2014 Chevrolet Volt

FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER NOT WORKING RESULTING IN POOR FORWARD VISIBILITY WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. WINDOW DEFROSTER NOT WORKING BECAUSE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED. NO HEAT WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE IN ELECTRIC ONLY MODE. FORCING VEHICLE TO OPERATE IN GASOLINE ENGINE MODE PROVIDES SOME HEAT, BUT IS NOT EFFECTIVE IN COLD CLIMATE CITY DRIVING DUE TO INFREQUENT ENGINE OPERATION. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO FORCE ENGINE TO OPERATE CONTINUOUSLY. BASED ON CHEVROLET VOLT OWNERS FORUMS THE ELECTRIC HEAT CEASING OPERATION IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THESE VEHICLES AND IS THE RESULT OF AN ELECTRIC HEAT / CIRCULATION PUMP COMPONENT FAILURE. THIS COMPONENT IS UNIQUE TO THIS TYPE OF PLUG IN HYBRID VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH ENGINE HEAT TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WORKING. DEALER REPLACEMENT OF THE FAILED COMPONENT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE VOLTEC WARRANTY THOUGH THIS IS A UNIQUE COMPONENT REQUIRED AS PART OF THE VOLTEC PROPULSION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE ENOUGH HEAT FOR WINDOW DEFROSTING IN COLD CLIMATES. THE ELECTRIC HEATER / CIRCULATION PUMP COMPONENT FAILURE RATE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR THESE VEHICLES AND DETERMINED WHETHER A SAFETY RECALL IS WARRANTED.

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.

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO RETURN TO CLOSED POSITION UPON DEMAND, RESULTING IN DISTRACTED AND UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION AT MINIMUM ROAD SPEED. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND AT SPEED. THIS OCCURRED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN JUNE. HAD THIS OCCURRED IN CHICAGO IN JANUARY, THIS MAY HAVE PRESENTED AN ADDITIONAL HAZARD FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. ALLEGED CAUSE OF FAILURE IS A WINDOW REGULATOR WITH A REPAIR COST OF $500. THIS DEFECT APPEARS TO BE COMMON BASED ON A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH.

THE WATERHEATER PUMP ON THE CAR IS OUT AT JUST 53L MILES AND CHEVY STATES THAT THIS IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH WE CANT GET THE PART BECAUSE IT IS BACK ORDERED DUE TO SO MANY INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REASON THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE CAR CAN NOT DEFROST THE WINDOW FOR VISIBILITY. THIS IS AN ISSUE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL VOLT OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO THEIR FAULT WATERPUMP SYSTEM. *TR