2012 Chevrolet Volt Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical8825.9%
- Airbags8625.3%
- Fuel system3710.9%
- Engine277.9%
- Brakes247.1%
- Powertrain (other)226.5%
- Driver assistance154.4%
- Interior & seats144.1%
- Steering61.8%
- Body & structure61.8%
- Exterior lighting51.5%
- Tires & wheels41.2%
- Seat belts30.9%
- Other / unspecified20.6%
- Visibility10.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact attempted to start the vehicle; however, the instrument panel displayed a blank screen. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, and the lights inside and outside of the vehicle failed to illuminate. The vehicle was jump-started. The failure reoccurred while attempting to restart the vehicle, and the contact was unable to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
Airbag sensor failure in seat.
passenger presence detection system is malfunctioning, and causing a "service airbag" warning. This is a huge safety issue that could be detrimental or deathly in the event of an accident. This is a common issue among generation 1 volt owners, and should be considered for a recall or warranty coverage. The passenger presence detection system parts are discontinued, and even if I found the part the dealership cannot confirm for the pricey repair, that the airbag / sensor will not simply malfunction again -- which makes this a persistent safety concern and huge owner inconvenience to say the least.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Message on dash "Service High Voltage charging system" . Code cleared by inexperienced mechanic. Stalled on the side of the road with "Engine not available" , "Low propulsion" . My local Chevy dealership confirmed a high volt battery leak its now at risk for catching on fire
7/6/2024 Was driving 45 mph on a busy road (running only on the gas engine of this plug-in hybrid). Propulsion Power Reduced message showed near the speedometer. My speed was immediately decreased. The check engine light also came on. Despite pressing the gas pedal, the speed could not be maintained and I had to pull off quickly before causing an accident. Luckily, no accident occurred but I fear would could have happened if I wasn't in the right place to pull over quickly. After getting the car towed to a Chevy dealership, they diagnosed the problem as being with the hybrid battery - it needs to be replaced. I don't understand why I had a full tank of gas, was running on gas, and that a bad EV battery would cause ALL propulsion to stop so quickly.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Vehicle over-revs in cold weather. Engine runs excessively fast (4250 RPM) at highway speeds and around 3000 RPM when just sitting. Often times if I pull over and restart the car it will correct itself. This results in MPG as low as 22. The internet is full of examples of people with the exact same problem. I have seen no examples of the problem being solved. The engine will operate correctly in warmer weather (above 50° F). I believe it is related to an aging propulsion battery and could be solved by improved programing to accommodate the battery state.
7/6/2024 Was driving 45 mph on a busy road (running only on the gas engine of this plug-in hybrid). Propulsion Power Reduced message showed near the speedometer. My speed was immediately decreased. The check engine light also came on. Despite pressing the gas pedal, the speed could not be maintained and I had to pull off quickly before causing an accident. Luckily, no accident occurred but I fear would could have happened if I wasn't in the right place to pull over quickly. After getting the car towed to a Chevy dealership, they diagnosed the problem as being with the hybrid battery - it needs to be replaced. I don't understand why I had a full tank of gas, was running on gas, and that a bad EV battery would cause ALL propulsion to stop so quickly.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Car will randomly accelerate when not on gas pedal and/or a delay in brakes working. Has happened on more than one occasion.
Grandson was driving and went to brake to make a turn and the engine not available light came on and he had no brakes. He was unable to slow and take the turn and hit a truck in the front driver quarter panel which resulted in the car being a total loss.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Message on dash "Service High Voltage charging system" . Code cleared by inexperienced mechanic. Stalled on the side of the road with "Engine not available" , "Low propulsion" . My local Chevy dealership confirmed a high volt battery leak its now at risk for catching on fire
7/6/2024 Was driving 45 mph on a busy road (running only on the gas engine of this plug-in hybrid). Propulsion Power Reduced message showed near the speedometer. My speed was immediately decreased. The check engine light also came on. Despite pressing the gas pedal, the speed could not be maintained and I had to pull off quickly before causing an accident. Luckily, no accident occurred but I fear would could have happened if I wasn't in the right place to pull over quickly. After getting the car towed to a Chevy dealership, they diagnosed the problem as being with the hybrid battery - it needs to be replaced. I don't understand why I had a full tank of gas, was running on gas, and that a bad EV battery would cause ALL propulsion to stop so quickly.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Car will randomly accelerate when not on gas pedal and/or a delay in brakes working. Has happened on more than one occasion.
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.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
passenger presence detection system is malfunctioning, and causing a "service airbag" warning. This is a huge safety issue that could be detrimental or deathly in the event of an accident. This is a common issue among generation 1 volt owners, and should be considered for a recall or warranty coverage. The passenger presence detection system parts are discontinued, and even if I found the part the dealership cannot confirm for the pricey repair, that the airbag / sensor will not simply malfunction again -- which makes this a persistent safety concern and huge owner inconvenience to say the least.
This issue has been reported extensively: NHTSA PE19013. The passenger seat sensor has failed leading to the airbag turning on and off rapidly while driving. This is available for inspection upon request. I worry about the safety of occupants in the car. If the airbag is turned off despite a passenger sitting in the seat that is a problem. The price of repair at a dealer is very high considering that this is a very clear quality control issue by GM that has been acknowledged by both GM and NHTSA. This warning light has turned on before and then went away for a long time. Now it has returned and after some research it is clearly an issue that many other 2012-2013 volt owners have experienced.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
While traveling slowly (about 25mph) on an uphill grade, my Volt suddenly, with no warning messages or other alerts to me, lost propulsion, power brakes and power steering. This car is extremely hard to steer and to brake without the power assists, so I really had to wrestle with the wheel to avoid losing control of the car, and I really had to jam on the brake pedal to get it to a stop, even though I was moving slowly and had a gravity assist from the uphill slope. It seems to me an event such as I experienced could be catastrophic if it occurred at high speed, and / or on a steep downhill slope or a street with a lot of traffic. Incidentally, when this happened I had just turned onto a side road from a highway with lots of traffic moving at 60-80 miles an hour on a slope so steep that in spite of numerous warning signs, accidents, including fatal accidents, occur regularly on this section of the highway due to drivers failing to apply their brakes hard enough or early enough to keep the car on the road. As a result I felt like I had barely escaped with my life, only as a result of a sudden whim that entered my head to leave the highway for the scenic side road. It may also be relevant that the incident occurred directly after I picked up the car from the Chevy dealer following repair for another incident where I lost propulsion, power brakes, and power steering - the difference being that the car was stationary during the previous incident. The photo shows the electrical connections that the dealer ultimately determined were responsible for the second (Oct. 20) incident, and maybe the first as well. These terminals are enclosed, and not visible to the car owner, even with the hood lifted. Checking the terminals is not part of any maintenance recommended in the owner's handbook, nor apparently in the standard service procedures, even when a car comes in with symptoms that could be caused by a loose connection, even after replacing the 12V battery, as they did.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Coolant leaking and damage to Drive Motor Battery Coolant Radiator due to the design of the vehicle that allows for rocks and debris large enough to damage radiator through. There is a service bulletin (13-06-02-001A) for this issue. When the radiator is damaged, the driver will suddenly receive a check engine light, reduce propulsion notice, and engine not available message. The car will suddenly stall and this cause a major safety concern especially on highways at high speed. However no active recalls, even though this is a common reoccuring problem amongst first generation Volts.
I WAS TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT CITY STREET WHEN I WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE COMING OFF A SIDE STREET THAT HAD LOST CONTROL OF THEIR CAR. I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. I WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DOOR FRAME ABOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE I HAD A CT SCAN OF MY HEAD AND NECK PERFORMED. I HAD A SLIGHT CONCUSSION (MEMORY LOSS). HAD HEAD AND NECK PAIN AFTER THE ACCIDENT. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
WENT OUT TO START MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND THE TOUCHSCREEN OR MAIN DATA SCREEN IS BLACK. I CAN'T TELL IF I HAVE ANY ELECTRICAL POWER OR IF THE HEAT OR AC OR STEREO IS ON. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN ON A TRIP OUT OF TOWN IT COULD PUT ME IN SEVERE DANGER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEE NHTSA COMPLAINT NUMBER 10949504 FEB 3, 2017 THAT REFLECTS A SECOND TIRE IN THE SAME DRIVER FRONT POSITION WHEN IT LOST PRESSURE DUE TO A CRACK IN THE SIDEWALL WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY THE MORNING OF FEB 3, 2017. THE PRESSURE HAD DROPPED FROM ABOUT 38 PSI TO 26 PSI OVER ABOUT 2 DAYS IT HAD BEEN PARKED. I GOT IT TO A CORNER GAS STATION ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY WHO WHERE - LOSING ANOTHER 2 PSI WHILE TRAVELING AND THE MECHANIC DETECTED THE SIDEWALL PROBLEM INDICATING IT WAS A TIRE DEFECT AND IT WOULD BE BEST TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER/SERVICE DEPT. IT WAS RE-PRESSURIZED TO 38PSI AND OTHER TIRE PRESSURES WERE CHECKED (NO PROBLEMS). GOING THE FEW MILES TO THE DEALER, THE TIRE LOST 4-5 PSI PRESSURE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER/SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE TIRE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THAT IT WAS SOMETHING I MIGHT HAVE DONE AND NOT A TIRE PROBLEM. THE SIDEWALL DEFECT SEEMS A SAFER DUPLICATE OF THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE (THAT HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE DURING SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC AND WITH FOUR ADULTS IN THE CAR - NHTSA COMPLAINT 10706538, 4/19/15). NOTE THAT BOTH TIRE FAILURES THE TWO ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. TIRE ROTATIONS ARE DONE FRONT/BACK ON THE SAME SIDE, ONSTAR AND I BOTH MONITOR TIRE PRESSURES, TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVEN UNDER OR OVER-INFLATED, FAILURES HAVE BOTH BEEN IN THE DRIVER FRONT POSITION (HEAVIEST LOAD).
THIS IS THE SECOND GOODYEAR ASSURANCE FUEL MAX 94V TIRE THAT CAME ON MY 2012 VOLT THAT FAILED IN THE SAME DRIVER FRONT MOUNTED POSITION. SEE NHTSA ID # 10706538 DATE REPORTED 4/19/15. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED THIS MORNING, IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN I STARTED THE CARE, PRESSURE WAS REPORTED AT 26 PSI, DOWN FROM 37 PSI WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED TWO DAYS AGO. TAKING THE CAR FOR CHECK TO THE CORNER EXXON STATION, THE MECHANIC CHECKING THE TIRE SAW THAT THE SIDEWALL HAD A CRACK AND MENTIONED THIS WAS A TIRE DEFECT. HE INFLATED THE TIRE TO 38 PSI SO I COULD DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO POSSIBLY DOCUMENT THE TIRE PROBLEM AND HAVE IT REPLACED. THE TIRE LOST 5 PSI ON THE 3 MILE DRIVE AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING, OR DRIVEN WITH THE TIRE UNDERINFLATED; THAT IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. HE MENTIONED HAD NEVER SEEN ANOTHER VOLT WITH A DEFECTIVE TIRE. HOWEVER, IN 45+ YEARS DRIVING, I'VE NEVER HAD THIS EXPERIENCE WITH A TIRE, KNOWING THE TIRE HAD NEVER BEEN UNDERINFLATED - 34 PSI HAS BEEN THE RECORD LOWEST - (SINCE I MONITOR THE TIRE PRESSURES). THE TIRE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE CAR AND THE SECOND ONE FAILING IN THE SAME WAY. THIS TIME, I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY, THE LEAK STARTED WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE SIDEWALL CRACK WAS APPARENT IN THE EXXON STATION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PASSENGER'S SEAT DETECTOR FOR AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONAL. THERE'S A REPORT AT MY DEALER (ACTION CHEVROLET) OF THE DEFAULT. I ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT AT THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFTERSALES AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE SEAT COMPONENT INVOLVED BEEING OUTSIDE MY 60,000 KM WARRANTY (WAS A LITTLE OVER THEN!). THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF A MISUSE OR WATER SPILL ON THE SEAT. I FEEL THAT THE SECURITY OF MY FAMILY IS JEOPARDISED BY THIS DEFECT. THE COST OF REPAIR IS IMPORTANT AND EXCEEDS OUR BUDGET OF OPERATION FOR THAT CAR. LEARNING NOW THAT MANY VOLTS OF THOSE YEARS WERE AFFECTED BY THIS IMPORTANT PROBLEM, I FEEL THAT IT QUALIFIES FOR A RECALL AND FIXING BY GM. THANK YOU FOR TREATING MY DEMAND ACCORDINGLY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
MY 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSOR THAT DETECTS THE WEIGHT OF A INDIVIDUAL IN THE SEAT. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND BEGAN AROUND 19,000 MILES. IT HAS GOTTEN TO A POINT WHERE IF I HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE CAR, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON AFTER THEY EXIT THE CAR. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS IN THE VOLT OWNERS CLUB AND VARIOUS OTHER FORUMS HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR ISSUE. IN MY CAR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN SOMEONE RIDES IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THEN GETS OF. THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE WILL STAY ON UNTIL I TURN OF THE CAR OR PUSH THE SEAT CUSHION WITH MY HAND. THE PROBLEM IS THAT GM IS NOT COVERING THE COST ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 32,000 MILES. LEAVING CUSTOMERS WITH A BILL OF 800 DOLLARS TO FIX A COMPONENT THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. AS TIME PROGRESSES IT SEEMS TO PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE COMMON PLACE AND OWNERS ARE STUCK WITH THE BILL. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIRBAG MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS THE SECOND GOODYEAR ASSURANCE FUEL MAX 94V TIRE THAT CAME ON MY 2012 VOLT THAT FAILED IN THE SAME DRIVER FRONT MOUNTED POSITION. SEE NHTSA ID # 10706538 DATE REPORTED 4/19/15. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED THIS MORNING, IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN I STARTED THE CARE, PRESSURE WAS REPORTED AT 26 PSI, DOWN FROM 37 PSI WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED TWO DAYS AGO. TAKING THE CAR FOR CHECK TO THE CORNER EXXON STATION, THE MECHANIC CHECKING THE TIRE SAW THAT THE SIDEWALL HAD A CRACK AND MENTIONED THIS WAS A TIRE DEFECT. HE INFLATED THE TIRE TO 38 PSI SO I COULD DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO POSSIBLY DOCUMENT THE TIRE PROBLEM AND HAVE IT REPLACED. THE TIRE LOST 5 PSI ON THE 3 MILE DRIVE AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING, OR DRIVEN WITH THE TIRE UNDERINFLATED; THAT IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. HE MENTIONED HAD NEVER SEEN ANOTHER VOLT WITH A DEFECTIVE TIRE. HOWEVER, IN 45+ YEARS DRIVING, I'VE NEVER HAD THIS EXPERIENCE WITH A TIRE, KNOWING THE TIRE HAD NEVER BEEN UNDERINFLATED - 34 PSI HAS BEEN THE RECORD LOWEST - (SINCE I MONITOR THE TIRE PRESSURES). THE TIRE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE CAR AND THE SECOND ONE FAILING IN THE SAME WAY. THIS TIME, I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY, THE LEAK STARTED WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE SIDEWALL CRACK WAS APPARENT IN THE EXXON STATION. *TR
WHEELS: ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRE WITH 5/32 TREAD, ABOUT 58,000 MILES, NOTICED REDUCED TIRE PRESSURE 3/15/16, FILLED TIRE; FILLED AGAIN 3/18/16 TWICE, ABOUT AN HOUR APART, BECAME TOTALLY FLAT. SIDE OF TIRE, TWO REPAIR FACILTIES INDICATE IT CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. HAVE REST OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ON CAR, WERE VERY RECENTLY ROTATED, AND TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED BEFORE 3/15/16. THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN VANDALIZED, DEALER IN MIDDLETON SAYS IT WAS NOT. ALL TIRES ON CARE ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE BEGAN WHILE STATIONERY, FILLED TIRE, BUT DID NOT HOLD AIR WHETHER IN MOTION, BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY OR CITY STREET. IS AT A DEALERSHIP IN MIDDLETON, WI NOW. I PURCHASED THE 2012 VOLT IN 2/2013, NEVER TITLED, FROM A DEALER IN ELK CITY, OK AFTER MUCH RESEARCH. IN READING ABOUT VOLT, THERE WAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT A BACK UP CAMERA. THE CAR REALLY NEEDS A BACK UP CAMERA; I HAVE HIT ANOTHER CAR PARKED ON MY OWN DRIVEWAY WHILE BACKING OUT, AND IN JANUARY 2016 I HIT A MOVING SUV AT BEST BUY PARKING LOT, DELAFIELD, WI. PERSON DRIVING HIS CAR SAID HE DID NOT LOOK FOR BACK UP LIGHTS FOR BREAK LIGHTS, I HAD CHECKED TO SEE IF CAR MAY BE APPROACHING AND DID NOT SEE SUV. I FILED WITH THE DOT, WI, SINCE IT WAS LIKELY IF POLICE WERE CALLED IT WOULD BE STATED IT WAS A PRIVATE LOT. I HAVE ALSO HAD MY CAR TOWED, THE BLACK RUBBER FRONT THAT IS FLEXIBLE IS EASILY DAMAGED, AND ESPECIALLY BY A TOW TRUCK BUT CAN BE EASILY DAMAGED IN WINTER WITH SNOW/ICE, OR GENERALLY IN PARKING LOTS IF THERE ARE CONCRETE GUIDES TO STOP CAR WHEN PULLING INTO SPOT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO ACCIDENT: THE DEGREE OF DISTORTION IN REAR GLASS IS UNSAFE. OPTICS MAY NOT MEET AUTO GLASS AND OR FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. I HAVE WORKED IN THE GLASS INDUSTRY IN QUALITY CONTROL AND THIS GLASS WOULD NOT MEET COMPANY OR FEDERAL STANDARDS. WITH DISTORTION THIS BAD THE PARTICLE SIZE COULD BE AN ISSUE AS WELL. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. GM HAS AGREED TO REPLACE MY GLASS, HOWEVER I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER REAR WINDOWS IN THAT SAME RUN TIME. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .