-mar-2016 i purchased a 2017 chevrolet volt premier, all safety options. driving on freeway at 65 mph, straight driving, relatively light traffic, the engine light came on yellow and steady (emissions system service warning) but the car uncontrollably . ⚠️ 13 fire reports filed.

13 fire reports 14 crash reports 14 injuries

1190

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

14.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

309 complaints

26%

• 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT EXTREME ENGINE HAZARD: ON 22-MAR-2016 I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT PREMIER, ALL SAFETY OPTIONS. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, STRAIGHT DRIVING, RELATIVELY LIGHT TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YELLOW AND STEADY (EMISSIONS SYSTEM SERVICE WARNING) BUT THE CAR UNCONTROLLABLY
• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A FREEWAY A LIGHT CAME ON STATING ALL SYSTEMS WOULD SHUT DOWN AND ALL SYSTEMS DID SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS HARDLY TIME ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. EVEN THE ONSTAR SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. THE DOOR FOB WOULD NOT WORK TO OPE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO DISPLAY THE SPEED OF THE TRAVELING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“2017 CHEVROLET VOLT EXTREME ENGINE HAZARD: ON 22-MAR-2016 I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT PREMIER, ALL SAFETY OPTIONS. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, STRAIGHT DRIVING, RELATIVELY LIGHT TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YELLOW AND STEADY (EMISSIONS SYSTEM SERVICE WARNING) BUT THE CAR UNCONTROLLABLY ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

230 complaints

19%

• I WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD CAR WITH ~2300 MILES ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT ~ 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THE PANEL READS "SHIFT TO PARK". LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR (STEERING WAS STILL IN TACT) WITH THE REMAINING SPEED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER, HAD THE HIGHWAY
• THE VEHICLE CENTER DISPLAY DOES NOT WORK RELIABLY. MOST CONCERNING TO SAFETY IS THE FACT THAT THIS RENDERS THE REVERSE CAMERA INOPERABLE. OTHER THINGS THAT DON'T WORK INCLUDE BLUETOOTH, RADIO, ON STAR, CONTROLS FOR THE VEHICLE SETUP AND CHARGING PARAMETERS, AIR CONDITIONING, ENERGY USAGE DISPLAY,
• WE ARE WRITING TO VOICE A VERY DISCONCERTING AND DANGEROUS INCIDENT WITH OUR 2017 CHEVY VOLT. ON A RETURN TRIP AT DARK FROM CLEVELAND, OHIO TO ROCHESTER, NY ON 12-26-16, OUR ENGINE SUDDENLY GAVE WARNING BEEPS WHICH PROMPTED MY HUSBAND TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER ON INTERSTATE 90 IN ERIE, PA. WE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“I WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD CAR WITH ~2300 MILES ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT ~ 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THE PANEL READS "SHIFT TO PARK". LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR (STEERING WAS STILL IN TACT) WITH THE REMAINING SPEED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER, HAD THE HIGHWAY ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

218 complaints

18%

• I WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD CAR WITH ~2300 MILES ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT ~ 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THE PANEL READS "SHIFT TO PARK". LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR (STEERING WAS STILL IN TACT) WITH THE REMAINING SPEED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER, HAD THE HIGHWAY
• WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN CAR (WITH ~2500 MILES ON IT) JUST SHUT OFF, LUCKILY ON A SIDE STREET AFTER CROSSING A BUSY HIGHWAY. I DROVE TO MEET HER AND CALLED ONSTAR. IT WAS IN THE "SHIFT TO PARK" MODE. THEY CONNECTED ME WITH THE VOLT SUPPORT TEAM. THEY DETERMINED IT HAD SOMEHOW GOT INTO SERVICE M
• WE BOUGHT A NEW 2017 CHEVY VOLT AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2016 AND HAD OUR FIRST ISSUE IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2017. WHAT HAPPENED THAT FIRST TIME WAS ON (2/3/2017) WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TRAFFIC THE CAR WITHOUT WARNING TURNED OFF THE ELECTRIC WHEEL MOTORS AND WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO POWER THE CAR PROPERLY TO G

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

186 complaints

16%

• 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT EXTREME ENGINE HAZARD: ON 22-MAR-2016 I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT PREMIER, ALL SAFETY OPTIONS. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, STRAIGHT DRIVING, RELATIVELY LIGHT TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YELLOW AND STEADY (EMISSIONS SYSTEM SERVICE WARNING) BUT THE CAR UNCONTROLLABLY
• I WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD CAR WITH ~2300 MILES ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT ~ 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THE PANEL READS "SHIFT TO PARK". LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR (STEERING WAS STILL IN TACT) WITH THE REMAINING SPEED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER, HAD THE HIGHWAY
• WE ARE WRITING TO VOICE A VERY DISCONCERTING AND DANGEROUS INCIDENT WITH OUR 2017 CHEVY VOLT. ON A RETURN TRIP AT DARK FROM CLEVELAND, OHIO TO ROCHESTER, NY ON 12-26-16, OUR ENGINE SUDDENLY GAVE WARNING BEEPS WHICH PROMPTED MY HUSBAND TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER ON INTERSTATE 90 IN ERIE, PA. WE

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

115 complaints

10%

• HEADREST JUTS OUT TOO FAR FORWARD. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON ALL NEWER CARS. MY WIFE CAN NOT SIT STRAIGHT UP IN THE SEAT WITH HER BACK AGAINST THE SEATBACK WITHOUT HAVING THE HEADREST PUSHING HER HEAD DOWNWARD. WE TRIED TO MOVE THE HEADREST UP AND DOWN WITH NO RESOLVE. SHE IS ABOUT 5 FOOT 7
• THE VEHICLE CENTER DISPLAY DOES NOT WORK RELIABLY. MOST CONCERNING TO SAFETY IS THE FACT THAT THIS RENDERS THE REVERSE CAMERA INOPERABLE. OTHER THINGS THAT DON'T WORK INCLUDE BLUETOOTH, RADIO, ON STAR, CONTROLS FOR THE VEHICLE SETUP AND CHARGING PARAMETERS, AIR CONDITIONING, ENERGY USAGE DISPLAY,
• THE TRAFFIC NAVIGATION SYSTEM REQUIRES THAT THE DRIVER CONSTANTLY TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD. THERE IS NO AUDIBLE WARNING ABOUT DELAYS AND THE MAP ONLY SHOW INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WITH RED OR GREEN ROAD MARKERS. OTHER AFFECTED STREETS ARE ON A LIST THAT ONE HAS TO READ OFF THE SCREEN AND CONSTANTLY C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“HEADREST JUTS OUT TOO FAR FORWARD. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON ALL NEWER CARS. MY WIFE CAN NOT SIT STRAIGHT UP IN THE SEAT WITH HER BACK AGAINST THE SEATBACK WITHOUT HAVING THE HEADREST PUSHING HER HEAD DOWNWARD. WE TRIED TO MOVE THE HEADREST UP AND DOWN WITH NO RESOLVE. SHE IS ABOUT 5 FOOT 7 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1190 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT EXTREME ENGINE HAZARD: ON 22-MAR-2016 I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT PREMIER, ALL SAFETY OPTIONS. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, STRAIGHT DRIVING, RELATIVELY LIGHT TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YELLOW AND STEADY (EMISSIONS SYSTEM SERVICE WARNING) BUT THE CAR UNCONTROLLABLY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: I WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD CAR WITH ~2300 MILES ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT ~ 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THE PANEL READS "SHIFT TO PARK". LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR (STEERING WAS STILL IN TACT) WITH THE REMAINING SPEED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER, HAD THE HIGHWAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I WAS DRIVING MY 2 MONTH OLD CAR WITH ~2300 MILES ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT ~ 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR LOSES POWER AND THE PANEL READS "SHIFT TO PARK". LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR (STEERING WAS STILL IN TACT) WITH THE REMAINING SPEED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER, HAD THE HIGHWAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT EXTREME ENGINE HAZARD: ON 22-MAR-2016 I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT PREMIER, ALL SAFETY OPTIONS. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, STRAIGHT DRIVING, RELATIVELY LIGHT TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YELLOW AND STEADY (EMISSIONS SYSTEM SERVICE WARNING) BUT THE CAR UNCONTROLLABLY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)