IllustrationSHIFT TO PARK ERROR MESSAGE CONSISTENTLY APPEARING PREVENTING THE CAR FROM EFFECTIVELY TURNING OFF WHEN CAR IS SHIFTED TO PARK.
2017 Chevrolet Volt
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Volt years
Owner complaints for the 2017 Chevrolet Volt are substantially higher than the model-year median of 169.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Volt years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
720–25K
10725–50K
3850–75K
2175–100K
11100–150K
1150K+
250 reports with mileage · 447 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 310 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 219 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports9 fire reports10 injury reports
Power Train complaints
219 reportsAFTER I SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND PRESS THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR, A WARNING COMES UP AND SAYS "SHIFT TO PARK." I CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR UNTIL THE MESSAGE CLEARS. THE MESSAGE IS CLEARED BY GIGGLING THE SHIFTER (ALREADY IN PARK) BACK AND FORTH. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I TURN OFF THE CAR NOW. AFTER A SHORT G…
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AFTER I SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND PRESS THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR, A WARNING COMES UP AND SAYS "SHIFT TO PARK." I CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR UNTIL THE MESSAGE CLEARS. THE MESSAGE IS CLEARED BY GIGGLING THE SHIFTER (ALREADY IN PARK) BACK AND FORTH. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I TURN OFF THE CAR NOW. AFTER A SHORT GOOGLE SEARCH, MANY OTHER 2017 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE LOOK INTO ISSUING A RECALL.
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT TO PARK. WILL NOT ALLOW CAR TO SHUT OFF AS IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE CAR IN PARK.
GETTING ALERT 'SHIFT TO PARK', THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF, HAVE TO JIGGLE THE SHIFTER TO GET IT TO RECOGNIZE ITS IN PARK
THE BATTERY CONTROL MODULE FAILED IN MY VOLT ON 12/22/2019. MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AS SUCH ON 12/23/19 AND I WAS SENT HOME WITH IT TO WAIT AS GM PARTS ARE ALLEGEDLY SEVERELY DELAYED DUE TO THE UNION STRIKES THAT OCCURRED MONTHS AGO. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE ON MY WAY HOME, AND DRIVING AT 40MPH IN …
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THE BATTERY CONTROL MODULE FAILED IN MY VOLT ON 12/22/2019. MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AS SUCH ON 12/23/19 AND I WAS SENT HOME WITH IT TO WAIT AS GM PARTS ARE ALLEGEDLY SEVERELY DELAYED DUE TO THE UNION STRIKES THAT OCCURRED MONTHS AGO. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE ON MY WAY HOME, AND DRIVING AT 40MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF A FOUR LANE SURFACE ROAD, I LOST ALL PROPULSION POWER AND RECEIVED A MESSAGE READING 'ACTION REQUIRED: SHIFT TO PARK' ON THE DIC ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT BE REAR ENDED AS THE CAR DECELERATED VERY QUICKLY WITHOUT MUCH WARNING. THE CAR WAS CLEARLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TOW TRUCK DID NOT RETRIEVE THE CAR UNTIL 12/30/19 AS THE DEALER FAILED TO RETURN MY CALLS ABOUT THIS FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL THEY RETRIEVED IT. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED AS OF 1/7/2020.
AFTER YOU POWER OFF MY CAR, I'LL GET AN ALERT ON MY DASHBOARD THAT SAYS, " ACTION REQUIRED SHIFT TO PARK" THE CAR WILL EFFECTIVELY NOT TURN OFF. I'LL BE UNABLE TO LOCK THE CAR AND THE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. WORSE YET, IT IS INTERMITTENT.
BECM FAILURE AT 32,000 MILES. CAR WOULD NOT CHARGE AND WOULD REPORT EV RANGE AS 0 WHEN IT IN FACT DID HAVE RANGE. THE CAR ALSO WOULD NOT MOVE/START RELIABLY LEAVING THE CHANGE OF BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY COMPUTER. THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE SOFTWARE ON THE BECM BUT IT ENDED UP BEING A FAILED BECM. IT SEEMS…
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BECM FAILURE AT 32,000 MILES. CAR WOULD NOT CHARGE AND WOULD REPORT EV RANGE AS 0 WHEN IT IN FACT DID HAVE RANGE. THE CAR ALSO WOULD NOT MOVE/START RELIABLY LEAVING THE CHANGE OF BEING STRANDED SOMEWHERE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY COMPUTER. THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE SOFTWARE ON THE BECM BUT IT ENDED UP BEING A FAILED BECM. IT SEEMS VERY COMMON FOR THIS TO FAIL FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE. THE DEALER FIXED THE ISSUE UNDER THE VOLTEC WARRANTY AND I HAVE NOT HAD AN ISSUE IN 4+ MONTHS. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A BAD BATCH OR ENGINEERING DEFECT ON THE STOCK BECM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAS ENGINE TURNED ON WHILE THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BATTERY RANGE LEFT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE DOWNHILL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAS ENGINE TURNED ON WHILE THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BATTERY RANGE LEFT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE DOWNHILL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO DRIVE; HOWEVER, THE GEAR SHIFTER DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. INSTEAD, THE GEAR SHIFTER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ALLEN GWYNN CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 1400 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91205, 818-528-8597) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND OPENED A CASE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,066.
WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, WITH THE SHIFT SET TO "P", I GET A MESSAGE THAT APPEARS, "ACTION REQUIRED SHIFT TO PARK", AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF. I WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES, SOMETIMES ROUGHLY 6-7 TIMES AND SOMETIMES I WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN D, N, R, E…
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WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, WITH THE SHIFT SET TO "P", I GET A MESSAGE THAT APPEARS, "ACTION REQUIRED SHIFT TO PARK", AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF. I WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES, SOMETIMES ROUGHLY 6-7 TIMES AND SOMETIMES I WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN D, N, R, ETC. I HAD MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (VAN GMC/CHEVROLET) AND THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER HARNESS WHICH WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. MY VOLT IS CONTINUING TO FLASH THE 'ACTION REQUIRED/SHIFT TO PARK' MESSAGE AND HESITATES TO TURN OFF AND THEN POWERS DOWN.
SHIFT-TO-PARK ALERT AFTER YOU POWER DOWN CAR. EFFECTLVELY, THE CAR WON'T TURN OFF. BROUGHT TO GM IN 2018 AND THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER. 18 MONTHS LATER, THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC DEFECT IN THE 2ND GEN VOLT.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
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.