IllustrationPROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED WHILE DRIVING. POWER IS LOST AND BATTERY CELLS ARE DRAINED CHEVY DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY CAN NOT FIND ERROR OR ADDRESS PROBLEM. AFTER PHOTO SHOWING ERROR ON DASHBOARD.
2017 Chevrolet Volt
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Volt years
Owner complaints for the 2017 Chevrolet Volt are substantially higher than 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
720–25K
10725–50K
3850–75K
2175–100K
11100–150K
1150K+
250 reports with mileage · 447 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 310 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 233 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 219 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 reports9 fire reports10 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
310 reportsWHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, IT SAYS "ACTION REQUIRED, SHIFT TO PARK" IT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S ALREADY IN PARK... IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTER AND THEY HAVEN'T ISSUES A RECALL YET. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.
INTERMITTENT "SHIFT TO PARK" DURING PARKING PROCESS. THIS PREVENTS VEHICLE FROM BEING TURNED OFF. HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO FIX AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN IT IS COLD AND IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN. MULTIPLE ACTUATION OF THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON EVENTUALLY CAUSES…
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INTERMITTENT "SHIFT TO PARK" DURING PARKING PROCESS. THIS PREVENTS VEHICLE FROM BEING TURNED OFF. HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO FIX AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN IT IS COLD AND IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN. MULTIPLE ACTUATION OF THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE SYSTEM TO SINCE THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE DATE BELOW INDICATES THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, BUT SINCE OWNING THE CAR, IT'S HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES A MONTH WITH THIS LAST WEEK BEING AT LEAST ONCE DAILY.
UPON STARTING THE CAR (AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN WITH WINDOWS UP, SO HOT CABIN), WHEN I SHIFT TO ANY GEAR OUT OF PARK, I GET AN ACTION REQUIRED SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE. THE SHIFTER WILL GO TO DRIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT MOVE THE CAR, AND I HAVE THE MESSAGE TO SHIFT TO PARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. BOTH…
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UPON STARTING THE CAR (AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN WITH WINDOWS UP, SO HOT CABIN), WHEN I SHIFT TO ANY GEAR OUT OF PARK, I GET AN ACTION REQUIRED SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE. THE SHIFTER WILL GO TO DRIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT MOVE THE CAR, AND I HAVE THE MESSAGE TO SHIFT TO PARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. BOTH TIMES I ROLLED DOWN WINDOWS, AND TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN TO RESOLVE THIS. AFTER SEVERAL ROUNDS OF THIS, THE CAR DID SHIFT TO DRIVE AND WOULD GO. HOWEVER THE ENGINE IS RUNNING (RATHER THAN ONLY ELECTRIC, AS I USUALLY OPERATE); THE BATTERY GAGE IN CLASSICAL MODE SHOWS A RAPIDLY DECREASING CHARGE, THEN INCREASING, THEN DECREASING - ALSO THE PLACE WHERE IT SHOWS HOW MANY MILES LEFT IN BATTERY IS GREYED OUT AT 0, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY MAY APPEAR TO BE CHARGED MORE THAN HALF. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT MODES, HOLD MODE IS GRAYED OUT AND I CANNOT ACTIVATE IT. ONCE I ARRIVE AT MY DESTINATION AND TURN THE CAR OFF, PLUG IT IN, NEXT TIME IT TURNS ON AS NORMAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON FOR ALL THIS, AND DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN RESTARTING A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY THE NEXT DAY.
WHEN I PARK MY CAR, I SHIFT IT INTO PARK AND PRESS THE BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR OFF. HOWEVER I THEN GET A MESSAGE ON THE DASH: ACTION REQUIRED SHIFT TO PARK. BUT IT'S ALREADY IN PARK & I CANNOT SHUT OFF THE CAR.
PURCHASED A 2107 VOLT PREMIER WITH 40K MILES IN JULY 2020. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY WITH A "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SHE WAS ABLE TO GLIDE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND I CAME TO RESCUE HER. AFTER REPEATED ON OFF CYCLES I GOT THE CAR TO MOVE A COUPLE OF MILES WITH SEVERAL "JER…
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PURCHASED A 2107 VOLT PREMIER WITH 40K MILES IN JULY 2020. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY WITH A "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SHE WAS ABLE TO GLIDE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND I CAME TO RESCUE HER. AFTER REPEATED ON OFF CYCLES I GOT THE CAR TO MOVE A COUPLE OF MILES WITH SEVERAL "JERKING" MOTIONS WHILE DRIVING THEN IT DIED AGAIN AND I LOST POWER BRAKING (WENT TO MANUAL ONLY). THIS TIME I WAS UNABLE TO "RE-BOOT IT" AND HAD ONSTAR HAVE IT TOWED TO A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER WHO HAS A "CERTIFIED EV SPECIALIST"
CAR IS GIVING A MESSAGE SAYING, "ACTION REQUIRED: SHIFT TO PARK, WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF. SEARCHING FOR THIS ON THE INTERNET REVEALS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET VOLT AND OTHER CHEVROLET MODELS.
AS I WAS DRIVING I RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON THE DRIVER INFO CENTER TO SHIFT IN PARK AND I LOST ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER CONTACTED ONSTAR TO GET VEHICLE TOWED TO NEARBY DEALER. WAS PUSHED BY TWO POLICE OFFICERS TO GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY. ONCE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP THE TOW DRI…
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AS I WAS DRIVING I RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON THE DRIVER INFO CENTER TO SHIFT IN PARK AND I LOST ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER CONTACTED ONSTAR TO GET VEHICLE TOWED TO NEARBY DEALER. WAS PUSHED BY TWO POLICE OFFICERS TO GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY. ONCE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP THE TOW DRIVER SAID I HAVE DRIVE AND REVERSE CAPABILITY AGAIN WHICH I DIDN'T HAVE WHILE PUT ON TOWER. AS I WAS STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD MY DRIVER INFO CENTER STATED PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED SO I COULDN'T DRIVE OR REVERSE. CHECK ENGINE WAS ON THAT NIGHT AND THAT MORNING. AT THE DEALERSHIP, NO CODES COULD BE READ BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT AWAY.
CAR WON'T TURN OFF AFTER I SHIFT TO PARK AND DEPRESS THE POWER BUTTON. INSTEAD THE CAR WANTS ME TO SHIFT TO PARK AGAIN. CAR IS STATIONARY.
WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR BY HITTING THE POWER BUTTON, THE CENTER CONSOLE WILL SAY "ACTION REQUIRED. SHIFT TO PARK." THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. I AM USUALLY ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS BY PRESSING AND RELEASING THE SHIFT KNOB SEVERAL TIMES AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK. THE ISSUE BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND…
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WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR BY HITTING THE POWER BUTTON, THE CENTER CONSOLE WILL SAY "ACTION REQUIRED. SHIFT TO PARK." THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. I AM USUALLY ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS BY PRESSING AND RELEASING THE SHIFT KNOB SEVERAL TIMES AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK. THE ISSUE BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY LATELY. I AM AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN IN A SITUATION WHERE I MAY NEED TO QUICKLY EXIT THE VEHICLE.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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.