2018 Chevrolet VOLT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Chevrolet VOLT has 347 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: i was driving my car on freeway at 65 mph and suddenly car displayed warning on dash board to shift the car in park position. car immediately lost power from engine. i had to immediately pull over car from left most lane to buffer lane between freeway and exit. my move until it had momentum. but th.

4 crash reports 2 injuries

347

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

82 complaints

24%

• I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND SUDDENLY CAR DISPLAYED WARNING ON DASH BOARD TO SHIFT THE CAR IN PARK POSITION. CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER FROM ENGINE. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER CAR FROM LEFT MOST LANE TO BUFFER LANE BETWEEN FREEWAY AND EXIT. MY MOVE UNTIL IT HAD MOMENTUM. BUT TH
• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 60 MPH, THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK' APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER SHIFTED TO PARK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL DOWN TO DRIVE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE O
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD VIOLENTLY, SLOWED DOWN TO 45 MPH, AND THEN STALLED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY POWERED OFF THE ENGINE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OVER

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

“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND SUDDENLY CAR DISPLAYED WARNING ON DASH BOARD TO SHIFT THE CAR IN PARK POSITION. CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER FROM ENGINE. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER CAR FROM LEFT MOST LANE TO BUFFER LANE BETWEEN FREEWAY AND EXIT. MY MOVE UNTIL IT HAD MOMENTUM. BUT TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

82 complaints

24%

• WHEN ATTEMPTING TO POWER OFF VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK, AN ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON CONSOLE, "SHIFT TO PARK", AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT POWER OFF. VEHICLE IS IN PARK WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURS, BUT REQUIRES SHIFTING OUT OF PARK, POSSIBLY MULTIPLE TIMES, TO ALLOW VEHICLE TO POWER OFF. ISSUE OCCUR
• "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING ALERT ISSUED WHEN SHIFTER IS ALREADY IN PARK. THIS ISSUE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AT LEAST 3X A DAY. WIGGLING AND/OR RESHIFTING TO PARK SOMETIMES RESOLVES THE ISSUE. MORE EFFORT AND TIME TO "PLAY" WITH THE SHIFTER IS REQUIRED IN THE LAST MONTH TO MAKE THE WARNING GO AWAY. ON
• AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK AND PUSHING THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR OFF, I GET THE MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK.", AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. THE CHEVY DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM IN OCTOBER OF 2019 AND IT WORKED UNTIL RECENTLY. *

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

“WHEN ATTEMPTING TO POWER OFF VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK, AN ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON CONSOLE, "SHIFT TO PARK", AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT POWER OFF. VEHICLE IS IN PARK WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURS, BUT REQUIRES SHIFTING OUT OF PARK, POSSIBLY MULTIPLE TIMES, TO ALLOW VEHICLE TO POWER OFF. ISSUE OCCUR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

65 complaints

19%

• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 60 MPH, THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK' APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER SHIFTED TO PARK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL DOWN TO DRIVE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE O
• NTSB SHOULD REQUIRE A RECALL OF CERTAIN CHEVROLET VOLTS. AS AN OWNER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET STATING THAT MY VOLT 'MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE IT COULD GRADUALLY LOSE THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN VOLTAGE. IF BATTERY CONCERNS ARE NOT ADDRESSED, OVER TIME THE VEHICLE COULD ENTER A REDUCED PROPU
• While driving, message suddenly pops up on the dashboard "propulsion power is reduced." Check engine light is light on.

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

“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 60 MPH, THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK' APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER SHIFTED TO PARK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL DOWN TO DRIVE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE O”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

50 complaints

14%

• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 60 MPH, THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK' APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER SHIFTED TO PARK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL DOWN TO DRIVE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE O
• WHEN MY GAS ENGINE IS WARMED UP AND UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE, THERE WOULD BE THIS BURNT PLASTIC SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING LIKE THIS FOR THE PAST 3000 MILES OR SO. IT'S A CLEAR BURNT PLASTIC SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND IT IS ALWAYS AFTER THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY WA
• CAR IS CONSISTENTLY MAKING A BURNING SMELL AND THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. I WENT THERE 2000 MILES AGO, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A BREAK IN SMELL. THE SMELL IS STILL THERE AND ONCE AGAIN THEY ARE CALLING IT A BREAK IN SMELL. I MEAN THE CAR HAS 8400 MILES. HOW LONG DOES IT HAVE TO BREAK

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

37 complaints

11%

• CHEVROLET VOLT CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN DEEP SNOW. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN SNOW AT A SPEED OF ONE MILE PER HOUR COVERING 6 MILES IN 6 HOURS AFTER FIRST SNOW IN NYC NOV 15, 2018. THE PROTECTIVE UNDER CARRIAGE PANEL THAT COVERS THE ELECTRICAL AND TUBING BECOMES BRITTLE AND BREAKS AWAY WHEN IMPACTED.
• CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK AND POWER BUTTON PUSHED TO OFF. THE DISPLAYS READS "PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF", BUT THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER SAID THE GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
• CHEVROLET SERVICE CASE [XXX] 5/20/19 FOR SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED BELOW SERVICE AT VICTOR CHEVROLET VICTOR CHEVROLET REPLACED BRAKE CALIPERS PROBLEM WAS MINIMIZED FOR A SHORT TIME. 8/27/19 -- BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO VICTOR CHEVROLET FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM * CLUNK IN REAR OF CAR

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

“CHEVROLET VOLT CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN DEEP SNOW. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN SNOW AT A SPEED OF ONE MILE PER HOUR COVERING 6 MILES IN 6 HOURS AFTER FIRST SNOW IN NYC NOV 15, 2018. THE PROTECTIVE UNDER CARRIAGE PANEL THAT COVERS THE ELECTRICAL AND TUBING BECOMES BRITTLE AND BREAKS AWAY WHEN IMPACTED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~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 347 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND SUDDENLY CAR DISPLAYED WARNING ON DASH BOARD TO SHIFT THE CAR IN PARK POSITION. CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER FROM ENGINE. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER CAR FROM LEFT MOST LANE TO BUFFER LANE BETWEEN FREEWAY AND EXIT. MY MOVE UNTIL IT HAD MOMENTUM. BUT TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHEN ATTEMPTING TO POWER OFF VEHICLE AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK, AN ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON CONSOLE, "SHIFT TO PARK", AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT POWER OFF. VEHICLE IS IN PARK WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURS, BUT REQUIRES SHIFTING OUT OF PARK, POSSIBLY MULTIPLE TIMES, TO ALLOW VEHICLE TO POWER OFF. ISSUE OCCUR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 60 MPH, THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK' APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER SHIFTED TO PARK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL DOWN TO DRIVE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 60 MPH, THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND A MESSAGE SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK' APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER SHIFTED TO PARK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL DOWN TO DRIVE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE O
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)