NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
233 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Sep 19, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
WHILE DRIVING, A WARNING CHIME SOUNDED AND A MESSAGE APPEARED SAYING "PROPULSION POWER REDUCED." THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THE CAR LOST POWER, WOULD ACCELERATE ONLY VERY SLOWLY, AND EVENTUALLY DIED ALONG A BUSY ROAD. AFTER A PERIOD, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART CAR AND DRIVE VERY SLOWLY TO DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLE…
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WHILE DRIVING, A WARNING CHIME SOUNDED AND A MESSAGE APPEARED SAYING "PROPULSION POWER REDUCED." THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. THE CAR LOST POWER, WOULD ACCELERATE ONLY VERY SLOWLY, AND EVENTUALLY DIED ALONG A BUSY ROAD. AFTER A PERIOD, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART CAR AND DRIVE VERY SLOWLY TO DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY EGR VALVE, WHICH WAS BLOWING A FUSE AND WOULD DO SO AGAIN. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT VALVE ANYWHERE IN THE NATION. GM APPARENTLY IS NOT MANUFACTURING REPLACEMENTS FOR THIS COMPONENTS, AND FROM REPORTS FOUND ONLIINE, PLENTY OF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TEMPORARY FIX IS TO DISCONNECT THE EGR VALVE, WHICH RESULTS IN INCREASED VEHICLE EMISSIONS. I WILL BE UNABLE TO PASS MY NEXT EMISSIONS TEST NEXT YEAR. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE VEHICLE CAN QUIT RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING IN ANY SITUATION.
NHTSA ODI #11615393
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2024
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
Vehicle began exhibiting issues with BECM, reduced propulsion/limp home mode with range-extender activation. Car unexpectedly stopped running in the middle of the road, came to a complete stop and unable to move off road under car's propulsion.
NHTSA ODI #11615248
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion System
Reduced propulsion power and check engine light. EGR valve failure per mechanic. Part has been on a global back order for 1.5 years. The car will not pass emissions testing and can blow a fuse that will make the car inoperable. The part is also costly at 2400.00 without labor costs. My car has 83,000 miles, is well-maintained an…
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Reduced propulsion power and check engine light. EGR valve failure per mechanic. Part has been on a global back order for 1.5 years. The car will not pass emissions testing and can blow a fuse that will make the car inoperable. The part is also costly at 2400.00 without labor costs. My car has 83,000 miles, is well-maintained and only 7 years old and now I can’t drive it or sell it.
NHTSA ODI #11615126
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion System
Experienced severe engine failure while driving on the freeway, which cost to be in operable due to failure of EGR valve. This is a warranty repair however GM has part on backorder for over a year with no plan to fix. My car is now disabled and I have no other transportation.
NHTSA ODI #11614569
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2024
Fuel/propulsion System
EGR Valve issue. I have a 'reduced propulsion energy' notice on the dash. Unable to get repaired because there is no parts. This is a common problem with these Chevy vehicles. Emissions test won't pass
NHTSA ODI #11614453
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2024
Fuel/propulsion System
Egr valve failed. GM has this part in a national control status. Vehicle should be under warranty per the handbook but dealership is denting this. Dealer solution is to just disconnect the part and says it is safe to drive. Not comfortable with this since I have had this vehicle modified to allow myself who is handicapped the …
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Egr valve failed. GM has this part in a national control status. Vehicle should be under warranty per the handbook but dealership is denting this. Dealer solution is to just disconnect the part and says it is safe to drive. Not comfortable with this since I have had this vehicle modified to allow myself who is handicapped the ability to drive it. Dealership wants prepayment of part before placing the order for it. Part is expensive and they have no idea how long they will be using my money before or if the part is available.
NHTSA ODI #11613545
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2024
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVisibility/wiper
P1E00 error code resulted in the propulsion system being reduced and climate controls turned off. My wife, driving at the time in a thunderstorm, lost the ability to drive the speed of traffic and also her windshield completely fogging up where she could not see. She could have been killed in this scenario in a number of ways.…
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P1E00 error code resulted in the propulsion system being reduced and climate controls turned off. My wife, driving at the time in a thunderstorm, lost the ability to drive the speed of traffic and also her windshield completely fogging up where she could not see. She could have been killed in this scenario in a number of ways. Took it to the dealer where GM apparently has no spare parts available for months??? Parts at fault are related to the EGR valve and cooler. CEL light came on and off for a few days prior. Failed to be able to pull the error code because it would go off.
NHTSA ODI #11612854
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion System
I was driving on a highway around 70 mph on cruise control, without warning a “propulsion power reduced” message came up with the check engine light turning on and the car stopped accelerating/let off of cruise control. Very dangerous when driving at speeds above 70mph. I took the Car to Chevy and they said it’s a EGR valve issu…
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I was driving on a highway around 70 mph on cruise control, without warning a “propulsion power reduced” message came up with the check engine light turning on and the car stopped accelerating/let off of cruise control. Very dangerous when driving at speeds above 70mph. I took the Car to Chevy and they said it’s a EGR valve issue and that it would cost roughly $3,800 and the part is on massive back order. r Reading online, there’s many Volt drivers with the same issue and can’t get the part for months on (with some being offered a repurchase of the car from GM so the problem would go away) it seems like Chevy and or GM do not have sufficient parts to fix the massive amount of Volts having this specific problem and on top of that, this is the largest quote I’ve seen for this repair.
NHTSA ODI #11612802
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2024
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
Without warning, my car stopped charging. Noticed it was at 0 miles despite charging it the night before. Believing I may have not properly connected the home cord (supplied by Chevy) to the car, I chalked it up to being my mistake and plugged in again the next night. Same result. 0 miles. Then it immediately started acting li…
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Without warning, my car stopped charging. Noticed it was at 0 miles despite charging it the night before. Believing I may have not properly connected the home cord (supplied by Chevy) to the car, I chalked it up to being my mistake and plugged in again the next night. Same result. 0 miles. Then it immediately started acting like a 12V battery failure with engine warning lights and then it just refused to start and/or charge and was dead in the water. I called AAA for a battery jump and they came. It got the car started, but the check engine light remained lit for two days and I primarily ran the car on its gas generator to hopefully charge it. Just last night, the check engine light went away. Despite having a partial charge, this morning 8/29, it registered 3 miles down from being higher. I just plugged in to my home outlet using the chevy cord, and again, it would not charge (no green light on dash indicating active charge and a message on the dash should "unable to charge". I suspect a Battery Energy Control Mondule (BECM) failure which seems to happen with this car. My 12V ACDELCO battery is relatively new (3 yrs) and not used heavily (given COVID).
NHTSA ODI #11611652
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2024
EngineFuel/propulsion System
The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve has failed, which causes issues with the fuel propulsion system, can cause the cooling system to fail, and affects the emissions system. We are unable to obtain a replacement valve anywhere and have been on a waiting list at the dealership for months. The car is not safe to drive in th…
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The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve has failed, which causes issues with the fuel propulsion system, can cause the cooling system to fail, and affects the emissions system. We are unable to obtain a replacement valve anywhere and have been on a waiting list at the dealership for months. The car is not safe to drive in this condition.
NHTSA ODI #11611633
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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