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8.1

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,717 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.

2018 Chevrolet Volt engine problems

engine problem

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2018 Chevrolet Volt Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Dec 142023

Volt

  • miles

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

In June of 2023 the car experienced propulsion power reduction. The car was at the dealer awaiting repair for 3 weeks. On Dec. 14,2023 the same thing happened again. The car was also unable to accelerate once mobile. The car has about 90k miles on it.

- Saint Clair Shores, MI, USA

problem #21

Nov 262023

Volt

  • miles
Car died while driving down road. Has engine codes to service high voltage system although It showed a full battery it only had 1 mile range and the gas motor wouldn't run.

- North Las Vegas , NV, USA

problem #20

Nov 272023

Volt

  • miles
The Battery Energy Control Module needs to be replaced (BECM). The car is available to be inspected at Key Chevrolet in South Burlington, VT. The car was parked when it failed. The car wouldn't start (lights on the dashboard came on) and it wouldn't turn off. I got a "shift to park" error message, regardless of which gear I was in. The car wouldn't go into Drive to go forward with either the drive battery or the gas generator. I had the car was towed to the dealership. It was inspected and diagnosed by them. When they did the diagnosis, they said the BECM had failed and there were cells in the drive battery that needed to be replaced. The BECM failure is a common problem with Chevrolet Volts and is covered by the Voltec warranty. There were no warning lights or other warnings (e.g., reduced propulsion) whatsoever. The car had shut off like normal but would not start or turn completely off. I was fortunate to have had the BECM fail while the car was parked. My understanding is that BECMs can fail while the car is moving and the power will stop and you won't have any control.

- Burlington, VT, USA

problem #19

Dec 042023

Volt

  • miles

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

the vehicle will lose power without warning on a regular basis. the vehicle will also accelerate unexpectedly when switching from battery to engine power at speeds under 50 mph. I have taken the vehicle to the dealer and have been informed there is nothing they can do for me, the vehicle does not have any faulty components.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #18

Oct 272023

Volt

  • miles
The vehicle has a failure of the BECM and the EGR valve and cooler. Both parts are unavailable. I've been without my car for over a month. The service center cannot tell me when parts will be available.

- Oregon, WI, USA

problem #17

Feb 242023

Volt

  • miles
While driving my 2018 chevy volt I received a reduced propulsion error. I pulled over to assess and turn off the car and turn it back on only to find when I turned it back on I received an enginer failure error and the car would not drive forward or reverse. I had to have it towed to a Chevy dealership for evaluation. I understand from research and talking to service experts this is a common failure among the 2017 and 2018 Chevy volt and it is abhorrent that Chevy has not issued a recall on a common failure that compromises the safety of the driver and other drivers around them.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #16

Oct 202022

Volt

  • miles

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

To begin, I will set the scene of my experience. I was traveling east bound on 84 in northeast PA on my way to Long Island for work meetings that day. I was about one hour and a half away from my home at roughly 6am. I was traveling at apx. 70 mph when my car suddenly says "engine unavailable, reduced propulsion." and the fueld tank turned yellow in color on my dashboard. Then a sign said "service soon." My car then COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. My speed fell from 75 mph or so to 0 in a matter of a minute, I had no idea what was happening because there were no appropriate warnings such as, "Pull over immediately" or "SAFETY CONCERN PLEASE GET OFF THE HIGHWAY" -I would have taken anything to know that this was an actual emergency and I needed to at least get to a shoulder. I luckily was able to come to a stop mostly off the highway in a shoulder. I was located around a bend, in the pitch black, unable to stay in my car out of fear I would be smashed by a tractor trailer or car that did not see my car suddenly stopped. The car would not go in neutral or anything other than park and I left the hazards on (they eventually failed). I called my husband who drove to me while I stood on the side of the highway for an hour and a half in 30 degree weather. I called the police who were eventually able to put up flares and mark me as a hazard on the road. If there was a car traveling behind me, I would have been killed or seriously injured because I slowed so suddenly and had no way of knowing that this was an absolute emergency. The worst part is that this is the second BECM failure in my volt and I have driven less than 1000miles since it was repaired the first time (which took >5 months). The first time this happened my car was on a quiet town road and my brother who was driving just parked and had it towed. He hadn't thought there were any warnings but he wasn't sure. This time, I could have been smashed on the hwy with little to no warning. I can't believe Im alive.

- Carbondale, PA, USA

problem #15

Aug 232022

Volt

  • miles
Reduc d propulsion power warning while driving in EV mode. ICE started and was able to make it 1/2 mile home. Failure diagnosed to a faulty BECM. Has been at the dealer for 1 month today with no word on when the part or repair will be done.

- Linden, MI, USA

problem #14

Aug 102022

Volt

  • miles
......car totally stopped on road in traffic and would not restart. I felt the car losign propulsion so I got off the Intestate and on to a local street. Message in dash was that engine was unavailable. I got out of the car and several cars almost hit my car. Car was flat bedded to Chevy dealer and diagonosed. EGR valve needs to be replaced and is covered under warrenty. HOWEVER, have been waiting 4days and t old that valve not available. This is on a vacation trip and 300 miles away from home.. I can ask for the EGR valve from the car. I am on the GM-Volt listserve and other Generation 2 Volt owners have identified this problem previously. You should initiate a recall since the engine just cuts off and the battery propulsion is unavailable.

- Columbia, MD, USA

problem #13

Jun 272022

Volt

  • miles
BECM failed upon startup. Pressed start and vehicle appeared to turn on. Shifted into reverse but there was no motor power and I began to roll backwards down the driveway. Started the vehicle again and then the engine came on and a reduced propulsion message appeared.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #12

Feb 092022

Volt

  • miles

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

When the Gear shift is placed into park and the power button to turn the car off is pushed, I get an alert that says -€œShift to Park-€ and cannot turn the car off. I have to attempt to turn the car off and on several times before I can actually turn the car off and leave it.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #11

Dec 302021

Volt

  • miles
When attempting to turn the vehicle off after parking, the driver's console displayed the message "Action required: Shift to Parlk". The shifter was already firmly in the "Park" position. Moving the shifter back to "D" and then back to "P" did not resolve the issue. Pressing the power button twice more resolved the issue this time without further moving the shifter. This is a well-known and well-documented issue with "Gen 2" Chevy Volts.

- Farmers Branch, TX, USA

problem #10

Oct 152021

Volt

  • miles
When I stop and shift vehicle into park and try to turn off vehicle. The vehicle does not recognize the vehicle is in park and will stay running. This had happened numerous times and is ongoing. Have read there is even a class action suit because of this problem with numerous different gm vehicles. Why has a recall not been issued?

- Casa Grande, AZ, USA

problem #9

Sep 172021

Volt

  • miles
Shift to park defect. When I try to turn my car off it won-€™t completely shut off, a notification on my dash says -€œShift to park-€ but my gear shift is in park already. It takes 5-10 times of me cutting car off and on for it to finally completely shut off.

- Dallas, GA, USA

problem #8

Aug 232021

Volt

  • miles
Car will not shift to park. Will not allow the car to be turned off.

- Buckhannon, WV, USA

problem #7

Jul 012021

Volt

  • miles
General: When I would shift to Park, the display would indicate I was in park, but the car would not turn off. I sometimes had to spend 10 minutes trying. The safety issue was if the car is left on it because the engine system would not recognize park, it could run from gas and create deadly fumes. 1. Shift stick and harness. I do not have the part. 2. Confirmed by dealer and part replaced. $491.33 3. Unsure if it was inspected. Google search has multiple listings for this issue 4. No warnings, no lamps prior to. Warning message when shifted to park and trying to turn off.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #6

Nov 242020

Volt

  • 76,493 miles
Vehicle will not turn off on a regular basis.. receive a message that reads: 'action required. Shift to park.' When this occurs, the vehicle can not be turned off or locked. Researched this problem on the internet and discovered that it is a very common problem that affects nearly all 2016, 2017 and 2018 Chevrolet Volts. A recall should be implemented!

- Summerfield, FL, USA

problem #5

Aug 012020

Volt

  • miles
I leased a Chevy Volt 2018, about 3 months after the first few charge, using the cable that came with the vehicle the car do not charge anymore, air conditioning not was working, I reposted the issues to the sales agent. He responded that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, that I need to learn how to use it. A couple of months later when I was driving the the vehicle started to sake and the control pannel went crazy, I call again to the dealer. They tell me this time to bring the car inn. After the keep it for a day, they call me to said that they have to keep the car because the car have a difectec battery cell, they tell me that they need to order this celd and install it. They keep the car for a week. After the car work ok for a couple of months and after the air conditioning no not work, I call ageing to report the problem, but they give me the same answer. After I received a notice of a recall for the air conditioning, I took the car for service and I noticed that they never rotated the tires as they claimed. The problem with the air continue, so I took the car to a dealer closer to my home, they tell me that the car have a problem and they need to keed the vehicle. After they tell me that I have to paid because for the repairs about $1600 because of this problem I don't have a car and I'm about to loss my job. This car has been a nightmare. I ask the dealer to please to take back the car. I also ask Chevrolet corporation but not answer has been taken, this cause me to loss my jod snd created many problem to me and my family. The vehicle still on the shop for the last two weeks and they trll mr that maybe take longer. Cause they don't have the part and that is on back order.

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #4

Mar 132013

Volt

  • 12,125 miles
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 to the side of the road by the police and towed to maher Chevrolet (located at 2901 34th St N, St petersburg, fl 33713). The dealer found several failure codes and the transmission fluid pump outlet seal, internal filter, and spacer plate were all replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 9-5251855943. The approximate failure mileage was 12,125.

- Duette, FL, USA

problem #3

May 242019

Volt

  • 8,350 miles
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 in for? NHTSA, please step in and help us. GM is creating this possible fire hazard and their franchises are not helping.

- San Jose, CA, USA

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