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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,160 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Chevrolet Volt engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Chevrolet Volt Owner Comments

problem #10

Nov 012021

Volt

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I'm constantly receiving a "Propulsion Power Loss" notification on my car. I have brought the car in to a Chevrolet dealer and they refuse to fix it unless I start paying out of pocket costs because the ticket is "closed". This has been going on for about a year since I purchased the car last November and I'm terrified to drive this car since it literally looses power.

- El Cajon , CA, USA

problem #9

Oct 012021

Volt

  • miles
LCD Driver panel, fuel, odometer, speedometer, screen is completely black. Started flickering then went out. No warnings given. I have no idea how fast I am going nor how much gas/ battery power I have.

- Concord, NC, USA

problem #8

Sep 132021

Volt

  • miles
My instruments cluster that displays speedometer/fuel/battery charge indicator went absolutely blank while vehicle was in motion on busy highway. Only remedy recommend by Chevy dealer was to replace the entire assembly and reprogramming. I feel failure of essential display of basic functions to the driver is definitely a hazard to the vehicle operator and to the general public.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #7

Nov 122019

Volt

  • 124,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Breaks failed while driving 25-30 mph on windy mountain road. There was no warning, car started to accelerate downhill gradually. After about 0.3 miles I was able to finally push emergency breaks (it's a button and didn't work at first ) get to more flat road and stoped the car by driving on gravel and dry brush. Vehicle completely lost its power about 2-3 minutes later. Emergency lights didn't work. Chp assisted us as car was abandoned in the middle of mountain road, blocking the whole line. GM has not offered any explanation yet.

- Santa Clarita, CA, USA

problem #6

Jul 192019

Volt

  • 101,400 miles
I was driving in 50 mph traffic it lost all propulsion. The problem I have sounds exactly like the problem GM has issued a recall for with 2013-2015 Volts. I believe GM did or should have anticipated the problem and did nothing. GM program N172130462 has owners of 2013-2015 Volts bringing their cars in to dealerships for a software update. GM has recognized that these cars "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 propulsion mode while driving, or lose propulsion, or it may not start." I brought my Volt in to the dealership on January 31, 2019, because it was not consistently holding the charge that it normally did and the car would often start in "low propulsion mode" when starting it after turning it off with the battery low or depleted. Despite being under warranty the dealership, bob steele Chevrolet in cocoa, fl, claimed the could not figure out what was causing the problem, refused to try further, and sent me on my way with a bill for their failed efforts. On July 19, 2019, I was driving in on my way to work in my 2012 Volt with 101,400 miles. The car switched from battery to gas as it had many times before. About one mile later it switched back to battery, gave a message that it was going into "low propulsion mode", and stopped providing any propulsion. This occurred while I was on US1 and it was dangerous for me to rapidly change lanes while losing speed to get off the road. I got to a parking lot without enough speed to get up the mild incline at the entrance and was stuck blocking the entrance while I awaited a tow truck. This loss of propulsion could have happened at any speed and things would have been worse had I been on the interstate.

- Vero Beach, FL, USA

problem #5

Jun 152018

Volt

  • 86,000 miles
The instrument cluster has gone completely blank in the car. It went in and off for two days and then died completely.this is a major hazard as I dont know how fast I am going or the gas amount I have in the car. This was a major problem as I was driving the car when this happen not knowing if the entire car was going to black out very scary moment.

- Ruskin, FL, USA

problem #4

Jan 142017

Volt

  • 109,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to accelerate there was a loud abnormal noise. The bill roberts Chevrolet Buick, Inc dealer located at 301 w broadway St, bolivar, mo 65613 stated that they were not able to repair the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was also contacted and was unable to provide any further assistance. The failure mileage was 109,000.

- Humansville, MO, USA

problem #3

Dec 122016

Volt

  • 50,000 miles
The speed control would stick on during very cold weather. This happened at least twice to my wife. She rode the brake to slow it down but the car kept fighting the brake. This was city driving, in appleton, wi.

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #2

Apr 102014

Volt

  • 31,200 miles
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."

- Wales, WI, USA

problem #1

May 012014

Volt

  • miles
2012 Chevrolet Volt. Consumer writes in regards to brake failure and vehicle acceleration issues. 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.

- Zeeland, MI, USA

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