2017 Chevrolet Volt

WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET MY CAR SERVICED FOR NEARLY STALLING AT A STOP LIGHT MY CAR ENGINE KEPT TURNING ON AND OFF AND REVVING UP AND DOWN RANDOMLY. I WAS IN ELECTRIC MODE AND THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COMING ON. THE CAR'S SPEED RANDOMLY FLUCTUATED AS THE ENGINE RANDOMLY REVVED UP AND DOWN. I PULLED IN TO A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHERE MY CAR DIED. BEFORE DYING THE GAS RANGE INDICATOR CHANGED FROM 87 MILES TO 'LOW FUEL'. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED. AFTER 16 DAYS I GOT MY CAR BACK. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE TWICE. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT FAILED WITHIN A 1 MILE TEST DRIVE BY THE MECHANIC.

WHILE DRIVING IN MY SON TO SCHOOL MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. FEARING MY CAR WOULD DIE WITH NO WARNING (LIKE HAD PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED) I WENT BACK TO MY HOUSE. I USED ONSTAR TO PULL THE ENGINE CODE OF U18A2 WHICH AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE COULD RESULT IN 'LOSS OF PROPULSION' LIKE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED FOR SERVICE. AFTER 15 DAYS I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A LOOSE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SOMEWHERE.

VEHICLE'S LANE DEPARTURE FUNCTION AND CALIBRATION WAS REPROGRAMMED AFTER A RECALL SERVICE AND NOT FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK. FUNCTION WAS NOT ONLY A PREMIUM CHARGE OPTION, BUT ORIGINALLY WOULD MONITOR THE LANE LINES AND ADJUST THE ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM TO KEEP THE VEHICLE WELL WITHIN THE ROAD LANES' PAINTED LINES. NOW, THE VEHICLE WILL (MORE TIMES THAN NOT) COMPLETELY CROSS THE TIRES WELL OVER THE PAINTED LINE, TRAVELING SEVERAL TENS OF YARDS BEFORE ONLY SLIGHTLY CORRECTING ITS DIRECTION BACK TOWARDS THE LANE. IN A BEST CASE SCENARIO, VEHICLE SYSTEM WILL BEGIN CORRECTING ITSELF APPROXIMATELY JUST AS THE FRONT TIRE MAKES CONTACT WITH THE LANE BOUNDARY LINES. THIS HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN LANES OF VARYING WIDTH AND CONFIRMED BY THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP. FURTHER, SYSTEM IS INCONSISTENT IN ITS DETERMINATION AND "CORRECTION" LANE BOUNDARIES, SOMETIMES CROSSING THE LEFT LANE LINE ENTIRELY THEN BARELY TOUCHING THE RIDE SIDE LANE, OR VICE VERSA. SYSTEM HAS ALSO BEEN APPARENTLY LESS SENSITIVE IN READING THE LINES AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATOR WILL NOT LIGHT UP INDICATING THAT IT RECOGNIZES LANES, EVEN THOUGH LANES ARE CLEARLY AND BRIGHTLY PAINTED AND ILLUMINATED BY EITHER HEADLIGHTS, STREET LIGHTS OR SUNLIGHT. AS THIS VEHICLE IS A COMPLETE DRIVE-BY-WIRE SYSTEM (BRAKES, STEERING, AND THROTTLE HAVE NO MECHANICAL CONNECTION TO DRIVER'S INPUTS), I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH REGARDS TO THE SENSORS CAPABILITIES IN ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE AND FEEL THAT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, THE SYSTEM WILL FAIL TO OPERATE AS PROMOTED AND PROMISED BY THE MANUFACTURE. THIS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE IF THIS PERFORMANCE WAS SIMILAR OR CONSISTENT TO PERFORMANCE FROM INITIAL OPERATION, HOWEVER, THE OEM HAS EFFECTIVELY AND DRAMATICALLY CHANGING THE VEHICLE'S DRIVING DYNAMIC AND SAFETY FUNCTION THAT I (AND ANY REASONABLE DRIVER) HAVE BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH AS A DRIVER, WITHOUT MY CONSENT.

I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THREE WEEKS, BUT ALREADY TWICE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY FOB AND WOULD NOT START, LOCK, OR UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, SEEMINGLY RANDOMLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF. A DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED THE RECEIVER IN THE VEHICLE YESTERDAY, SO WE WILL SEE IF THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. BUT SINCE I SAW THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD HAD THIS PROBLEM, I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED.

THE CAR LITERALLY JUST STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS TURNING ON A BUSY ROAD, SO I WAS STUCK RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH CARS NEARLY SMASHING INTO THE BACK OF ME. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING. I COULDN'T TURN IT OFF OR ON- IT WAS KIND ON JUST STUCK IN AN ALTERNATE MODE. THERE WAS AN ORANGE ENGINE SYMBOL THAT WAS LIT UP AND IT KEPT SAYING "SHIFT TO PARK" BUT I WOULD SHIFT AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. I COULDN'T PUT IT IN NEUTRAL SO I COULD PUSH IT TO A SAFER LOCATION. NOTHING. THE TECHNICIAN ON THE PHONE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT, BUT SOMEONE WHO STOPPED TO HELP SAID HE USED TO WORK ON THESE CARS AND SAID IT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN AND IT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO FIX IT (I THOUGHT I REMEMBER HIM SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT AN ENGINE SWITCH PROBLEM, BUT I WAS SO FRAZZLED I WASN'T REALLY LISTENING TO HIM) . IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE CARS HAVE NO BEEN RECALLED.

IF THE CAR LOSES POWER, AND THE DOORS HAVE LOCKED (DO AUTOMATICALLY), THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE PLUNGER IS RECESSED SO MUCH IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO RAISE IT TO UNLOCK. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET, THEY HAVE NO ANSWER ON HOW TO OVERCOME THIS. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WAS LOCKED IN ANOTHER TYPE OF VEHICLE WHEN LOST POWER, BUT COULD MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. TV NEWS THIS MORNING SHOWED A PERSON TRAPPED IN A CAR WITH NO POWER, BUT WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE MESSAGE WAS TO LEARN HOW TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE CAR IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. PLEASE SEE IF THIS CAN BE REMEDIED, IT MAY SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU, GRATEFUL TAXPAYER. *TR

THE VEHICLE CENTER DISPLAY DOES NOT WORK RELIABLY. MOST CONCERNING TO SAFETY IS THE FACT THAT THIS RENDERS THE REVERSE CAMERA INOPERABLE. OTHER THINGS THAT DON'T WORK INCLUDE BLUETOOTH, RADIO, ON STAR, CONTROLS FOR THE VEHICLE SETUP AND CHARGING PARAMETERS, AIR CONDITIONING, ENERGY USAGE DISPLAY, AND SO ON. AFTER SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS AND CALLS TO GM, THEY DETERMINED THAT IF YOU LEAVE A PHONE PLUGGED INTO THE USB CORD FOR THE AUDIO SYSTEM, AND POWER THE CAR OFF WITHOUT FIRST UNPLUGGING THE PHONE FROM THE CHARGER AND EVEN THE CHARGER CORD FROM THE USB PORT (WITH NO PHONE PLUGGED IN) OR ELSE THE NEXT TIME YOU START THE CAR THE SCREEN AND FUNCTIONS ON IT WILL BE INOPERABLE UNTIL THE CAR IS POWERED OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. WHETHER OR NOT I UNPLUG MY PHONE WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR SHOULD PREVENT THE BACKUP CAMERA FROM FUNCTIONING NOR THE DETAILS ABOUT ELECTRIC CAR CHARGE USAGE. GM HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO, THAT'S JUST HOW IT WORKS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO DISPLAY THE SPEED OF THE TRAVELING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A FREEWAY A LIGHT CAME ON STATING ALL SYSTEMS WOULD SHUT DOWN AND ALL SYSTEMS DID SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS HARDLY TIME ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. EVEN THE ONSTAR SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. THE DOOR FOB WOULD NOT WORK TO OPEN THE CAR DOORS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE TOW COMPANY WAS UNABLE TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL SO SKATES WERE USED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE ON A FLATBED TOW TRUCK. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, SINGH, RIVERSIDE, CA THAT RECEIVED THE TOW VEHICLE STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO 3 DEFECTIVE FUSES THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BATTERY SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUSES WERE PRODUCED OVERSEAS AND THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE CAR AND NO ESTIMATED DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT GMC HAD SENT OUT A FLYER RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. AFTER 3 WEEKS I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AND I PICKED IT UP. THREE DAYS AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP. A GMC FIELD TECHNICIAN WAS DISPATCHED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR. GMC IS IN THE PROCESS OF RE-PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM ME UNDER THE CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM FOR 7 WEEKS.

2017 CHEVROLET VOLT EXTREME ENGINE HAZARD: ON 22-MAR-2016 I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT PREMIER, ALL SAFETY OPTIONS. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, STRAIGHT DRIVING, RELATIVELY LIGHT TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YELLOW AND STEADY (EMISSIONS SYSTEM SERVICE WARNING) BUT THE CAR UNCONTROLLABLY DECELERATED. THE FREEWAY HAD NO SHOULDER DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. THE CAR SMELLED OF BURNING ELECTRICAL INSULATION CONFIRMED BY THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER. THE CAR, WITH LESS THAN 150 TOTAL MILES, IN CLEAR WEATHER, AT TWILIGHT, 76 DEGREES, CALIFORNIA AT SEA LEVEL, STRAIGHTAWAY, HAD A SUDDEN AND NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF ALL PROPULSION. THIS CAUSED A LACK OF CONTROL (OBVIOUSLY) IN THE FORWARD DIRECTION, CAUSING AN EXTREME HAZARD ON THE FREEWAY. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER: MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS WAS A SERIOUS MANUFACTURE'S ERROR. I CHECKED, NO PARKING BRAKE, THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE GEAR, I HAD BOTH ELECTRIC RANGE AND OVER 7/8 TANK OF GAS SHOWING A GAS RANGE OF 360 MILES - AND I HAD JUST DRIVEN 60 MILES. THERE WAS NO BRAKE SMELL, AS I DID NOT NEED TO APPLY THE BRAKE BECAUSE THE ENGINE GAVE NO PROPULSION. MY HAND WAS OFF THE REGEN SWITCH. THE CAR HAD A MAJOR MALFUNCTION CAUSING AN EXTREME HAZARD, AND BASED ON THE SMELL, POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.