NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
310 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jan 10, 2024
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
First, the electrical system did fail suddenly in August 2023. Luckily, I was parked and so was not injured. I did report the electrical failure to the Hendrick Chevrolet dealership in Durham. But this Chevrolet Volt also does not fill up with gas. At the pump, gas just spills out of the tank. I've seen online that many people …
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First, the electrical system did fail suddenly in August 2023. Luckily, I was parked and so was not injured. I did report the electrical failure to the Hendrick Chevrolet dealership in Durham. But this Chevrolet Volt also does not fill up with gas. At the pump, gas just spills out of the tank. I've seen online that many people have this same problem. At the suggestion of Hendrick Chevrolet dealership in Durham (and after paying $210 for a diagnostic), I replaced the vent valve solenoid. The car filled up with gas twice. But once again, gas starts spilling out of the tank if you try and fill it up. The car only has about 25,000 miles on it and hasn't been driven extensively so it doesn't make sense that it is malfunctioning.
NHTSA ODI #11564702
Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2024
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
While driving the car in electric mode, a chime came on and flashed 'propulsion power is reduced', then it went into engine mode and the car decelerated quickly from posted 70mph speed to less than 40mph even though I pushed the accelerator pedal and reved the engine high. While in this low power driving mode, a warning came on…
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While driving the car in electric mode, a chime came on and flashed 'propulsion power is reduced', then it went into engine mode and the car decelerated quickly from posted 70mph speed to less than 40mph even though I pushed the accelerator pedal and reved the engine high. While in this low power driving mode, a warning came on saying the collision detection system was disabled. The concern is the person behind me had no warning since my brake lights did not come on. He sped around me with a bit of road rage. The problem temporarily goes away when you turn the ignition off and back on. I took it to the dealer and the said it needed a new EGR Cooler 4 hours labor $1500. Chevy Dealer pulled two codes P0401 Exhaust Gas Recirculation "A" Flow Insufficient Detected P1E00 Hybrid/EV Powertrain Control Module 2 I paid them the $165 diagnosis fee and got my car back and just plan to restart when it occurs. In another instance, I was pulling out from a parking lot into a busy road in electric mode and the car lost ALL power leaving me exposed in the line of traffic. Error messages on the dash said to 'service BECM' and 'shift to park'. The car was not drivable and had to be towed. Call me if you need any more information. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11564574
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2024
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
We were driving on the highway (my wife and younger son were passengers, and my 17 year old son was driver). He was in electric mode and then the engine propulsion reduced message came on and the check engine light came on. Car was still running, albeit slower. We stopped and filled up the gas, and got an engine unavailable mes…
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We were driving on the highway (my wife and younger son were passengers, and my 17 year old son was driver). He was in electric mode and then the engine propulsion reduced message came on and the check engine light came on. Car was still running, albeit slower. We stopped and filled up the gas, and got an engine unavailable message. Vehicle switched back to battery mode on its own and because there was no charge, the vehicle stopped ON THE HIGHWAY. The car lost all control and power abilities and it was very dangerous. They were able to pull over into the break down lane and they called a tow. Took the car to Mike Reichenbach Chevrolet in SC and they removed and replaced the EGR valve. However, within the last couple of weeks, my son has received the loss of propulsion message again and the car is violently shaking. This is a safety issue!
NHTSA ODI #11564471
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
The Volts BECM has failed. There are warning lights constantly warning about Engine and low Propulsion. There are multiple symptoms. Most serious is that car has stalled while driving 3 times. If I pull over, put in park, then turn off; I can restart the engine using battery mode. It does not drive well in gas mode where gas…
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The Volts BECM has failed. There are warning lights constantly warning about Engine and low Propulsion. There are multiple symptoms. Most serious is that car has stalled while driving 3 times. If I pull over, put in park, then turn off; I can restart the engine using battery mode. It does not drive well in gas mode where gas fuels generator to charge battery for propulsion. It is now very loud and often won't allow you to drive faster than 30 MPH. The mileage diagnostics (MPG) are just over 50% of what they were before problem started. It often randomly switches from battery mode to gas. This is undesired. My problem is that the only certified tech is on other side of Island Volcano. I have no confidence that I can drive it to dealer, given the distance and power required to climb mountain. So, I am stuck with no way to fix. There are widespread reported issues, similar to mine, caused by defective BECM (Battery Energy Control Module). Problem started September 2023 and have issues every day I dare drive it.
NHTSA ODI #11564306
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2024
Electrical SystemEngine
Upon starting vehicle and shifting to drive, vehicle gives message to "shift to park" and will do nothing else. Also, while battery is fully charged, vehicle will display "unable to charge" and show no mileage left on EV mode - then at times (but not always) upon starting vehicle, mileage increases to what it expected.
NHTSA ODI #11564243
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2024
Electrical SystemPower Train
Vehicle suddenly would not function. All systems became inoperable. When serviced it was determined to be a sudden failure of the BECM module which required total replacement. Part was on national back order leaving vehicle unusable for weeks.
NHTSA ODI #11563790
77,800 miles · Jan 3, 2024
Electrical System
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and was shaking. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, and the battery charge indicator showed that the battery was empty when fully charged. The contact also stated that the …
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The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and was shaking. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated, and the battery charge indicator showed that the battery was empty when fully charged. The contact also stated that the shift to park light illuminated, and the vehicle was restarted. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and was diagnosed, but not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,800.
NHTSA ODI #11563295
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2024
Electrical SystemEngine
My Chevy Volt has been having spotty pop-ups stating that "Propulsion Power is Reduced" for about a month, but I was not sure how reliable the pop-up was as there were plenty of days the pop-up would not come on when starting the car. On the day of my incident in October 2023, I once again received the "Propulsion Power is Reduc…
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My Chevy Volt has been having spotty pop-ups stating that "Propulsion Power is Reduced" for about a month, but I was not sure how reliable the pop-up was as there were plenty of days the pop-up would not come on when starting the car. On the day of my incident in October 2023, I once again received the "Propulsion Power is Reduced" pop-up when I started my car. While driving, I stopped at a stoplight, and my battery drained. When the battery is drained, I usually don't have anything to worry about, as the Volt is an EV hybrid, and I can use the gas until I can charge my vehicle again. But the Check Engine Light came on when the battery drained this time. When the light became green, I started to drive like normal, but I suddenly got a pop-up on the screen regarding the engine no longer working, and the car rapidly began to cruise while I was in the middle of the road. I was lucky enough to have space to pull over to the side, have a tow truck to get me, and not be in the middle of a busy street or highway. I scheduled an appointment with my local Chevy dealer for an inspection and figured something could be done to fix my vehicle. I was told my car was under warranty and what parts were needed to repair it. This was in October 2023, and I have been waiting for nearly 3 months for the EGR Valve required to repair my car after being told countless times that it is in backorder. I don't understand how a part can be in backorder for so long for a vehicle that is not being produced anymore. I was told I could drive my car in electric mode, but I do not want to risk the safety of others by having my battery suddenly become drained, as the EV Range the dashboard shows is never correct and rapidly drains.
NHTSA ODI #11563190
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2023
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
Failure of the BECM and “Shift to park” message. The vehicle will spontaneously produce a shift to park message when starting up the vehicle and turning it off. The vehicle will also show a 0 mile EV range and use the engine where a message saying “propulsion power reduced”. This will also cause the car to shut off randomly. T…
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Failure of the BECM and “Shift to park” message. The vehicle will spontaneously produce a shift to park message when starting up the vehicle and turning it off. The vehicle will also show a 0 mile EV range and use the engine where a message saying “propulsion power reduced”. This will also cause the car to shut off randomly. The vehicle has not been inspected by a shop or the dealership. There is no warning or message when this happen. Check engine will appear once the vehicle has these issues.
NHTSA ODI #11562434
Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2023
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
so we inspected your vehicle and it needs a battery module, that part is on back order and we have no ETA when it will come in. That is what the dealership sent me. There are people on Chevy Volt forums saying it's the EGR valve and they've been waiting months with non-working cars. Is anyone doing their job around here?
NHTSA ODI #11562180
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.
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