Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
380–25K
2925–50K
6050–75K
4775–100K
33100–150K
6150K+
213 reports with mileage · 95 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.
Air Bags. Review the 161 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 53 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 reports2 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
308 reports
80,000 miles · May 30, 2019
Air Bags
CONTINUOUSLY RECEIVE A "SERVICE AIRBAG SYSTEM" WARNING. BEGAN HAPPENING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WARNING STAYS ON ALL THE TIME (AS SOON AS VEHICLE IS STARTED). DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR FOR THE AIRBAG MUST BE REPLACED, AT A HIGH COST (~$800). WITHOUT THIS REPAIR, IT IS POSSIBLE THA…
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CONTINUOUSLY RECEIVE A "SERVICE AIRBAG SYSTEM" WARNING. BEGAN HAPPENING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WARNING STAYS ON ALL THE TIME (AS SOON AS VEHICLE IS STARTED). DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR FOR THE AIRBAG MUST BE REPLACED, AT A HIGH COST (~$800). WITHOUT THIS REPAIR, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT (SENSOR DOES NOT INDICATE THAT SOMEONE IS SEATED ON PASSENGER SIDE, SO ONLY DRIVER'S SIDE MAY DEPLOY).
NHTSA ODI #11210834
65,000 miles · May 29, 2019
Air Bags
(CHEVY VOLT 2013) A WARNING MESSAGE "SERVICE AIRBAGS" INTERMITTENTLY SHOWS. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUES AMONG CHEVY VOLT OWNERS (INCLUDING 2 PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY WHO OWN THE SAME CAR MODEL) THE WARNING SHOWS WHILE DRIVING AND DISAPPEARS AFTER A FEW SECONDS.
NHTSA ODI #11210681
Mileage unknown · May 28, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY ISSUES WITH THE BATTERY OR PROPULSION CONTROL SYSTEM. I GOT A RECALL NOTICE TO FIX "LOSS OF PROPULSION DUE TO LOW CELL VOLTAGE". THE SERVICE TEAM WAS VERY NICE, I SAT IN THEIR WAITING ROOM FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. THEY SAID IT WAS DONE SO I THEN WENT TO WORK FOR A COUPLE …
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I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY ISSUES WITH THE BATTERY OR PROPULSION CONTROL SYSTEM. I GOT A RECALL NOTICE TO FIX "LOSS OF PROPULSION DUE TO LOW CELL VOLTAGE". THE SERVICE TEAM WAS VERY NICE, I SAT IN THEIR WAITING ROOM FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. THEY SAID IT WAS DONE SO I THEN WENT TO WORK FOR A COUPLE HOURS. WHEN DRIVING HOME I GET TO THE POINT WHERE THE INITIAL ELECTRICAL BATTERY IS DEPLETED AND THEN IT TURNS ON THE GAS GENERATOR. I IMMEDIATELY GET AN ALERT "LOSS OF PROPULSION" AND THE CAR STOPS ACCELERATING AND DRIVES VERY DIFFERENT. LOW ACCELERATION, AC TURNS OFF. I MAKE IT HOME AND THEN THE CHARGING SYSTEM SAYS IT IS NOT WORKING. I TRY TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND IT DOESN'T LET ME PUT IT IN GEAR. I CALLED ON STAR AND THEY SCHEDULED A TOW TRUCK TO COME AND HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES.
NHTSA ODI #11210504
45,000 miles · Apr 30, 2019
Service Brakes
INSIDE REAR BRAKE PAD MATERIAL SEPARATED FROM THE STEEL BACKING RESULTING IN DAMAGED BRAKE ROTORS AND ERRATIC BRAKING. ALL OTHER BRAKE PADS IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION. THESE WERE THE OEM BRAKES AND ROTORS.
NHTSA ODI #11204764
95,000 miles · Apr 28, 2019
Air BagsSeats
PASSENGER SEAT UNOCCUPIED WILL ALERT AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING DISPLAY
NHTSA ODI #11204289
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2019
Air BagsSeats
AIRBAG WEIGHT SENSOR ISSUES ON PASSENGER SIDE
NHTSA ODI #11203003
66,085 miles · Apr 22, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE FOR COMMUTE BACK HOME, THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC WARNING POPES UP SAYING THAT PROFUSION PEER WAS REDUCED. THE GASOLINE ENGINE THEN TURNED ON EVEN THOUGH BATTERY WAS APPROXIMATELY 75% CHARGED. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH ACCELERATION AS WELL AS DECELERATION; AS A RESULT, I ELE…
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WHILE STARTING VEHICLE FOR COMMUTE BACK HOME, THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC WARNING POPES UP SAYING THAT PROFUSION PEER WAS REDUCED. THE GASOLINE ENGINE THEN TURNED ON EVEN THOUGH BATTERY WAS APPROXIMATELY 75% CHARGED. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH ACCELERATION AS WELL AS DECELERATION; AS A RESULT, I ELECTED TO TAKE THE SIDE STREETS INSTEAD OF THE INTERSTATE
NHTSA ODI #11202786
69,000 miles · Apr 15, 2019
EnginePower Train
I LIVE IN AND DRIVE MY CAR AROUND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. MY BATTERY COOLANT RADIATOR WAS HIT BY A SMALL ROCK AND LEAKED. THIS PREVENTED CHARGING, CAUSED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, AND COOLANT TO POOL UNDERNEATH MY CAR. I TOWED IT TO A NEARBY CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO GET THE RADIATOR REPLACED. RADIATOR DAMA…
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I LIVE IN AND DRIVE MY CAR AROUND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. MY BATTERY COOLANT RADIATOR WAS HIT BY A SMALL ROCK AND LEAKED. THIS PREVENTED CHARGING, CAUSED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, AND COOLANT TO POOL UNDERNEATH MY CAR. I TOWED IT TO A NEARBY CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO GET THE RADIATOR REPLACED. RADIATOR DAMAGE TO VOLTS IS NOT UNCOMMON. CHEVROLET KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN COVERING SOME (BUT NOT ALL) VOLTS DUE TO THEIR LOW, VULNERABLE, AND RELATIVELY UNPROTECTED DESIGN OF THE RADIATOR. I BELIEVE CHEVROLET SHOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITH STRONGER RADIATOR SHIELDS AND PROTECTORS.
NHTSA ODI #11196588
50,000 miles · Apr 9, 2019
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEN GARFF CHEVROLET (801-692-6158, LOCATED AT 548 E 1000 S, AMERICAN FORK, UT 84003) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEN GARFF CHEVROLET (801-692-6158, LOCATED AT 548 E 1000 S, AMERICAN FORK, UT 84003) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
NHTSA ODI #11195006
60,000 miles · Apr 4, 2019
Air Bags
THE CHECK AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG GO ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY EVEN IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM HAS FAILED AT 70,000 MILES. IT HAPPENS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN MAKING IT UNSAFE TO HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL GM AND VOLT BLOGS AND THIS SE…
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THE CHECK AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG GO ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY EVEN IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM HAS FAILED AT 70,000 MILES. IT HAPPENS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN MAKING IT UNSAFE TO HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL GM AND VOLT BLOGS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2012 AND 2013 VOLT.
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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