IllustrationTHE CAR DOES NOT TURN OFF COMPLETELY AND SHOWS "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK MODE. IT IS A COMMON ISSUE BUT CHEVY DOES NOT RECALL AND CHARGES CONSUMERS FOR OUT-OF-WARRANTY VEHICLES.
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
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
233 reportsMY WIFE AND I WERE TAKING A 200 MILE TRIP. I WAS USING THE "HOLD" MODE, DRIVING AT 65 MPH, AND ABOUT 60 MILES INTO THE TRIP A MESSAGE CAME UP THAT I WAS IN REDUCED POWER MODE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND READ THE MANUAL AND THEN PROCEEDED ANOTHER 30 MILES USING THE ENGINE. I REDUCED MY SPEED TO 50 MPH…
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MY WIFE AND I WERE TAKING A 200 MILE TRIP. I WAS USING THE "HOLD" MODE, DRIVING AT 65 MPH, AND ABOUT 60 MILES INTO THE TRIP A MESSAGE CAME UP THAT I WAS IN REDUCED POWER MODE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND READ THE MANUAL AND THEN PROCEEDED ANOTHER 30 MILES USING THE ENGINE. I REDUCED MY SPEED TO 50 MPH. AFTER STOPPING FOR AN HOUR AT OUR DESTINATION, WE STARTED BACK HOME, BUT THE SAME ALERTS WERE ON THE SCREEN. I WENT TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER, 5 MILES. BEFORE GETTING THERE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I HAD 40 MILES OF BATTERY LEFT SO I PROCEEDED THE LAST 2 MILES TO THE DEALER ON BATTERY POWER. THEY COULD NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE SO I HAD IT TOWED BY AAA 90 MILES TO TULSA. THE DAY BEFORE I LEFT I HAD RECEIVED THE MONTHLY DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WHICH STATED ALL SYSTEMS WERE FINE. THE CAR HAS 27,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE EGR VALVE, WHICH ARE BACK ORDERED. I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE REPAIRED.
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK. SHIFTING TO PARK SHOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE TURNED OFF WITH THE START/STOP BUTTON. IT WILL NOT TURN OFF IN THE PARK POSITION.
PRIOR TO STARTING MY 1,100 MI TRIP WITH MY 2017 VOLT PREMIER, I INFLATED THE TIRES, CHECKED FLUIDS, & CHARGED THE CAR. THE MONTHLY DIAGNOSTIC REPORT I RECEIVED THE DAY BEFORE MY DEPARTURE INDICATED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, WHICH HAD APPROX 40,500 MI. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATES & HIGHWAYS USING HOLD (GAS) MODE, OCCASIONALLY MO…
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PRIOR TO STARTING MY 1,100 MI TRIP WITH MY 2017 VOLT PREMIER, I INFLATED THE TIRES, CHECKED FLUIDS, & CHARGED THE CAR. THE MONTHLY DIAGNOSTIC REPORT I RECEIVED THE DAY BEFORE MY DEPARTURE INDICATED NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, WHICH HAD APPROX 40,500 MI. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATES & HIGHWAYS USING HOLD (GAS) MODE, OCCASIONALLY MOUNTAIN MODE. APPROXIMATELY 275 MI. INTO THE TRIP I RECEIVED POWER PROPULSION REDUCED ALERT. AFTER AN ADDITIONAL 50-75 MI I RECEIVED AN ACTION REQUIRED: ENGINE OVERHEATING REDUCE SPEED ALERT. I EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS SAFE TO CONTINUE ON MY TRIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROPULSION ALERT WAS NOT AN IMMEDIATE CONCERN & THAT THE OVERHEATING WAS LIKELY NOT RELATED. I ALSO RECEIVED A GM DIAGNOSTIC E-MAIL STATING THERE WAS AN EMISSIONS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE SERVICED WITHIN 7 DAYS, BUT DID NOT BECOME AWARE OF THIS E-MAIL UNTIL A DAY LATER. APPROX 200 MI LATER, I WAS ON A REMOTE, UNLIGHTED HIGHWAY WHEN I RECEIVED AN ENGINE UNAVAILABLE ALERT AND LOST POWER. MY CAR QUICKLY DECELERATED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A NARROW SHOULDER. I TIRED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKES, AND SHUT THE CAR DOWN BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TELL IF THESE FEATURES WERE WORKING. I PUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND WAITED FOR A CHP OFFICER DUE TO LACK OF CELL SERVICE & HIGHWAY SAFETY CONCERNS AT NIGHT. AFTER 3 HOURS, ALL SYSTEMS FAILED, INCLUDING LIGHTS. ONLY MANUAL LOCKS WORKED. AFTER TWO 30 MI TOWS TO GET TO A DEALERSHIP WITH A VOLT TECH, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A BAD EGR VALVE WAS CAUSING A FUSE TO BLOW,. THE VALVE WAS ORDERED (TECH REMARKED THAT THE PART IS "POPULAR") & INSTALLED. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE FIXED. BUT, IT IS UNCLEAR IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, MANUFACTURING FLAW, OR A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE.
PROPULSION 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.
SHIFT TO PARK ISSUE. EVEN WHEN THE GEAR LEVER IS IN PARK POSITION AND TRYING TO SWITCH OFF THE POWER THE CAR STILL REQUEST TO MOVE TO PARK AND DOESN'T SWITCH OFF
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"
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.
AT SPEED 82 IN BUSY TRAFFIC THE CAR SHOW UP A MESSAGE PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED AND STARTED TO JUMPING AND IT LOSE POWER AT THE SAME TIME ENGINE WAS RAVING AND THE BATTERY START TO DRAIN FAST
MUST SHIFT TO PARK; CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF. ALREADY IN PARK, AND PUSHED VERY HARD TO MAKE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. SHIFT OUT AND BACK TO PARK SEVERAL TIMES TO MAKE CONTACT AND ALLOW CAR TO SHUT OFF. AT FIRST, ONLY ONCE A WEEK, NOW ALMOST EVERY DAY.
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.