Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train
WHEN IN LOW GEAR (HIGHER REGENERATIVE BRAKING), WHEN BRAKING AND GOING OVER SOME BUMPS, THE REGEN BRAKING STOPS CAUSING A FEELING OF A LURCH FORWARD. A 'LOW TRACTION" LIGHT APPEARS. THIS CAUSES A REDUCTION IN BRAKING FORCE OF APPROXIMATELY 35BHP, A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE STYLE PULSATION OF THE REGEN SHOULD …
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WHEN IN LOW GEAR (HIGHER REGENERATIVE BRAKING), WHEN BRAKING AND GOING OVER SOME BUMPS, THE REGEN BRAKING STOPS CAUSING A FEELING OF A LURCH FORWARD. A 'LOW TRACTION" LIGHT APPEARS. THIS CAUSES A REDUCTION IN BRAKING FORCE OF APPROXIMATELY 35BHP, A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE STYLE PULSATION OF THE REGEN SHOULD BE EMPLOYED, NOT A DISCONTINUATION OF THE REGEN BRAKES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10593935
19,900 miles · Apr 8, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
MY CHEVY VOLT WAS AT A CAR WASH AND THE ATTENDANT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE STILL IN "D" GEAR. THE CAR IS ABLE TO ROLL AND MOVE WHILE IN THIS GEAR. I WAS SURPRISED SO I TESTED IT FOR MYSELF, AND SURE ENOUGH YOU'RE ABLE TO TURN THE POWER OFF AND EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE STILL IN 'D'. EVERY CAR I'VE OWNED (AUTOMATIC) FORCES…
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MY CHEVY VOLT WAS AT A CAR WASH AND THE ATTENDANT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE STILL IN "D" GEAR. THE CAR IS ABLE TO ROLL AND MOVE WHILE IN THIS GEAR. I WAS SURPRISED SO I TESTED IT FOR MYSELF, AND SURE ENOUGH YOU'RE ABLE TO TURN THE POWER OFF AND EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE STILL IN 'D'. EVERY CAR I'VE OWNED (AUTOMATIC) FORCES YOU TO SHIFT INTO P OR N BEFORE ALLOWING THE KEY TO REMOVE. THIS IS A GREAT CONCERN FOR ME, SO I CALLED MY VOLT ADVISOR TODAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS ROLLED INTO THEIR GARAGE, AND THE BEHAVIOR WAS BY DESIGN AND NORMAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10578140
1,400 miles · Jun 20, 2013
Power TrainService Brakes
THIS IS THE SECOND VOLT I OWNED IN A YEAR THAT EXHIBITED THIS ISSUE. UPON BRAKING AND PASSIVE DECELERATION THE CAR MAKES A LOUD AUDIBLE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATES IT IS A REGENERATIVE BRAKE BEARING FAILURE. THIS ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE BEARING CAGE FAILING CAUSING THE BEARING TO LOSE IT…
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THIS IS THE SECOND VOLT I OWNED IN A YEAR THAT EXHIBITED THIS ISSUE. UPON BRAKING AND PASSIVE DECELERATION THE CAR MAKES A LOUD AUDIBLE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATES IT IS A REGENERATIVE BRAKE BEARING FAILURE. THIS ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE BEARING CAGE FAILING CAUSING THE BEARING TO LOSE ITS INTEGRITY. HTTP://GM-VOLT.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?17877-LOUD-WHINING-DURING-REGEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10520910
196 miles · Jun 19, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
I LEASED A NEW 2013 VOLT ON FRIDAY AND DROVE IT TO WORK AND HOME ON MONDAY. THE BATTERY DISPLAY SHOWED IT WAS AT MINIMUM, ZERO MILES REMAINING. THE VOLT WAS RUNNING WITH THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. AS I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT, "'PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED"', "'ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE"', AND "SERVICE STABILITRAC" DIS…
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I LEASED A NEW 2013 VOLT ON FRIDAY AND DROVE IT TO WORK AND HOME ON MONDAY. THE BATTERY DISPLAY SHOWED IT WAS AT MINIMUM, ZERO MILES REMAINING. THE VOLT WAS RUNNING WITH THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. AS I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT, "'PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED"', "'ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE"', AND "SERVICE STABILITRAC" DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. AFTER GOING ABOUT 500 FEET, I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE VOLT STALLED. I TURNED ON THE FLASHERS AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE POWER BY PRESSING THE BRAKE AND THE POWER BUTTON. THE DISPLAYS LIT UP BUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTINUED TO DISPLAY "'INITIALIZING-WAIT TO SHIFT"'. I TURNED THE VOLT OFF BY PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON AGAIN AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE POWER SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULT. CARS BEHIND ME WERE ATTEMPTING TO PULL AROUND ON THE LEFT SIDE BUT WERE BLOCKED BY CARS TURNING ONTO THE TWO-LANE STREET. I PUSHED THE ON-STAR BUTTON AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE. SOON, A VOLT SPECIALIST CAME ON THE LINE AND SAID SHE SUSPECTED THE SECURITY SYSTEM OR THE 12V BATTERY. SHE HAD ME TURN EVERYTHING OFF AND WALK 200 FEET FROM THE CAR. WHEN I RETURNED AND TRIED TO START THE VOLT, IT STARTED BRIEFLY BUT SHUT DOWN. SHE SAID THE 12V BATTERY MIGHT BE LOW AND THEY WOULD HAVE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BRING BOOSTER CABLES TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. I HAD MANAGED TO PUSH THE VOLT TO THE CURB AND GOT SOME CABLES TO BOOST IT. THE VOLT INITIALIZED AND THE DISPLAYS LOOKED NORMAL. I DROVE TO THE NEXT INTERSECTION AND STOPPED FOR THE LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, IT STALLED AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MY HOUSE ON BATTERY POWER BUT IT WOULD NOT GO UP THE SLOPE OF THE DRIVEWAY. I TRIED TO CHARGE IT BUT THE CHARGE CYCLE WOULD NOT START. THE NEXT MORNING, IT HAD "'PLUG IN TO CHARGE" LIGHT ON. I STARTED THE CHARGE CYCLE. IT GOES TO THE DEALER TONIGHT. *TR
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232413120.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. An update to the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 (HPCM2) may have disabled the cell balancing function causing a low-voltage condition.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the voltage drops, the vehicle may lose propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the HPCM2, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18215.
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
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: 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
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: 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.
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
2
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.
2013 Chevrolet Volt Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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