IllustrationKNOW AS 'SHIFT TO PARK' ISSUE. CAR WILL NOT SHUT DOWN AFTER PUT INTO PARK.
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
What owners actually said
697 reportsTHE 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.
CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT TURN OFF WHEN SHIFTER PLACED IN PARK AND ON / OFF BUTTON PUSHED. MESSAGE ON DISPLAY SCREEN WILL SHOW "SHIFT TO PARK". IT APPEARS THE VEHICLE IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 12/10/2020 AND IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES THRU TODAY'S DATE 12/23/2020. IT HAPPENS IN…
Read full complaint
CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT TURN OFF WHEN SHIFTER PLACED IN PARK AND ON / OFF BUTTON PUSHED. MESSAGE ON DISPLAY SCREEN WILL SHOW "SHIFT TO PARK". IT APPEARS THE VEHICLE IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 12/10/2020 AND IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES THRU TODAY'S DATE 12/23/2020. IT HAPPENS IN THE PARK GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE.
I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE " SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFT IS IN PARK.
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…
Read full complaint
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.
WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, WHEN I SHIFT TO PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF IT DOES NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN PARK AND DIRECTS "SHIFT TO PARK," DESPITE THE SHIFTER BEING IN PARK, AND WILL NOT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE CAR IS IN PARK OR NOT. ALSO BEING UNABLE TO LOCK T…
Read full complaint
WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, WHEN I SHIFT TO PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF IT DOES NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN PARK AND DIRECTS "SHIFT TO PARK," DESPITE THE SHIFTER BEING IN PARK, AND WILL NOT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE CAR IS IN PARK OR NOT. ALSO BEING UNABLE TO LOCK THE CAR MEANS THE CAR IS AT RISK FOR VANDALISM AND/OR A CHILD GETTING INTO THE CAR AND TURNING IT ON.
CHEVROLET "SHIFT TO PARK" DEFECT. CAN'T POWER OFF CAR OR LOCK DOORS BECAUSE VEHICLE INDICATES IT IS NOT IN PARK, DESPITE CORRECT SHIFT POSITION. $400 TO REPLACE PART ON CAR WITH 45K MILES. PART NOT COVERED UNDER DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. PROBLEM HAPPENING ACROSS CHEVY MODELS VOLT, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, ACADIA ETC... NEWSPAPER ARTICLES…
Read full complaint
CHEVROLET "SHIFT TO PARK" DEFECT. CAN'T POWER OFF CAR OR LOCK DOORS BECAUSE VEHICLE INDICATES IT IS NOT IN PARK, DESPITE CORRECT SHIFT POSITION. $400 TO REPLACE PART ON CAR WITH 45K MILES. PART NOT COVERED UNDER DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY. PROBLEM HAPPENING ACROSS CHEVY MODELS VOLT, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, ACADIA ETC... NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND USERS COMPLAINING ON CHEVY FORUMS. NO REASON FOR SOMETHING WITH SO LITTLE USE TO BE FAILING SO EARLY ON VEHICLES. CHEVY OWES CONSUMERS A RECALL.
WE OWN TWO 2017 CHEVY VOLTS. BOTH HAVE TWO ISSUES: 1) OFTEN CRUISE CONTROL DOES ALWAYS STAY ENGAGED DUE TO BRAKE PEDAL SLIPPING TO A VERY SLIGHT DEPRESSED POSITION. 2) SHIFT-TO-PARK- CARS WILL NOT PROPERLY GO INTO PARK SOMETIMES AND THUS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. THESE TWO ISSUES ARE CLEARLY MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AS BOTH CARS WERE…
Read full complaint
WE OWN TWO 2017 CHEVY VOLTS. BOTH HAVE TWO ISSUES: 1) OFTEN CRUISE CONTROL DOES ALWAYS STAY ENGAGED DUE TO BRAKE PEDAL SLIPPING TO A VERY SLIGHT DEPRESSED POSITION. 2) SHIFT-TO-PARK- CARS WILL NOT PROPERLY GO INTO PARK SOMETIMES AND THUS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. THESE TWO ISSUES ARE CLEARLY MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AS BOTH CARS WERE BOUGHT NEW AND WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. I WILL ENTER THIS FOR MY OTHER VIN NUMBER AS WELL. THESE HAVE BEEN ONGOING ISSUES THAT WE ARE HAVING TO SPEND MONEY TO CORRECT AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THESE BEING ISSUES, YET THERE IS NO RECALL. WE PURCHASED BOTH CARS BRAND NEW WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. BOTH ISSUES HAVE BEEN ONGOING AND HAVE OCCURED MORE THAN ONCE.
WE OWN TWO 2017 CHEVY VOLTS. BOTH HAVE TWO ISSUES: 1) OFTEN CRUISE CONTROL DOES ALWAYS STAY ENGAGED DUE TO BRAKE PEDAL SLIPPING TO A VERY SLIGHT DEPRESSED POSITION. 2) SHIFT-TO-PARK- CARS WILL NOT PROPERLY GO INTO PARK SOMETIMES AND THUS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. THESE TWO ISSUES ARE CLEARLY MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AS BOTH CARS WERE…
Read full complaint
WE OWN TWO 2017 CHEVY VOLTS. BOTH HAVE TWO ISSUES: 1) OFTEN CRUISE CONTROL DOES ALWAYS STAY ENGAGED DUE TO BRAKE PEDAL SLIPPING TO A VERY SLIGHT DEPRESSED POSITION. 2) SHIFT-TO-PARK- CARS WILL NOT PROPERLY GO INTO PARK SOMETIMES AND THUS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. THESE TWO ISSUES ARE CLEARLY MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AS BOTH CARS WERE BOUGHT NEW AND WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. I WILL ENTER THIS FOR MY OTHER VIN NUMBER AS WELL. THESE HAVE BEEN ONGOING ISSUES THAT WE ARE HAVING TO SPEND MONEY TO CORRECT AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THESE BEING ISSUES, YET THERE IS NO RECALL. WE PURCHASED BOTH CARS BRAND NEW WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. BOTH ISSUES HAVE BEEN ONGOING AND HAVE OCCURED MORE THAN ONCE.
41000 MILES AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN CAR IS POWERED ON. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON OR OFF STATUS IS TOTALLY DARK, NO INDICATION OF STATUS. DOES NOT MATTER IF A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT OF NOT OR IF THE CAR IS MOVING OR NOT.
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.