Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Chevrolet Volt submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Driver display is blank (no speed, gear position, odometer, gas tank, etc), with the exception of some warning icons like tire pressure and passenger seat belt status. Does no return after turning off power.
Driver instrument panel went blank. Speedometer, fuel/battery gauge, odometer, etc are all gone. The screen display light lit on and off in the background without any information.
Charging station over heated and the plug burnt my wall plug
SINCE THE SPRING OF 2020, "SERVICE AIR BAG" WARNING COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, RELATED TO PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. WARNING GENERALLY COMES ON AT STARTUP, IF IT APPEARS. NO FLUIDS HAVE BEEN SPILLED ON THE SEAT, AND NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE SEAT. I AM THE SECOND OWNER, PURCHASED FROM FRIEND, CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. ONLINE SEARCH SUGGESTS THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE SAME ISSUE, AND THAT DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR CAN BE $500 TO $1000. I HAVE NOT HAD A CHEVROLET DEALER DIAGNOSE THIS ISSUE SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT. CURRENT MARKET VALUE OF VEHICLE (55K MILES, OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION, A GREAT CAR TO DRIVE) MAKES COST OF REPAIR DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY, ESPECIALLY IF IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING.
THE HEAT WILL NOT WORK IN THE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS USING THE BATTERY - HEAT WILL ONLY WORK WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WHICH DISPLAYS SPEED, ODOMETER AND FUEL LEVER AMONG OTHER SAFETY INFORMATION, STARTED TO GLITCH TOWARDS THAT END OF A TRIP OF ABOUT TWO HOURS. AT FIRST THE SCREEN WOULD FLICKER BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY REBOOT AND THE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE SHORTLY AFTER. NEXT MORNING THE SCREEN WOULD TURN ON SLOWLY AT FIRST, BUT THEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN AND NEVER STARTED AGAIN EVER SINCE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.*BF*JB
WHEN BELOW FREEZING OUT MAIN DISPLAY CONTAINING SPEED, DIRECTIONAL, GEAR SELECT, TIRE PRESSURE AND FUEL IS BLACK. ONLY AFTER TEMP GOES ABOVE FREEZING DOES DISPLAY GO BACK TO NORMAL.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLACK DARK NO VISIBILITY MPH , FUEL LEVEL, WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT FELT VERY DANGEROUS.
DRIVERS SIDE DASH DISPLAY WENT BLACK WHILE DRIVING, ( JUST DRIVING DOWN A CONGESTED FREEWAY IN HOUSTON ) ALL INFORMATION LOST SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, TURNING INDICATORS, PROPULSION MODE,, RATHER A NIGHTMARE HAVING THIS HAPPEN
WHILE DRIVING ON THE MORNING OF MAY 30, 2019, THE DRIVER SIDE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLANK. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INITIATE A FULL SHUTDOWN OF THE VEHICLE. UPON STARTUP, THE DISPLAY CAME BACK ON FOR 5 SECONDS, THEN WENT TOTALLY BLANK AGAIN. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEVER CAME BACK ON. DEALER ANALYSIS REVEALED A SHORT IN THE LCD PANEL CAUSED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO BE INOPERABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM SEEING THE SPEEDOMETER OR FUEL GAUGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALAMO CITY CHEVROLET (9400 SAN PEDRO AVE, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78216) WHERE AN UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,763. *TT*JB CONSUMER STATED PROBLEM CONTINUES OFF AND ON DEALER CAN'T DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. *JB
DRIVER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER , SPEEDOMETER, GAS / ELECTRIC GAUGE UNREADABLE
DRIVER DISPLAY SHUTS OFF WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER. TEMPERATURE USUALLY AROUND 0 DEGREES CELSIUS AND BELOW. CONSISTENTLY EVERY MORNING AT COLD START 1-2 MINS INTO DRIVE. THIS RESULTS IN NO SPEEDOMETER. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO PULL AND REINSTALL DISPLAY FUSE OR TURN CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTART. MANY VOLTS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. PLEASE ORDER AN INVESTIGATION AS THIS IS A MAJOR NHTSA VIOLATION. HAD TO THE DEALER AND CALLED GM CUSTOMER CARE. BOTH TOLD ME I WAS CRAZY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE A VIDEO SCREENSHOT ATTACHED.
IN THE 6 YEARS THAT I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE, THE POWER CORD HAS BURN THROUGH 2 TIMES AND THE RECEPTACLE IN WHICH IT WAS PLUGGED WAS BURNED OUT 4 TIMES. I'M FORTUNATE MY HOUSE HASN'T CAUGHT FIRE. I FEEL THIS IS GM'S RESPONSIBILITY AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE 2ND REPLACEMENT OF THIS CORD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY GOES BLACK WHILE DRIVING. WEB SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE.
DRIVER'S INSTRUMENT PANEL (LCD DISPLAY) BLACKOUT. THE LCD DISPLAY SIMPLY DID NOT COME ON AS IT NORMALLY DID WHEN I TURNED ON THE VEHICLE. I AM DRIVING "BLIND" CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I'M GOING, HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT, CAN'T SEE IF THE TURN SIGNALS ARE BLINKING, DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH CHARGE I HAVE ON THE BATTERY ETC. ETC. I'VE WAITED FOR 4 DAYS NOW TO SEE IF THE DISPLAY COMES ON ON ITS OWN FOR SOME REASON; HOWEVER, IT IS TIME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER; IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IT THIS WAY.
DRIVER INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT DARK AND WON'T TURN ON. LOSS OF ALL SPEED, TURN SIGNAL, AND WARNING DISPLAY.
WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE IS IN PARK. ENGINE DOES NOT WANT TO SHUT DOWN.
THE CAR HAS PROCEEDED TO HAVE MULTIPLE ISSUES, WITH THE MOST PREDOMINANT AND LIFE THREATENING ISSUE BEING AN AIRBAG FAILURE...TWICE. OTHER ISSUES: RADIO, DOOR LOCKS, AND PARK ASSIST ENGAGE/DISENGAGE ON THEIR OWN. BRAKES NOT CATCHING CAUSING CAR TO ROLL. POWER FAILURE AND WON'T START. APRIL 2013, THE VEHICLE WAS T-BONED AT A RATE OF SPEED OVER 45MPH. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY; CAUSED PERSONAL INJURY. GM SENT OUT AN INSPECTOR, AND PULLED THE DATA. RESPONSE BACK WAS ?NO EVENT RECORDED? AND WAS DISMISSED. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING HAPPENED, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE CAR WAS IN THE BODY SHOP FOR 6 MONTHS BEING REPAIRED. JANUARY 2014 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR LOSES POWER, AND WON'T ACCELERATE OVER 19MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ENGAGED AND ?REDUCED PROPULSION? MESSAGE FLASHING. ONSTAR DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE INSTANTLY, AND SAID THE VEHICLE MAY BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE FAULT. WE REACHED OUT TO CLASSIC CHEVROLET GRAPEVINE, AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST US, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. JANUARY 2014, A SECOND COLLISION, A TRUCK CLIPPED THE FRONT OF THE CAR SPEED WAS OVER 35MPH, THE TIRE BLEW, AND SUDDEN DECELERATION, RESULTING IN $14,000+ IN DAMAGES AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND CAUSING RE-INJURY. GM SENT OUT IT'S THIRD PARTY COMPANY TO INSPECT, AND AN EVENT WAS RECORDED THIS TIME, HOWEVER WAS A ?NON-EVENT? EVENT. GM STATES A EVENT WAS RECORDED, BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IN FEBRUARY 2014 WE REACHED OUT TO GM DIRECTLY, ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION, AND ASSISTANCE REGARDING OUR FLAWED 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT, AND WERE TOLD THEY ?RESEARCHED AND EVALUATED OUR CONCERN, AND FULFILLED ITS OBLIGATION? TO US. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOTHING. ANSWERED NO QUESTIONS, OFFERED NO RESOLUTION OR FIX. GM HAS A HISTORY OF NOT INVESTIGATING FATAL FLAWS, AND COVERING UP ITS NEGLIGENCE. *TR
AS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, WHEN RUNNING ON BATTERY, IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LEFT RUNNING. UPON RETURNING HOME ONE DAY, I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND PLUGGED IT IN. I DIDN'T REALIZE AT THE TIME, THAT I HAD NOT TURNED OFF THE VOLT BY PRESSING THE BLUE POWER SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD. THE NEXT MORNING, I CAME INTO MY ENCLOSED GARAGE AND COULD HEAR THE VOLT'S GAS POWERED GENERATOR RUNNING. I LOOKED AT THE DASH DISPLAY AND COULD SEE THE VOLT HAD NOT CHARGED, HAD USED UP ALL REMAINING BATTERY, AND HAD BEEN RUNNING ON GAS GENERATOR FOR SOME TIME. MY CONCERN IS REGARDING CARBON DIOXIDE POISONING RISKS. I HAVE TRIED OVER THE PAST 60 DAYS TO GET A RESPONSE OUT OF GM AS A VOLT OWNER AND I FEEL THEY ARE STONEWALLING ME AS THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO ME ON THIS CONCERN DESPITE THREE DIFFERENT INQUIRIES ON MY BEHALF. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR GM WHO NORMALLY IS QUITE RESPONSIVE. I PROPOSE IF THE VEHICLE CAN SENSE IT IS PLUGGED IN THAT IT SHOULD SHUT DOWN SHOULD THE BATTERY BECOME DEPLETED RATHER THAN TURN ON THE GAS GENERATOR TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING. I'M CONFIDENT GM CAN DETECT THE CAR IS PLUGGED IN SO PROGRAMMATICALLY I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGE TO SOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. ELECTRIC CARS ARE NOT LIKE OTHER CARS IN THAT YOU CAN'T HEAR WHEN THEY ARE ON. CHANCES ARE, IF THE VEHICLE IS PLUGGED IN IT'S IN A GARAGE. NO GM EMPLOYEE WHO I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAS EXPLAINED WHY IT'S REASONABLE TO RUN THE GENERATOR IN THE SCENARIO I HAVE DESCRIBED. I DO HOPE NO ONE DIES BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED. IT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE VOLT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR
OUR VOLT WAS LEFT OVERNIGHT TO CHARGE USING THE SUPPLIED 120V LEVEL ONE CHARGE CORD THAT COMES WITH THE VEHICLE (THEREFORE I CONSIDER IT PART OF THE VEHICLE.) IN THE MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CHARGED -- AT SOME POINT DURING THE NIGHT THE CHARGE FAILED AFTER THE BATTERY ACCUMULATED JUST 5 MILES OF ESTIMATED RANGE. THE SOCKET INTO WHICH THE CHARGE CORD HAD BEEN PLUGGED, THE RECEPTACLE OF A KILL-A-WATT CHARGE MEASURING DEVICE, WAS SCORCHED AND PARTIALLY MELTED. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SMALL ELECTRICAL FIRE AT THE POINT WHERE THE VOLT'S CORD PLUGGED INTO THE DEVICE, BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE THE STRAIN RELIEF ON THE CORD WAS TORN IN HALF AND THE WIRES IT WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT BECAME EXPOSED TO THE OUTSIDE AND PERHAPS TO EACH OTHER. IT IS QUITE LIKELY THAT THESE EXPOSED CHARGE CORD WIRES SHORTED AGAINST SOMETHING INSIDE THE CHARGE CORD ASSEMBLY, AND THAT SHORT CAUSED THE DAMAGE WHERE THE CORD WAS PLUGGED IN AT ITS WALL END. GUARANTY CHEVROLET TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CORD (AT GM'S REQUEST) AND ORDERED A NEW ONE UNDER WARRANTY, SO THE CORD ITSELF IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I STILL HAVE THE KILL-A-WATT DEVICE, AND, DESPITE THE OBVIOUS VISIBLE DAMAGE, IT STILL WORKS. (I DON'T USE IT, THOUGH.) TO ME THE STRAIN RELIEF ON THIS CORD WAS VERY FLIMSY. THE MATERIAL SEEMED TOO SOFT AN PLIABLE TO DO VERY MUCH. THE REPLACEMENT SEEMED TO BE NO DIFFERENT APART FROM ONE ADDITIONAL FLEX SEGMENT. I WAS NOT IMPRESSED, BUT SO FAR THE FAILURE HAS NOT REPEATED. I HAVE PHOTOS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM. PHOTOS OF THE OLD CORD, THE MELTED SOCKET AND THE NEW CORD. ALSO, I USED A NEW KILL-A-WATT ON THIS CAR AFTER THE INCIDENT AND ON OTHER ELECTRIC CARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. IT MAY BE TEMPTING TO BLAME THIS DEVICE, BUT IT HAS A SUFFICIENT AMP RATING AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENED ON A DAY THE STRAIN RELIEF FAILED. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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