2012 Chevrolet Volt Driver assistance Problems

Car will randomly accelerate when not on gas pedal and/or a delay in brakes working. Has happened on more than one occasion.

NHTSA ID

11724225

Incident

Mar 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to slow down, the brake pedal required an abnormal amount of pressure to slow the vehicle. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the brake pressure modulator valve. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V271000 (Electronic Stability Control, Service Brakes) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11557540

Incident

Nov 28, 2023

Mileage

120,000 mi

I'm constantly receiving a "Propulsion Power Loss" notification on my car. I have brought the car in to a Chevrolet dealer and they refuse to fix it unless I start paying out of pocket costs because the ticket is "closed". This has been going on for about a year since I purchased the car last November and I'm terrified to drive this car since it literally looses power.

NHTSA ID

11481813

Incident

Nov 1, 2021

LCD Driver panel, fuel,odometer, speedometer, screen is completely black. Started flickering then went out. No warnings given. I have no idea how fast I am going nor how much gas/ battery power I have.

NHTSA ID

11436687

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

My instruments cluster that displays speedometer/fuel/battery charge indicator went absolutely blank while vehicle was in motion on busy highway. Only remedy recommend by Chevy dealer was to replace the entire assembly and reprogramming. I feel failure of essential display of basic functions to the driver is definitely a hazard to the vehicle operator and to the general public.

NHTSA ID

11433206

Incident

Sep 13, 2021

BREAKS FAILED WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH ON WINDY MOUNTAIN ROAD . THERE WAS NO WARNING , CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE DOWNHILL GRADUALLY . AFTER ABOUT 0.3 MILES I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY PUSH EMERGENCY BREAKS (IT'S A BUTTON AND DIDN'T WORK AT FIRST ) GET TO MORE FLAT ROAD AND STOPED THE CAR BY DRIVING ON GRAVEL AND DRY BRUSH . VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST ITS POWER ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES LATER . EMERGENCY LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK . CHP ASSISTED US AS CAR WAS ABANDONED IN THE MIDDLE OF MOUNTAIN ROAD , BLOCKING THE WHOLE LINE . GM HAS NOT OFFERED ANY EXPLANATION YET .

NHTSA ID

11280174

Incident

Nov 12, 2019

Mileage

124,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN 50 MPH TRAFFIC IT LOST ALL PROPULSION. THE PROBLEM I HAVE SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE PROBLEM GM HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR WITH 2013-2015 VOLTS. I BELIEVE GM DID OR SHOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THE PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING. GM PROGRAM N172130462 HAS OWNERS OF 2013-2015 VOLTS BRINGING THEIR CARS IN TO DEALERSHIPS FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE. GM HAS RECOGNIZED THAT THESE CARS "MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE IT COULD GRADUALLY LOSE THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN VOLTAGE. IF BATTERY CONCERNS ARE NOT ADDRESSED, OVER TIME THE VEHICLE COULD ENTER A REDUCED PROPULSION MODE WHILE DRIVING, OR LOSE PROPULSION, OR IT MAY NOT START." I BROUGHT MY VOLT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JANUARY 31, 2019, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT CONSISTENTLY HOLDING THE CHARGE THAT IT NORMALLY DID AND THE CAR WOULD OFTEN START IN "LOW PROPULSION MODE" WHEN STARTING IT AFTER TURNING IT OFF WITH THE BATTERY LOW OR DEPLETED. DESPITE BEING UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALERSHIP, BOB STEELE CHEVROLET IN COCOA, FL, CLAIMED THE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, REFUSED TO TRY FURTHER, AND SENT ME ON MY WAY WITH A BILL FOR THEIR FAILED EFFORTS. ON JULY 19, 2019, I WAS DRIVING IN ON MY WAY TO WORK IN MY 2012 VOLT WITH 101,400 MILES. THE CAR SWITCHED FROM BATTERY TO GAS AS IT HAD MANY TIMES BEFORE. ABOUT ONE MILE LATER IT SWITCHED BACK TO BATTERY, GAVE A MESSAGE THAT IT WAS GOING INTO "LOW PROPULSION MODE", AND STOPPED PROVIDING ANY PROPULSION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON US1 AND IT WAS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO RAPIDLY CHANGE LANES WHILE LOSING SPEED TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I GOT TO A PARKING LOT WITHOUT ENOUGH SPEED TO GET UP THE MILD INCLINE AT THE ENTRANCE AND WAS STUCK BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE WHILE I AWAITED A TOW TRUCK. THIS LOSS OF PROPULSION COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT ANY SPEED AND THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE HAD I BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ID

11234818

Incident

Jul 19, 2019

Mileage

101,400 mi

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS GONE COMPLETELY BLANK IN THE CAR. IT WENT IN AND OFF FOR TWO DAYS AND THEN DIED COMPLETELY.THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD AS I DONT KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING OR THE GAS AMOUNT I HAVE IN THE CAR. THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPEN NOT KNOWING IF THE ENTIRE CAR WAS GOING TO BLACK OUT VERY SCARY MOMENT.

NHTSA ID

11102479

Incident

Jun 15, 2018

Mileage

86,000 mi

THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM FREQUENTLY ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKING ON A MANHOLE COVER OR A MAJOR POTHOLE. THE ACCELERATION IS HARD AND COULD EASILY CAUSE THE DRIVER TO REAR-END THE CAR IN FRONT. I'M AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND BRAKE FULLY BEFORE SUCH AN OBSTACLE IF THERE IS A STOPPED CAR IN FRONT, BUT I WARN EVERY OTHER PERSON WHO DRIVES MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11098727

Incident

May 30, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE BILL ROBERTS CHEVROLET BUICK, INC DEALER LOCATED AT 301 W BROADWAY ST, BOLIVAR, MO 65613 STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID

11064673

Incident

Jan 14, 2017

Mileage

109,000 mi

THE SPEED CONTROL WOULD STICK ON DURING VERY COLD WEATHER. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWICE TO MY WIFE. SHE RODE THE BRAKE TO SLOW IT DOWN BUT THE CAR KEPT FIGHTING THE BRAKE. THIS WAS CITY DRIVING, IN APPLETON, WI.

NHTSA ID

10960440

Incident

Dec 12, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE DISPLAY THAT SHOWS GAS GAUGE, MPH, ETC. HAS GONE BLANK. IT IS A HAZARD. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS.

NHTSA ID

10905777

Incident

Sep 10, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND DID NOT RESPOND NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION BRACKETS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V271000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID

10824475

Incident

Dec 28, 2015

Mileage

20,000 mi

UNEXPECTEDLY, GENERALLY ON UNEVEN STREET/ROADWAY, HILLY THE BRAKES DO NOT IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE AND WILL CREATE A FEELING THAT YOU MANY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP AND/OR STEER, OR KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. AFTER TAKING THE AUTOMOBILE TO A DEALER ABOUT FOUR TIMES, IT WAS DETERMINED JULY 2014 THAT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WAS AND STILL IS UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS ALSO COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED ELECTRIC CAR WARRANTY. BRAKE PROBLEMS HAVE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY; ARE AUTO SAFETY ISSUE. THE LAST TWO TIMES I HAVE NOT REPORTED TO THE DEALER, OR VOLT ADVISOR. THE DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR WAS INCORRECT ABOUT HOW REGENERATIVE BRAKES WORK IN ELECTRIC CAR. THE BLIND SPOT IS EXCESSIVE FOR BACKING UP, AND EVERY VOLT SHOULD HAVE HAD A BACK UP CAMERA AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT, AND BUMPERS THAT HAD CRASH TEST STANDARDS, BUT WAS NOT AWARE OF OPTIONS WHEN CAR WAS SOLD BY DEALER SENT A FEW VOLTS TO SELL. AFTERMARKET CAMERA HIGH PRICE, LESS DESIRABLE THAN FACTORY INSTALLED. TAX CREDIT INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CLEARLY PROVIDED (INCLUDING THE TAX FORM PROVIDED BY DEALERS AND BOSCH'S PARTNERSHIP WITH GENERAL MOTORS FOR 240 VOLTEC CHARGER). DEALER ADVERTISING NEEDED TO BE ACCURATE AND TRANSPARENT. DUE TO UNINFORMED. OR POLITICALLY CONSERVATIVE CPA & BROKER (2 INDIVIDUALS), DID NOT RECEIVE A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT FOR PURCHASE OF VOLT OR INSTALLATION OF 240 VOLT CHARGING SYSTEM. I COULD HAVE EASILY QUALIFIED FOR THE TAX CREDIT, WHICH CPA FAILED TO ADEQUATELY AND ACCURATELY ADVISE ME FOR TAX PLANNING. I HAVE LOVED THE VOLT. HOWEVER, WITHOUT THE ANTICIPATED TAX CREDIT, PAST AND ONGOING BRAKING ISSUES, BLIND SPOT PROBLEMS, LARGE PRICE DROP IN VALUE OF THE CAR (WHICH HAD SIMILAR PRICES FOR 2011, 2012, OR 2013 MODELS WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR. THE TAX CREDIT EXISTS TO ENCOURAGE ELECTRIC CARS, NOT TO PLAY A GAME OF "GOTCHA." *TR

NHTSA ID

10668925

Incident

Apr 10, 2014

Mileage

31,200 mi

2012 CHEVROLET VOLT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE FAILURE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT. SHE STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, AND APPLYING THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS TRYING TO PARK DOING BETWEEN 8-10 MPH, WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. HIS WIFE DAMAGED TWO OTHER VEHICLES, AND HER VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND A DASH LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL READ BOOSTER BRAKE NEEDS SERVICE.

NHTSA ID

10637904

Incident

May 1, 2014