2013 Chevrolet Volt Engine Problems

Fully charged. Goes from electric to generator/gas propulsion and abruptly slowes about 1/2 speed. Very dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11734728

Incident

Apr 27, 2026

I received the "Propulsion Power is Reduced" Alert engine light while driving in "Normal" mode on the freeway at around 60mph with 8-9 miles of Battery capacity, it showed 0 miles of Battery forcing the Gas Engine on and the vehicle hesitated upon applying the accelerator for the remainder of the drive. My safety and that was others was at risk because the acceleration dropped quickly and I was on a busy freeway at the time when the Alert happened causing further hesitation. Upon stopping I could not get the vehicle to take a charge nor would it start up until a mechanic arrived and was able to confirm the problem.

NHTSA ID

11715715

Incident

Feb 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The Check Engine warning light was flashing, and the messages "No Propulsion Power" and "No Power To Engine" were displayed. The contact stated that two individuals pulled over and assisted the contact in pushing the vehicle to the side of the road to prevent a crash. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who made the contact aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact requested vehicle rental assistance, but the dealer was unable to provide assistance. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance in initiating a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 141,323.

NHTSA ID

11705337

Incident

Dec 13, 2025

Mileage

141,323 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light and low oil pressure warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where a diagnostic test result was undisclosed; however, the contact was informed that the vehicle needed an ASC high-voltage battery to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired after the ASC battery was replaced. The contact stated that the propulsion system warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11593400

Incident

Mar 6, 2023

Mileage

100,000 mi

I was driving my plugin hybrid Volt on a highway when the engine stalled and the engine light turned on. I tap the throttle a few times to get it to stay on. It worked, but I had to continue to tap the throttle to keep it going. It also revved up sharply when it was in low gear. The vehicle was out of battery, so it was as running on engine.

NHTSA ID

11561788

Incident

Dec 24, 2023

My 2013 Volt will not charge or start. This happened suddenly. It has been working fine.

NHTSA ID

11561760

Incident

Dec 25, 2023

When placing the vehicle in park, an error message "shift to park" lights up even as the car is turned off. This has been an issue with early models of the Chevy Volt. I have owned 4 of them. Every single one of them had this same problem. My current two Volt I just obtained both have this error message. The car thinks it's not in park when it is.

NHTSA ID

11463176

Incident

Apr 25, 2022

When placing the vehicle in park, an error message "shift to park" lights up even as the car is turned off. This has been an issue with early models of the Chevy Volt. I have owned 4 of them. Every single one of them had this same problem. My current two Volt I just obtained both have this error message. The car thinks it's not in park when it is.

NHTSA ID

11463174

Incident

May 3, 2022

VEHICLE HAS STOPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DURING THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WILL POST AN ERROR ON THE DASH SCREEN. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE TRANSITIONS FROM ELECTRIC FUEL TO GASOLINE, WHEN THE ELECTRIC FUEL IS DEPLETED. CHEVY REFUSES TO REPAIR OR WARRANTY THE VEHICLE, ALSO THE DEALER REFUSES TO COMPLETE THE NECESSARY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RETURN TO NORMAL UNTIL YOU TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11415209

Incident

Apr 30, 2021

Mileage

70,000 mi

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT FOR FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE UN-COMMANDED SELF ACCELERATION ISSUES IN MY 2013 CHEVY VOLT INCLUDING MY CONTACT INFORMATION. THANK YOU!

NHTSA ID

11396357

Incident

Jul 15, 2014

Mileage

1,000 mi

1) PASSENGER AIR BAG NOTICES KEEPS COMING ON DESPITE THERE BEING NO PASSENGER. ONLY GOES AWAY WHEN I BUCKLE THE SEATBELT 2)PASSENGER SEATBELT WARNING KEEPS COMING ON, ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS BY BUCKLING SEATBELT 3)AIRBAR LIGTHT GOES ON AND OFF. WILL INDICATE IT NEEDS SERVICE AND THEN GO AWAY FOR A DAY OR TWO BEFORE COMING BACK ON. 4) DRIVE ROTOR BEARING. HAD IT REPAIRED AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS STARTED MAKING SAME NOISES AGAIN. COMMON ISSUE WITH EARLY GENERATION VOLTS BASED ON RESEARCH.

NHTSA ID

11374913

Incident

May 8, 2019

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW AND LOSS POWER. THE PROPORTION POWER REDUCED MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN ABNORMAL NOISE DETECTED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

11308804

Incident

Feb 12, 2020

Mileage

85,000 mi

REDUCED PROPULSION WARNING. CAUSES CAR TO NOT GO OVER 40 MPH WHILE DRIVING. COVERED UNDER VOLTECH WARRANTY BUT DEALERS WANT TO CHARGE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. UNFAIR, AS THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR A WARRANTY DIAGNOSIS.

NHTSA ID

11271184

Incident

Oct 26, 2019

Mileage

73,500 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 CHEVROLET VOLT AND I RECEIVED A LOSS OF PROPULSION MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MY CAR SHUT DOWN AND SLOWED DOWN ON THE FREEWAY AS I WAS DRIVING. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO DARK. I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY. MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE EXIT LANE OF THE FREEWAY. I PRESSED THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND THEN I WAITED ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND I TURNED THE POWER BUTTON BACK ON AND THE CAR CAME ON AS ONLY POWER MODE. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR VERY SLOWLY SOMEWHERE MORE SAFE. I CALLED TOW TRUCK AND I TOWED IT TO DEALERSHIP. THE VOLT WAS STILL ABLE TO MOVE SLOWLY UP THE TOW TRUCK AND WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS STILL ABLE TO MOVE SLOWLY TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE SERVICE STATION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, BUT LOSS OF PROPULSION LIGHT WAS GONE. SERVICE ADVISORS TOLD ME THEY WOULD FIX MY CAR AS IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS SALVAGED. THE ESTIMATE WAS $145. LATER ON THEY CALLED ME THAT MY CAR HAD 8 CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON AND THAT I NEEDED A TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THEIR WAS A WHINING SOUND AND ALSO LOSS OF PROPULSION STILL ON. I WENT TO GO LOOK AT MY CAR A COUPLE DAYS LATER AFTER I FILLED A COMPLAINT WITH GM HEADQUARTERS BECAUSE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. WHEN I WENT TO GO CHECK OUT MY VEHICLE, IT WAS IN A WORSE CONDITION THEN WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF. MY CAR WOULD NOT EVEN TURN ON. WHEN I PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON, IT WOULD SAY ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE AND IT WOULD ALSO SAY LOSS OF PROPULSION AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE MY CAR AND THE BATTERY STILL HAD 8 MILES LEFT. IT WAS WEIRD AS TO WHY MY CAR IS GETTING WORSE WHILE BEING IN THE DEALER. DEALER TOLD ME THEY ARE DONE WITH THE UPDATE AND IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE, I HAVE TO PAY $430 AND MORE THAN LIKELY THOUSANDS OF DOLLAR TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ID

11257145

Incident

Sep 17, 2019

Mileage

97,919 mi

CAR SLOWED DOWN AND THEN CAME TO A FULL STOP ON SIDE OF RESIDENTIAL STREET. TRIED TO TURN OFF AND RESTART ENGINE TO NO AVAIL. NO POWER COMING FROM MOTOR

NHTSA ID

11233644

Incident

Jul 20, 2019

Mileage

66,781 mi

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE FOR COMMUTE BACK HOME, THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC WARNING POPES UP SAYING THAT PROFUSION PEER WAS REDUCED. THE GASOLINE ENGINE THEN TURNED ON EVEN THOUGH BATTERY WAS APPROXIMATELY 75% CHARGED. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH ACCELERATION AS WELL AS DECELERATION; AS A RESULT, I ELECTED TO TAKE THE SIDE STREETS INSTEAD OF THE INTERSTATE

NHTSA ID

11202786

Incident

Apr 21, 2019

Mileage

66,085 mi

I LIVE IN AND DRIVE MY CAR AROUND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. MY BATTERY COOLANT RADIATOR WAS HIT BY A SMALL ROCK AND LEAKED. THIS PREVENTED CHARGING, CAUSED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, AND COOLANT TO POOL UNDERNEATH MY CAR. I TOWED IT TO A NEARBY CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO GET THE RADIATOR REPLACED. RADIATOR DAMAGE TO VOLTS IS NOT UNCOMMON. CHEVROLET KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN COVERING SOME (BUT NOT ALL) VOLTS DUE TO THEIR LOW, VULNERABLE, AND RELATIVELY UNPROTECTED DESIGN OF THE RADIATOR. I BELIEVE CHEVROLET SHOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITH STRONGER RADIATOR SHIELDS AND PROTECTORS.

NHTSA ID

11196588

Incident

Dec 21, 2018

Mileage

69,000 mi

MY 2013 VOLT HAS STARTED GIVING ME ONLY A MAXIMUM OF 35 MILES CHARGE, BUT REALLY ONLY GIVING ME 27-32 EVEN THROUGH I DRIVE IN LOW (WHICH ALWAYS GAVE ME MORE MILES THAN THE CAR THOUGHT I'D GET). MAYBE THIS IS CONNECTED TO THE NEW PROBLEM? YESTERDAY WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR (DRIVING IN GAS BECAUSE I HAD RUN OUT OF ELECTRIC) IT GAVE GAVE ME A "PROPULSION POWER REDUCED" ERROR MESSAGE. I TRIED TURNING IT OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE ERROR STAYED. I HAD TO DRIVE FROM DOWNTOWN LA IN A CAR THAT COULD BARELY MOVE. ABOUT 8 MILES IN, THE ERROR DISAPPEARED AND THE CAR RAN NORMALLY. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY ERROR MESSAGES (?!), BUT MAYBE, MAYBE THAT PROBLEM AND THE CHARGING PROBLEM COULD BE CORRECTED BY A $300 SOFTWARE UPDATE. MAYBE. MEANTIME, I FOUND THAT SOME 2013 VOLTS WERE RECALLED FOR EXACTLY THIS ERROR PROBLEM, BUT APPARENTLY NOT MINE. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T SEEM TO BE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT WHAT'S WRONG, AND GM SAYS TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP (GM, IN FACT, HUNG UP ON MY TODAY). SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT, GM, YOU KNOW YOU BUILT CARS WITH SOFTWARE PROBLEMS, BUT WE NEED TO PAY TO CORRECT THEM? AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN SURE IT WILL CORRECT IT??????

NHTSA ID

11166247

Incident

Jan 9, 2019

Mileage

44,165 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, THE PROPORTION POWER REDUCED INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL; HOWEVER, THE VIN SEARCH DID NOT LOCATE ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO MANUFACTURER RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

NHTSA ID

11163700

Incident

Dec 19, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FELDMAN CHEVROLET OF NOVI (42355 GRAND RIVER, NOVI, MI 48375 (248) 289-3789) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COOLING PUMP WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA ID

11144712

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

28,000 mi

OUR 2013 CHEVY VOLT DIED IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY-BATTERY WENT OUT AFTER A REQUIRED SERVICE UPDATE. WE HAD HAD IT IN SHOP FOR LOW PROPULSON WARNINGS TWO TIMES BEFORE THAT. CHEVY SENT A RECALL STATING SPECIFICALLY THAT THE SERVICE UPDATE WOULD CAUSE LOW PROPULSION AND ULTIMATELY THE CAR COULD DIE, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE CAR BATTERY DIED. DEALERSHIP & DIST MANAGER AGREED THAT WAS THE CAUSE AND SAID THEY WOULD REIMBURSE US $2788 FOR BATTERY. GM DENIED CLAIM AND REFUSES TO HONOR THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSED. THEY REALLY OWE THE WHOLE BALANCE OF $4,220.51.

NHTSA ID

11142354

Incident

Apr 16, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

I'VE BROUGHT MY 2013 CHEVY VOLT TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES BECAUSE IT DIES SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER MULTIPLE TIMES. ONE OF THE "FIXES" WAS A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT ENDED UP AS A RECALL BECAUSE IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO DIE SUDDENLY (IT'S RECALL #N172130460, WHICH CAME OUT TWO DAYS BEFORE MY LATEST INCIDENT, BUT I DIDN'T RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL UNTIL 7/28/18...6 WEEKS AFTER MY LAST INCIDENT). THE MOST RECENT TIME THE CAR DIED (6/16/18), I WAS ON A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOT GET HIT AS I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE. THERE WAS NO SIGNAGE THERE EXCEPT FOR THE "CAUTION BEAR XING" SIGN. AFTER TOWING MY CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP (IN CARSON CITY, NV, AN 8 HOUR ORDEAL), I HAD EXPENSES FOR LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION (INCLUDING LYFT TO SOUTH LAKE TAHOE TO RENT A CAR BECAUSE NO RENTAL CAR OFFICES OPEN ON SUNDAY IN CARSON CITY, THEN FLYING TO RENO AND TAKING A LYFT TO CARSON CITY TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE CHEVY REFUSED TO SHIP THE CAR TO ME EVEN THOUGH I SAID THAT I WAS AFRAID AND DIDN'T TRUST THE CAR IN THE MOUNTAINS). CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CONCIERGE SERVICES REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE I HAD THE CAR TOWED MYSELF INSTEAD OF CALLING THEIR "CONCIERGE SERVICE" TO TOW IT BECAUSE THAT'S "POLICY." HOW ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS SO THAT THEY MAY LIVE TO DRIVE ANOTHER DAY? I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN THE EXPENSES INCURRED FROM THE LAST ADVENTURE: $1040.72, WHICH I CAN ITEMIZE. OTHER TIMES THAT MY CAR HAS DIED INCLUDE: WHILE MAKING A U-TURN IN A BUSY INTERSECTION (IN 2016), IT DIED AND STARTED BACK UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED 20 MINUTES LATER AND A SEPARATE TIME WAS WHEN THE CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL BUT THEN STARTED UP AGAIN TWO HOURS LATER AS IF THERE WAS NEVER AN ISSUE.EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED, I HAD A "POWER PROPULSION REDUCED" WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD. I SEE ONLINE THAT MANY HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11114664

Incident

Jun 16, 2018

Mileage

66,000 mi

GAS GENERATOR FAILED TO START WHEN BATTERY WAS DEPLETED WHILE ON CITY STREET SLOWING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. WARNING MESSAGE ABOUT REDUCED PROPULSION AND YELLOW ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF. TRIED TURNING BACK ON, RECEIVED WAITING TO INITIALIZE MESSAGE, BUT POWER TO ENGINE WAS NEVER RESTORED. TOWED CAR TO DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

11097847

Incident

May 22, 2018

Mileage

39,000 mi

GAS GENERATOR FAILED TO START WHEN BATTERY WAS DEPLETED WHILE ON FREEWAY. WARNING MESSAGE ABOUT REDUCED PROPULSION AND YELLOW ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THEN FEWS MOMENTS AFTER VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE AND WAS SLOWING DOWN SO PULLED OVER ONTO SHOULDER AND GOT TOWED VEHICLE WILL NOT CHARGE EITHER WHEN PLUGGED IN.

NHTSA ID

11092090

Incident

May 6, 2018

Mileage

84,000 mi

RADIATOR FAILURE/LEAKING AT 67000 MILES. UNKNOWN CAUSE. CAUSED CAR TO OVERHEAT AND HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL/BATTERY COMPONENTS. COST TO REPAIR EXCEEDS $1500.

NHTSA ID

11000386

Incident

Jun 20, 2017

Mileage

67,000 mi