NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
48 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Dec 3, 2023
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
I had just left my house about to enter the on-ramp to Interstate 95 south when my 2016 Volt abruptly and without warning stopped. I was unable to coast or pull the car to the side of the road. I was in the middle of the lane in a dangerous place to stop a car and a dangerous place to get out of the car due to the steady traffic…
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I had just left my house about to enter the on-ramp to Interstate 95 south when my 2016 Volt abruptly and without warning stopped. I was unable to coast or pull the car to the side of the road. I was in the middle of the lane in a dangerous place to stop a car and a dangerous place to get out of the car due to the steady traffic entering the interstate. My car would not restart and I had it towed to the Portsmouth NH Chevy dealer. As it was the beginning of the GM strike I had to wait several days for the replacement battery control sensor then I had to wait for another 4 weeks or so for a replacement transmission to be installed. The day after I got my car back, about 2 weeks ago, the transmission fluid was leaking onto the garage floor. The Chevy dealer has ordered new transmission hoses but only one has come in and I was told not to drive my car until these were replaced. The sensor pad and transmission were covered under warranty, I was told the hoses to the transmission and labor to install them are not part of the transmission and not covered. The incident has been extremely inconvenient but the way my car just abruptly stopped and wouldn’t restart was very unnerving and could have been very dangerous. I do not have paperwork at the moment but can provide a dealer invoice of the covered work so far. Please contact me with any questions.
NHTSA ODI #11558227
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2023
Engine
I have a engine code P0401
NHTSA ODI #11558218
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2023
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
Driving 72mph down I5 interstate the display notified me with a check engine light with two errors, enigne propulsion reduced and engine overheating. I pulled over to the side of the road and called a tow. This was a very traumatic event. I had my partner and my 2 year old daughter in the car.I just purchased this used vehicle f…
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Driving 72mph down I5 interstate the display notified me with a check engine light with two errors, enigne propulsion reduced and engine overheating. I pulled over to the side of the road and called a tow. This was a very traumatic event. I had my partner and my 2 year old daughter in the car.I just purchased this used vehicle from a Toyota dealer the same day. It has 63k miles on it and still under powertrain warranty. I literally drove the car 45 miles. TOTAL. I have spent more time towing and fixing this car than actually driving it. This is a total lemon. I need a refund from GM and all the pain and suffering that this caused my family.
NHTSA ODI #11558066
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2023
EngineFuel/propulsion System
I had BECM failure and the car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. They need to make this a safety recall.
NHTSA ODI #11558032
Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2023
Engine
I was driving on a highway and all of a sudden I have a Check engine light and “propulsion power reduced” on my display. I took my car to the dealer and found out it was my EGR valve that had an internal failure and it was needed to be replaced. This should be a recall because I was under warranty and they stated that my warrant…
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I was driving on a highway and all of a sudden I have a Check engine light and “propulsion power reduced” on my display. I took my car to the dealer and found out it was my EGR valve that had an internal failure and it was needed to be replaced. This should be a recall because I was under warranty and they stated that my warranty only covers in California or an emission state. It’s been about 2 months it’s been on back order and I cant even drive my car. This is not a rare problem every volt with a EGR valve has failed.
NHTSA ODI #11548374
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
Component: Dealer said its the BECM. Lots of them failing, check any Chevy Volt forum. What happened: Driving on road, battery drive turns off and it switches to gas engine, "reduced propulsion" message pops up, then gas engine quits and 'shift to park' message pops up. No electric motor, no gas engine, coasting, then stuck in…
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Component: Dealer said its the BECM. Lots of them failing, check any Chevy Volt forum. What happened: Driving on road, battery drive turns off and it switches to gas engine, "reduced propulsion" message pops up, then gas engine quits and 'shift to park' message pops up. No electric motor, no gas engine, coasting, then stuck in road, traffic piling up behind me. After half-hour or so of blocking traffic and me trying to restart the car, electric eventually 'reset' and it worked fine again, so I drove it the several miles home, and the charging system connected fine. Next morning, charging system said it was broken, and car would not start. Towed to dealer. Safety risk: Both battery drive and gas engine turned fully off while traveling on road - no power, and steering/brakes hard to use. Luckily was in slow lane on local road near corner with traffic light, so others were 'prepared' to slow down, avoided my stopped car, and were able to get around. Prior Symptoms: Within the prior week, battery drive switched to gas engine with 'reduced propulsion' popup, but then it switched back to battery drive after stopping and restarting. Several times noticed the 'battery charge' indicator would change color and the estimated mileage remaining would bounce between 0 and 47.
NHTSA ODI #11515897
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2023
Engine
Our 2016 Volt was cruising at 65 mph on a major interstate highway (HOLD mode) when out of nowhere the check engine light came on followed by a warning message "Propulsion power reduced." We managed to pull off the highway, but a few minutes later navigating on local roads, we received another message that the engine had overhea…
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Our 2016 Volt was cruising at 65 mph on a major interstate highway (HOLD mode) when out of nowhere the check engine light came on followed by a warning message "Propulsion power reduced." We managed to pull off the highway, but a few minutes later navigating on local roads, we received another message that the engine had overheated and was shutting off. Fortunately, there was a chevy dealer only several miles away, and we made it there slowly under EV mode. They later traced the problem to a failed exhaust gas recirculation (ERG) valve. It was replaced under warranty. The whole experience was terrifying. We also own a 2017 Volt, and now we are afraid that it could also experience the same problem without warning.
NHTSA ODI #11515787
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2022
Electrical SystemEngine
While on a road trip, we were traveling on a rural highway at roughly 55 mph. We received a warning message on the dashboard stating that "Propulsion power was reduced" and the engine began running rough, with surging noticeable based on throttle position. We also noted that engine temperature was rising above what was typical f…
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While on a road trip, we were traveling on a rural highway at roughly 55 mph. We received a warning message on the dashboard stating that "Propulsion power was reduced" and the engine began running rough, with surging noticeable based on throttle position. We also noted that engine temperature was rising above what was typical for the vehicle. The vehicle was able to maintain highway speed, and we were able to limp the vehicle to a safe location. Based on a web search, we were able to diagnose the issue (a failed EGR valve) as well as a way to limp the vehicle to a local dealership. They made a change that allowed us to limp home safely (unplug the EGR valve's electrical connector and replace the blown fuse under the hood). The vehicle was taken to a Chevy dealership when we made it home. The failure we had diagnosed was confirmed, and the component was replaced. The repair was not covered under warranty, and cost a significant sum to repair (1139.91). Additionally, this appears to be a very, very common failure for this make and model of vehicle- to the point where there is so much demand for this repair to be performed that these components (the EGR valve specifically) are difficult to obtain from Chevy. Additionally, the failure mode is such that when the EGR valve fails, it pulls excessive currents, and blows a fuse that also controls a number of important engine cooling components, leaving engine cooling significantly compromised. If we had been going faster, or if the weather was warmer, or if the load inside the vehicle was heavier, it would have been easy to overheat the gas engine and leave us stranded. I am concerned about the incidence rate of the failure, (based on online reports) the relative small number of miles on the vehicle when the failure occurred, (~57k) and the possible knock-on effect of the failure of the gas engine's ability to cool itself due to a relatively unrelated failure.
NHTSA ODI #11490223
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2022
EngineFuel/propulsion System
Got a Check Engine light on Aug 26 2022 driving about 5 minutes out of my house. With that light turned on, the EV showed zero miles range (it was fully charged when I left the house), the ICE engine kicked in but it was running very harsh and when I stepped on the gas peddle, it would not accelerate and can only go about 30 mp…
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Got a Check Engine light on Aug 26 2022 driving about 5 minutes out of my house. With that light turned on, the EV showed zero miles range (it was fully charged when I left the house), the ICE engine kicked in but it was running very harsh and when I stepped on the gas peddle, it would not accelerate and can only go about 30 mph. I immediately made a U-turn and returned home for the car is not drivable. Took the Volt to my dealership on Aug 29, 2022 and service manager diagnosed as a BECM failed and now waiting for a replacement, which they said they are not able to find one. This is going on week #7.
NHTSA ODI #11489126
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2022
Engine
Vehicle suddenly experienced "reduced propulsion mode" on the highway. Multiple codes were triggered in the ECM. Root cause of the problem was the EGR valve which is on a shared circuit with multiple other components including a water pump which causes the car to overheat.
NHTSA ODI #11483721
NHTSA investigations
2PE23022 · Loss Of Motive Power Due To The Battery Energy Control Module
Opened Nov 29, 2023 · Closed Mar 3, 2025
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical System:propulsion System; Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery:management System/energy Control Module (bms/becm)
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE23022 to investigate allegations of a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The BECM is located within the high voltage electric vehicle (EV) battery pack and monitors the temperature, current, and voltage of the high voltage battery cell groups. GM stated that the root cause was identified as an internal failure leading to a loss of communication within the BECM and does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety. GM further stated that the failure cannot result in a complete stall, only a reduced power mode, no start condition, or a no charge condition. GM additionally stated that if these conditions occur, the driver will be warned via a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and/or a reduced-propulsion message in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Data received and analyzed by ODI from all sources indicates that nearly all related BECM failures caused conditions aligning with GM’s predicted outcomes. Despite the large number of warranty claims, nearly all failures were not safety-related, i.e., not a stall or reduced power mode. ODI isaware of a single minor crash and no injuries or deaths. In March 2024, GM issued Special Coverage N232432680, which was mailed to consumers, addressing BECM failures in certain MY 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. This special coverage provides an extension of the warranty coverage for the BECM from 8 years / 100,000 miles to 15 years / 150,000 miles for all 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volts. Additionally, GM stated that replacement components are sourced from a different supplier and not susceptible to the failure. In view of the Special Coverage issued by GM, the existing warranty coverage already in place, and the low number of safety-related occurrences, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE). 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 future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Electrical System
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE23022 to investigate allegations of a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The BECM is located within the high voltage electric vehicle (EV) battery pack and monitors the temperature, current, and voltage of the high voltage battery cell groups. GM stated that the root cause was identified as an internal failure leading to a loss of communication within the BECM and does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety. GM further stated that the failure cannot result in a complete stall, only a reduced power mode, no start condition, or a no charge condition. GM additionally stated that if these conditions occur, the driver will be warned via a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and/or a reduced-propulsion message in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Data received and analyzed by ODI from all sources indicates that nearly all related BECM failures caused conditions aligning with GM’s predicted outcomes. Despite the large number of warranty claims, nearly all failures were not safety-related, i.e., not a stall or reduced power mode. ODI isaware of a single minor crash and no injuries or deaths. In March 2024, GM issued Special Coverage N232432680, which was mailed to consumers, addressing BECM failures in certain MY 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. This special coverage provides an extension of the warranty coverage for the BECM from 8 years / 100,000 miles to 15 years / 150,000 miles for all 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volts. Additionally, GM stated that replacement components are sourced from a different supplier and not susceptible to the failure. In view of the Special Coverage issued by GM, the existing warranty coverage already in place, and the low number of safety-related occurrences, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE). 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 future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Electrical System:propulsion System
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE23022 to investigate allegations of a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The BECM is located within the high voltage electric vehicle (EV) battery pack and monitors the temperature, current, and voltage of the high voltage battery cell groups. GM stated that the root cause was identified as an internal failure leading to a loss of communication within the BECM and does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety. GM further stated that the failure cannot result in a complete stall, only a reduced power mode, no start condition, or a no charge condition. GM additionally stated that if these conditions occur, the driver will be warned via a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and/or a reduced-propulsion message in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Data received and analyzed by ODI from all sources indicates that nearly all related BECM failures caused conditions aligning with GM’s predicted outcomes. Despite the large number of warranty claims, nearly all failures were not safety-related, i.e., not a stall or reduced power mode. ODI isaware of a single minor crash and no injuries or deaths. In March 2024, GM issued Special Coverage N232432680, which was mailed to consumers, addressing BECM failures in certain MY 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. This special coverage provides an extension of the warranty coverage for the BECM from 8 years / 100,000 miles to 15 years / 150,000 miles for all 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volts. Additionally, GM stated that replacement components are sourced from a different supplier and not susceptible to the failure. In view of the Special Coverage issued by GM, the existing warranty coverage already in place, and the low number of safety-related occurrences, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE). 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 future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery:management System/energy Control Module (bms/becm)
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE23022 to investigate allegations of a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The BECM is located within the high voltage electric vehicle (EV) battery pack and monitors the temperature, current, and voltage of the high voltage battery cell groups. GM stated that the root cause was identified as an internal failure leading to a loss of communication within the BECM and does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety. GM further stated that the failure cannot result in a complete stall, only a reduced power mode, no start condition, or a no charge condition. GM additionally stated that if these conditions occur, the driver will be warned via a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and/or a reduced-propulsion message in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Data received and analyzed by ODI from all sources indicates that nearly all related BECM failures caused conditions aligning with GM’s predicted outcomes. Despite the large number of warranty claims, nearly all failures were not safety-related, i.e., not a stall or reduced power mode. ODI isaware of a single minor crash and no injuries or deaths. In March 2024, GM issued Special Coverage N232432680, which was mailed to consumers, addressing BECM failures in certain MY 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. This special coverage provides an extension of the warranty coverage for the BECM from 8 years / 100,000 miles to 15 years / 150,000 miles for all 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volts. Additionally, GM stated that replacement components are sourced from a different supplier and not susceptible to the failure. In view of the Special Coverage issued by GM, the existing warranty coverage already in place, and the low number of safety-related occurrences, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE). 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 future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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.
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