Air Bags. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

245 reports

22,292 miles · Jun 25, 2015

Electrical SystemParking BrakePower Train

WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD COME TO A STOP, THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD ENGAGE BY ITSELF. THE ONLY WAY TO DISENGAGE IT WAS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME I DID THIS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DISABLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROADWAY. THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY CHARGING PORT SENDING OUT A F…

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NHTSA ODI #10730462

16,322 miles · Apr 19, 2015

Tires

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THE TIRES HAVE BEEN ON THE CAR WITH CORRECT PRESSURES SINCE PURCHASE OCT 2012 AND PROPER ROTATION. PRESSURES ARE MONITORED. ON THE INCIDENT DATE, I HAD DRIVEN APPROX 80 MILES AT SPEEDS UNDER 60 MILES/HR WITH NO HEAVY BREAKING, ON SMOOTH ROAD, WHEN SUDDENLY, ON THE INTERSTATE, THE TIRE BEGAN LOOSING PRESSURE FROM 40 LBS TO <34 LBS (WITH CAR WARNING). WITH PRESSURE GOING STEADILY DOWN, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE INTERSTATE ONTO A SIDE ROAD AND CHURCH, WHERE I SAW THE SIDEWALL HAD SPLIT WITH AIR ESCAPING (NOW 24 LBS PRESSURE). I CALLED ONSTAR AND USED THE EMERGENCY PUMP AND RUBBER GOO TO TRY AND STOP THE AIR ESCAPING AND WAS SUCCESSFUL AT HALTING THE LEAK, BUILDING PRESSURE BACK TO 29 LBS. I DROVE THE CARE WITH ONSTAR ON LINE TO DROP OFF MY PASSENGERS LIVING NEARBY, AND THEN HAD THE TOW TRUCK COME TO PICK UP THE CAR TO TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS DELIVERED AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE STILL AT 23 LBS. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW TIRE AND CANISTER, AND THAT THE OCCURRENCE WAS NOT A DESIGN PROBLEM OF THE TIRE. I HAD NEVER NOTED ANY PRIOR PROBLEMS OR DEFECTS IN THIS TIRE, AND IN 45 YRS DRIVING, HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A TIRE FAILURE LIKE THIS. NOTED IS THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ANY TIRE I HAVE OWNED. THERE IS CONSIDERABLE SALT PUT ON THE ROADS AND I'VE HAD OTHER TIRES I'VE HAD TO REPLACE AT 5 YRS. WHILE I KNEW I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE TIRE, I'D ASKED THAT THE TIRE AND OTHERS BE TAKEN FOR A BETTER INVESTIGATION AND THAT I HAD STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY GIVEN HOW THE TIRE HAD FAILED. I HAVE NOTIFIED GOODYEAR (REF NUMBER 145-9946) AND CHEVROLET - CHAT ADVISOR AND VOLT ADVISOR GROUP. I ALSO NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY USAA. ON THE VOLT FORUM, THERE IS A SIMILAR DESCRIPTION OF A SIDEWALL LEAKING ESCAPING AIR WITH THE CAR AT HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706538

38,009 miles · Apr 15, 2015

Unknown Or Other

FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT (EVSE) HAS OCCURRED FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE IN JANUARY 2013. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE WITH THE OEM SUPPLIED EVSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10705904

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2015

Electrical SystemInjury

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THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH), BUREAU OF EPIDEMIOLOGY RECEIVED A REPORT OF CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) POISONING ASSOCIATED WITH A 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT. AS A PART OF ROUTINE SURVEILLANCE FOR REPORTABLE CONDITIONS, DOH FOLLOWED UP ON THIS REPORT TO INVESTIGATE. ON MARCH 2, 2015, THREE PEOPLE WENT TO AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) FOR CO POISONING. A 40 YEAR OLD MALE PARKED HIS 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT IN THE GARAGE TO CHARGE (PLUGGED INTO THE OUTLET) AND ACCIDENTALLY LEFT THE CAR RUNNING OVERNIGHT. IN THE MORNING, HE NOTICED THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND HAD SWITCHED TO GASOLINE USE. HE AND HIS TWO CHILDREN COMPLAINED OF HEADACHE, WEAKNESS, CHEST PAIN, PALPITATION, AND DIZZINESS. CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN (COHB) LEVELS WERE >15% FOR ALL THREE INDIVIDUALS. ON MARCH 12, 2015, SEVERAL NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS REPORTED THAT GM IS RECALLING ALL 2011-2013 CHEVROLET VOLTS (ABOUT 64,000) TO INSTALL UPDATES TO PREVENT CO POISONING WHEN THE DRIVER FORGETS TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694821

46,000 miles · Mar 4, 2015

Electrical System

THE VEHICLE INFORMATION CENTER (DRIVERS DISPLAY) GOES OUT. SPEED, WARNINGS, FUEL LEVEL, TURN SIGNAL INDICATION ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691997

31,200 miles · Dec 29, 2014

Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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UNEXPECTEDLY, GENERALLY ON UNEVEN STREET/ROADWAY, HILLY THE BRAKES DO NOT IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE AND WILL CREATE A FEELING THAT YOU MANY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP AND/OR STEER, OR KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. AFTER TAKING THE AUTOMOBILE TO A DEALER ABOUT FOUR TIMES, IT WAS DETERMINED JULY 2014 THAT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WAS AND STILL IS UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS ALSO COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED ELECTRIC CAR WARRANTY. BRAKE PROBLEMS HAVE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY; ARE AUTO SAFETY ISSUE. THE LAST TWO TIMES I HAVE NOT REPORTED TO THE DEALER, OR VOLT ADVISOR. THE DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR WAS INCORRECT ABOUT HOW REGENERATIVE BRAKES WORK IN ELECTRIC CAR. THE BLIND SPOT IS EXCESSIVE FOR BACKING UP, AND EVERY VOLT SHOULD HAVE HAD A BACK UP CAMERA AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT, AND BUMPERS THAT HAD CRASH TEST STANDARDS, BUT WAS NOT AWARE OF OPTIONS WHEN CAR WAS SOLD BY DEALER SENT A FEW VOLTS TO SELL. AFTERMARKET CAMERA HIGH PRICE, LESS DESIRABLE THAN FACTORY INSTALLED. TAX CREDIT INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CLEARLY PROVIDED (INCLUDING THE TAX FORM PROVIDED BY DEALERS AND BOSCH'S PARTNERSHIP WITH GENERAL MOTORS FOR 240 VOLTEC CHARGER). DEALER ADVERTISING NEEDED TO BE ACCURATE AND TRANSPARENT. DUE TO UNINFORMED. OR POLITICALLY CONSERVATIVE CPA & BROKER (2 INDIVIDUALS), DID NOT RECEIVE A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT FOR PURCHASE OF VOLT OR INSTALLATION OF 240 VOLT CHARGING SYSTEM. I COULD HAVE EASILY QUALIFIED FOR THE TAX CREDIT, WHICH CPA FAILED TO ADEQUATELY AND ACCURATELY ADVISE ME FOR TAX PLANNING. I HAVE LOVED THE VOLT. HOWEVER, WITHOUT THE ANTICIPATED TAX CREDIT, PAST AND ONGOING BRAKING ISSUES, BLIND SPOT PROBLEMS, LARGE PRICE DROP IN VALUE OF THE CAR (WHICH HAD SIMILAR PRICES FOR 2011, 2012, OR 2013 MODELS WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR. THE TAX CREDIT EXISTS TO ENCOURAGE ELECTRIC CARS, NOT TO PLAY A GAME OF "GOTCHA." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668925

31,006 miles · Nov 17, 2014

Engine

DRIVING USING CRUISE CONTROL DURING COMMUTE AT 60MPH. SIMULTANEOUSLY EXPERIENCED DRASTIC POWER LOSS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ONSTAR DIAGNOSTICS REPORTED AN ELECTRICAL PROPULSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. ATTEMPTED TO NAVIGATE TO A SAFE PARKING AREA BUT EVENTUALLY LOST ALL PROPULSION AND ENDED UP IN A TRAFFIC LANE. SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO…

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NHTSA ODI #10658534

14,750 miles · Sep 25, 2014

Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STARTED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED OF THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE GARAGE HAD BECOME FILLED WITH EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,7…

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NHTSA ODI #10639011

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2014

Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

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2012 CHEVROLET VOLT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE FAILURE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT. SHE STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, AND APPLYING THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS TRYING TO PARK DOING BETWEEN 8-10 MPH, WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. HIS WIFE DAMAGED TWO OTHER VEHICLES, AND HER VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND A DASH LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL READ BOOSTER BRAKE NEEDS SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI #10637904

8,000 miles · Jul 11, 2014

Electrical System

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DRIVING ON BUSY FREEWAY WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE START BUTTON ON MY VOLT. THE CAR SHUT OFF AT 65 MPH AND WHEN I REALIZED WHAT I HAD DONE I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED THE BUTTON AGAIN WHICH PUT THE CAR IN MAINTENANCE. MODE, LEAVING MY WIFE AND I TO NAVIGATE TO THE RIGHT BURM THROUGH SEVERAL LANES OF HEAVY HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, WITH NO POWER. YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR FOOT ON AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE TO RESTART. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE BURM SAFELY. OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. I REPORTED THIS ON THE VOLT WEBSITE PHONE NUMBER AND NEVER HEARD ANYTHING. DO TO GM'S RECENT IGNITION SWITCH RECALLS AND RESULTING DEATHS. I FEEL IT NECESSARY TO REPORT THIS. I HOPE THIS LETTER MY SAVE LIVES. I LIVED THROUGH THE FORD PINTO COVER UP. I SOLD THE CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609759

Official recalls

15V145000 · Electrical System:ignition; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

Mar 13, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

Consequence: 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.

13V271000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc); Service Brakes

Jun 27, 2013

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, through April 17, 2012. Due to a brake pressure modulator valve problem, the vehicles do not relieve brake pressure from the front brakes during an anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), or traction control event. One or both front brakes may lock up and not release. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems"' and No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the brakes lock up it could cause a loss of steering control and/or a lengthened distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will install a new brake pressure modulator valve free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 12, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's recall number is 13184.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes

Consequence: If the brakes lock up it could cause a loss of steering control and/or a lengthened distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will install a new brake pressure modulator valve free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 12, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's recall number is 13184.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Consequence: If the brakes lock up it could cause a loss of steering control and/or a lengthened distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

PE19013 · Passenger Sensing System

Opened Sep 17, 2019 · Closed Jul 2, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger

In September 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-013 to assess the potential safety related effects of a malfunction of the Passenger Sensing System (PSS) in 2012-2013 Model Year (MY) Chevrolet Volt vehicles. Consumers reported that due to a malfunction of the PSS, the air bag system malfunction indicator light (MIL) was activated. Many of the complaints noted the malfunction occurred after the warranty period expired and mentioned high repair costs as a major deterrent to the repair of the vehicle.The PSS sensor mat is embedded in the front passenger seat cushion and is intended to detect child seats and small statured occupants who could be harmed by deployment of the frontal passenger air bag. The PSS may develop a malfunction due to bunching of the sensor mat in the seat trench. The bunching of the sensor mat could cause the mat to repeatedly fold in the same location. Over time, the repeated folding can cause an increased resistance in the sensor mat. An increased resistance in the PSS sensor mat is detected as a fault in the air bag system diagnostic. If this fault is detected, a diagnostic trouble code will be stored in the air bag control unit and the air bag MIL will illuminate.Further, if the fault is detected, the passenger frontal and knee air bags will be suppressed in a crash of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment regardless of the nature of size of the occupant of the front passenger seat.The report counts shown above include only those reports that specifically address the issue covered by this investigation, failure of the PSS sensor mat. Reports alleging only that the air bag light is on with no cause stated, or where a different cause was otherwise identified, were excluded as the air bag light could be illuminated for system faults other than a PSS malfunction.The subject vehicles have been in service for approximately ten (10) years. An analysis of General Motors (GM) warranty data for the subject vehicles, including a comparison with other agency and manufacturer data pertaining to similar occupant detection system failure investigations, indicates the subject vehicles experience a comparatively low complaint rate for this issue given the number of years the vehicles have been in service.GM has instituted a cost reduction program for the repair/replacement of the PSS in the subject vehicles. Based on this cost reduction program as well as:1) a comparatively low warranty rate; 2) no reported injuries, deaths or asymmetric deployments; and 3) the age of the vehicles; ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.

PE11037 · Post-Crash Ev Fire Hazard

Opened Nov 25, 2011 · Closed Jan 20, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

The subject vehicles, which employ emerging technology, are range-extended electric vehicles that utilize a high voltage (HV) battery to provide energy for propulsion. The HV battery is lithium-ion based technology that has a nominal full charge of 390 VDC, a 16 kWh capacity, and a control system that incorporates liquid (antifreeze) cooling and various electronic devices (control modules, sensors, wiring, etc) to monitor and manage the HV battery. The HV battery, portions of the cooling system, and the control system are contained within a common enclosure.During an NCAP oblique side pole impact test conducted by NHTSA in May 2011, the pole struck and deformed the sill plate under the driver's door at a location where there is a structural member. The lateral member displaced inward, pierced the HV battery enclosure and battery, and caused a battery coolant leak. Thereafter, the Agency conducted a rollover test (the rollover test consists of four 90-degree rotate-and-hold movements about the vehicle's longitudinal axis). In that test, the HV battery and electronics were exposed to coolant that leaked as a result of the crash. The vehicle fire that occurred three weeks later and the additional testing NHTSA conducted are discussed in a report titled 2011 Chevrolet Volt Battery Fire Incident Report a copy of which is available in the public file. The report indicates that intrusion induced coolant leakage, and subsequent rollover that saturates electronic components, were the only test conditions which resulted in a subject vehicle HV battery fire.GM announced its intention to conduct a free-of-charge customer satisfaction campaign (CSP) on the subject vehicles on January 5, 2012. The action affects 14,735 vehicles produced prior to December 21, 2011. The CSP addresses three areas related to the issue under investigation. The first involves a modification/strengthening of the structure of the vehicle in the area where battery intrusion occurred in the May 2011 test. The second involves adding a sensor that detects excessive HV battery coolant loss, and control system software that then alerts the driver and prevents recharging of the HV battery. When the battery cannot be recharged, it will be depleted to a lower energy state as the vehicle continues to operate on the internal combustion engine. Lastly, a tamper-proofing device will be added to the system to prevent consumers from adding coolant. GM discusses these revisions in its response to an Information Request (IR) issued by NHTSA, noting that vehicles produced in calendar year 2012 and later will be manufactured to this condition.In December 2011, and at the same test facility, NHTSA repeated the May 2011 side impact test using a model year 2012 Volt modified to the structural condition described in the CSP. The test did not produce intrusion of the HV battery, a coolant leakage, or a fire (see test 7611, available at www.nhtsa.gov/Research/Databases+and+Software). In its IR response, GM describes four (4) additional side impact tests of modified subject vehicles it recently conducted using various build configurations and impact speeds (including higher speeds). GM reports that none produced HV battery intrusion, coolant leakage, or a fire.As noted in the complaint counts above, ODI has not identified a crash occurring in consumer's use of the vehicle that has resulted in a vehicle fire, or produced coolant leakage. ODI notes that side impact crashes with pole-like structures, such as would strike the sill plate, occur fairly infrequently, and such crashes with rollovers are even less frequent. A defect trend has not been identified at this time, and further investi