2014 Chevrolet Volt

CAR TELLS ME THAT THE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE SERVICED EVERY TIME THE CAR TURNS ON AND CONTINUES TO ALERT ME AS I DRIVE, EVEN AFTER I ACKNOWLEDGE THE ERROR. APPARENTLY THE FRONT PASSENGER DETECTOR FOR TURNING ON THE AIRBAG MUST BE REPLACED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAYS HE'S DRIVEN WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. OVER $600 TO REPLACE. FROM READING FORUMS ONLINE, I SEE THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. THE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED.

THE 120V CHARGING CORD THAT CAME WITH THE VOLT HAS CRACKED AND FRAYED, EXPOSING ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THE ELEMENTS AND CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. SEE PHOTO OF CORD CONDITION. THE CHARGER IS A NECESSARY ELEMENT TO USING AN ELECTRIC-HYBRID VEHICLE. WE ASKED THE CHEVY DEALER FROM WHOM WE BOUGHT THE VOLT (SEE BUSINESS CARD PHOTO) TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT CHARGER, AND THEY REFUSED TO. THIS EQUIPMENT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE FIRE HAZARD, AND ITS CONDITION SHOULD NOT HAVE RESULTED FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

THE ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY VOLT WHICH DISABLED THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER, CREATING A DANGEROUS VISIBILITY SITUATION. THE VOLT HAS TWO HEATING SYSTEMS, THE TRADITIONAL WASTE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM AND AN ALL-ELECTRIC RESISTOR PACK. WHEN THE CAR RUNS IN ALL-ELECTRIC MODE, THE ENGINE DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE TRADITIONAL HEATING SYSTEM IS INEFFECTIVE. THERE IS A MODE THAT WILL OPERATE THE ENGINE WHILE THE BATTERY STILL HAS A CHARGE, BUT THE CAR STILL RUNS PRIMARILY ON BATTERY POWER AND ONLY RUNS THE ENGINE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN CHARGE LEVEL. THERE IS NO BACKUP MODE TO FORCE THE ENGINE TO RUN IF THE ELECTRIC HEATER FAILS. I PARK OUTDOORS OVERNIGHT IN A PARKING LOT. THIS MORNING, DESPITE ENGAGING THE VEHICLE MODE THAT OPERATES THE ENGINE TO SUSTAIN THE BATTERY CHARGE LEVEL, THE ENGINE DID NOT OPERATE OFTEN ENOUGH TO GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO DEFROST/DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD UNTIL TRAVELLING NEARLY 2 MILES. YOU CAN'T SIT AND WAIT FOR THE ENGINE TO HEAT UP BECAUSE THE ENGINE STOPS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN BATTERY MODE, THE BATTERY EMPTIED AND THE VEHICLE SWITCHED TO GAS MODE. THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE AND LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ON STAR SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND INDICATED A SYSTEM FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BEDARD BROS (391 SOUTH STATE ROAD, CHESIRE, MA 01225, (413) 743-0014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (PART NUMBER: 12670036) FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,509.

WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL WITH THE RADIO BARELY ON I CANNOT HEAR THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR AT ALL. THE TURN SIGNAL SOUND IS EXTREMELY LOW. TODAY I LEFT IT ON ACCIDENT AND A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME ASSUMING I WAS TURNING, HOWEVER I WAS NOT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT IF HE DID PULL OUT, THE VEHICLE STOPPED JUST INCHES BEFORE BEING IN THE ROAD. IF THE BLINKER INDICATOR IS THROUGH THE VEHICLE AUDIO SYSTEM, IT NEEDS TO BE INCREASED. I HAVE LEFT MY BLINKER ON MULTIPLE TIMES >10.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET VOLT. STARTED CAR WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND TOLD ME TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP WHICH WILL RESULT DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.