IllustrationCHEVY VOLT 2016, SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT CAR WARNING COMES UP "SHIFT TO PARK" AND THUS CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF.
2016 Chevrolet Volt
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 169.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Volt years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
2625–50K
1050–75K
775–100K
3100–150K
3150K+
60 reports with mileage · 109 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
20 reportsWHEN I PRESS THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR, IT WON'T SHUT OFF. A MESSAGE ON THE DASH SAYS I MUST "SHIFT TO PARK". OF COURSE, I'VE ALREADY SHIFTED INTO PARK. IF I PUT THE SHIFTER BACK INTO THE "L" POSITION SEVERAL TIMES, EVENTUALLY IT WILL SHUT OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. NOW I NEED TO REPEAT THIS PROCES…
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WHEN I PRESS THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR, IT WON'T SHUT OFF. A MESSAGE ON THE DASH SAYS I MUST "SHIFT TO PARK". OF COURSE, I'VE ALREADY SHIFTED INTO PARK. IF I PUT THE SHIFTER BACK INTO THE "L" POSITION SEVERAL TIMES, EVENTUALLY IT WILL SHUT OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. NOW I NEED TO REPEAT THIS PROCESS OF SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH MANY MANY TIMES TO GET IT TO SHUT OFF. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENS TO THIS CAR. GM REPLACED THE SHIFT ASSEMBLY ONE YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR TO FIX THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
MY 2016 CHEVROLET VOLT IS EXHIBITING THE "SHIFT TO PARK" ISSUE. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WHEN I SHIFT TO PARK AND ATTEMPT TO SHUT MY CAR OFF, IT ALERTS ME THAT I NEED TO SHIFT IN ORDER TO PARK. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, THEN TURN IT OFF AGAIN, SOMETIMES I MOVE THE SHIFTER OR FLICK THE SHIFTER BUTTON TO FIX IT.
SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN GEAR IS IN PARK (P) - THE PROMPT ON THE SCREEN STATES "ACTION REQUIRED: SHIFT TO PARK" (SEE ATTACHED SCREENSHOT) EVEN WHEN THE GEAR IS ALREADY ON PARK (P) - THE WORK-AROUND IS SHIFTING THE GEAR FROM PARK (P) THEN L THEN BACK TO PARK - SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
AFTER PUTTING MY CAR INTO PARK AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN IT OFF, THE MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" IS DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. THE CAR THINKS IT IS NOT IN PARK UNLESS I EITHER PRESS THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFT STICK A COUPLE TIMES OR TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND BACK ON.
WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE SHIFTER IS IN "PARK" AND WON'T POWER OFF, EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTER IS IN PARK. A MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE SCREEN TO SHIFT VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT THE VEHICLE JUST DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THIS. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS…
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WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE SHIFTER IS IN "PARK" AND WON'T POWER OFF, EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTER IS IN PARK. A MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE SCREEN TO SHIFT VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT THE VEHICLE JUST DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THIS. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS, AND I NEED TO WIGGLE THE SHIFT LEVER, AND/OR PUSH THE ON/OFF BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL IT FINALLY REALIZES THAT IT IS IN PARK AND SHUTS OFF.
FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS, A "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE HAS BEEN OCCURRING INCREASINGLY UPON VEHICLE POWER OFF. VEHICLE HAS 29716 MILES. TYPICALLY OCCURS UPON PARKING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A FULL STOP. UPON DEPRESSING THE POWER BUTTON TO POWER OFF THE VEHICLE, A SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE APPEARS ON …
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FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS, A "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE HAS BEEN OCCURRING INCREASINGLY UPON VEHICLE POWER OFF. VEHICLE HAS 29716 MILES. TYPICALLY OCCURS UPON PARKING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A FULL STOP. UPON DEPRESSING THE POWER BUTTON TO POWER OFF THE VEHICLE, A SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. (WHICH IS ODD SINCE THE VEHICLE SHIFT IS ALREADY IN PARK.) THE VEHICLE WILL NOT POWER DOWN AS LONG AS THE "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE REMAINS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ATTEMPTS TO CLEAR THE MESSAGE FROM THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DO NOT SEEM TO BE DETECTED. (TRIED WIGGLING SHIFT; DEPRESSING THE SHIFT TRIGGER; SHIFTING TO DRIVE AND BACK INTO PARK SEVERAL TIMES; OPEN AND CLOSED DOOR SEVERAL TIMES; DEPRESSED POWER BUTTON ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO APPARENT EFFECT. VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CLEARS THE SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE AND ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO POWER OFF WITH NO APPARENT CONNECTION TO A CLEAR CUT METHOD TO MANUALLY CLEAR THE MESSAGE. (THERE IS NO TYPICAL TIME THAT CAN BE RELIED UPON FOR THE EVENTUAL CLEARING OF THE MESSAGE FROM THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO RETURN TO NORMAL POWER OFF FUNCTIONALITY.) VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE SHIFT MECHANISM. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AND JUMPER HARNESS, N-HARNESS AND N-CONTROL. BILL FOR REPAIR WAS $572.26 . DEALERSHIP DID NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTEE. DEALERSHIP ALSO COMMUNICATED THAT REPAIR HAD NO EXISTING RECALL NOTIFICATION AND COULD NOT BE COMPENSATED BY MANUFACTURER RECALL.
WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF A "SHIFT TO PARK" LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. WHEN LOOKING FOR AN EXPLANATION I FOUND THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2ND GEN VOLT. WHEN I TOOK THIS CAR TO THE DEALER THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THE SECOND GEN VOLT …
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WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF A "SHIFT TO PARK" LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. WHEN LOOKING FOR AN EXPLANATION I FOUND THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2ND GEN VOLT. WHEN I TOOK THIS CAR TO THE DEALER THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THE SECOND GEN VOLT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I SMELLED SMOKE, THEN SAW SMOKE, AND THEN SAW FLAMES ON THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND PULLED MY CHILDREN FROM THE VEHICLE. WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
WHILE I WAS DRIVING EAST ON HWY 80 IN VACAVILLE, CA, AT APPROXIMATELY 1:15 PM, I WAS LITERALLY BLINDED BY SUN FROM THE CHROME REFLECTION ON THE DASH BOARD. BECAUSE OF THIS, I ALMOST REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRON OF ME AS I HAD DARK SPOTS IN MY VISION FROM THE REFLECTION.
Official recalls
117V621000 · Air Bags:frontal
Oct 5, 2017
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17387.
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
2PE23022 · Loss Of Motive Power Due To The Battery Energy Control Module
Opened Nov 29, 2023 · Closed Mar 3, 2025
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical System:propulsion System; Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery:management System/energy Control Module (bms/becm)
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE23022 to investigate allegations of a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The BECM is located within the high voltage electric vehicle (EV) battery pack and monitors the temperature, current, and voltage of the high voltage battery cell groups. GM stated that the root cause was identified as an internal failure leading to a loss of communication within the BECM and does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety. GM further stated that the failure cannot result in a complete stall, only a reduced power mode, no start condition, or a no charge condition. GM additionally stated that if these conditions occur, the driver will be warned via a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and/or a reduced-propulsion message in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Data received and analyzed by ODI from all sources indicates that nearly all related BECM failures caused conditions aligning with GM’s predicted outcomes. Despite the large number of warranty claims, nearly all failures were not safety-related, i.e., not a stall or reduced power mode. ODI isaware of a single minor crash and no injuries or deaths. In March 2024, GM issued Special Coverage N232432680, which was mailed to consumers, addressing BECM failures in certain MY 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. This special coverage provides an extension of the warranty coverage for the BECM from 8 years / 100,000 miles to 15 years / 150,000 miles for all 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volts. Additionally, GM stated that replacement components are sourced from a different supplier and not susceptible to the failure. In view of the Special Coverage issued by GM, the existing warranty coverage already in place, and the low number of safety-related occurrences, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE). 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 future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Electrical System
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE23022 to investigate allegations of a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The BECM is located within the high voltage electric vehicle (EV) battery pack and monitors the temperature, current, and voltage of the high voltage battery cell groups. GM stated that the root cause was identified as an internal failure leading to a loss of communication within the BECM and does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety. GM further stated that the failure cannot result in a complete stall, only a reduced power mode, no start condition, or a no charge condition. GM additionally stated that if these conditions occur, the driver will be warned via a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and/or a reduced-propulsion message in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Data received and analyzed by ODI from all sources indicates that nearly all related BECM failures caused conditions aligning with GM’s predicted outcomes. Despite the large number of warranty claims, nearly all failures were not safety-related, i.e., not a stall or reduced power mode. ODI isaware of a single minor crash and no injuries or deaths. In March 2024, GM issued Special Coverage N232432680, which was mailed to consumers, addressing BECM failures in certain MY 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. This special coverage provides an extension of the warranty coverage for the BECM from 8 years / 100,000 miles to 15 years / 150,000 miles for all 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volts. Additionally, GM stated that replacement components are sourced from a different supplier and not susceptible to the failure. In view of the Special Coverage issued by GM, the existing warranty coverage already in place, and the low number of safety-related occurrences, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE). 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 future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Electrical System:propulsion System
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE23022 to investigate allegations of a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The BECM is located within the high voltage electric vehicle (EV) battery pack and monitors the temperature, current, and voltage of the high voltage battery cell groups. GM stated that the root cause was identified as an internal failure leading to a loss of communication within the BECM and does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety. GM further stated that the failure cannot result in a complete stall, only a reduced power mode, no start condition, or a no charge condition. GM additionally stated that if these conditions occur, the driver will be warned via a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and/or a reduced-propulsion message in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Data received and analyzed by ODI from all sources indicates that nearly all related BECM failures caused conditions aligning with GM’s predicted outcomes. Despite the large number of warranty claims, nearly all failures were not safety-related, i.e., not a stall or reduced power mode. ODI isaware of a single minor crash and no injuries or deaths. In March 2024, GM issued Special Coverage N232432680, which was mailed to consumers, addressing BECM failures in certain MY 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. This special coverage provides an extension of the warranty coverage for the BECM from 8 years / 100,000 miles to 15 years / 150,000 miles for all 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volts. Additionally, GM stated that replacement components are sourced from a different supplier and not susceptible to the failure. In view of the Special Coverage issued by GM, the existing warranty coverage already in place, and the low number of safety-related occurrences, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE). 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 future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery:management System/energy Control Module (bms/becm)
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE23022 to investigate allegations of a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The BECM is located within the high voltage electric vehicle (EV) battery pack and monitors the temperature, current, and voltage of the high voltage battery cell groups. GM stated that the root cause was identified as an internal failure leading to a loss of communication within the BECM and does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety. GM further stated that the failure cannot result in a complete stall, only a reduced power mode, no start condition, or a no charge condition. GM additionally stated that if these conditions occur, the driver will be warned via a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and/or a reduced-propulsion message in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Data received and analyzed by ODI from all sources indicates that nearly all related BECM failures caused conditions aligning with GM’s predicted outcomes. Despite the large number of warranty claims, nearly all failures were not safety-related, i.e., not a stall or reduced power mode. ODI isaware of a single minor crash and no injuries or deaths. In March 2024, GM issued Special Coverage N232432680, which was mailed to consumers, addressing BECM failures in certain MY 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. This special coverage provides an extension of the warranty coverage for the BECM from 8 years / 100,000 miles to 15 years / 150,000 miles for all 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volts. Additionally, GM stated that replacement components are sourced from a different supplier and not susceptible to the failure. In view of the Special Coverage issued by GM, the existing warranty coverage already in place, and the low number of safety-related occurrences, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE). 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 future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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.