2014 Chevrolet Volt Electrical Problems

I was slowly maneuvering my car into my garage when the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly surged forward, despite only lightly tapping the brake and not touching the accelerator. The car had been displaying the warning, “Propulsion Power is Reduced” and was not holding an electric charge in the days before the incident. No malfunction indicator lamp ever turned on. Per the owner’s manual, the vehicle did not need to be serviced because the malfunction indicator light never came on at the same time as the propulsion power reduced message. This led me to believe the vehicle was safe to drive. The unexpected surge caused the car to strike and cause considerable damage to the garage wall. Fortunately there was no one in the garage at the time and I, myself, was not injured. My car was deemed a total loss by the insurance company.

NHTSA ID

11677327

Incident

Apr 5, 2025

The contact son owns a 2014 Chevrolet Volt. The contact's daughter stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle loss motive power without warning and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with battery failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the time frame for a free battery replacement had expired. The vehicle was towed to the residence and had not been driven since the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11635306

Incident

Jan 9, 2025

Loss of propulsion. Vehicle will not start/move. If vehicle does turn on , it will not turn off. Vehicle has been having reduced propulsion issues for multiple years (taken to dealer many times) that dealership has refused to do a HV battery capacity test while under warranty, even after leaving with them for multiple months they claimed they could not replicate error. On day of pickup error presented itself and I showed service advisor and left vehicle for additional testing. Dealer provided explanation of reduced propulsion when in mountain mode as cause even though vehicle was not in mountain mode when error occurred. Dealer performed customer satisfaction GM Program # N172130462 update 11/2021 on HV system that stopped propulsion issues (mainly battery capacity concerns) until vehicle was out of warranty. Now vehicle will not turn on/move even though HV battery completely charged. Vehicle is essentially bricked at this point. Will be taking back to dealer 12/30/2024

NHTSA ID

11633065

Incident

Dec 2, 2024

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the contact stated that while attempting to merge in the right lane, the vehicle hesitated and shut off while in the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.

NHTSA ID

11614494

Incident

Jul 15, 2024

Mileage

136,000 mi

Battery pack died with no warning while I was highway driving

NHTSA ID

11586789

Incident

Apr 8, 2024

I bought my car and I had no idea about a known issue that this car has. Unsuspecting and trusting, I noticed my car had a reduced propulsion and it would like lose power and just slowly jerk and then really drastically reduce speed without anyway to fix it and on the freeway I got scared as I have never in my life has this happen in any car. So it happen a couple more times and I took a picture of it and took it to the dealership where I purchased it. They told me they couldn’t do l as they can’t repeat the issue. Well that only usually happens when I’m driving but now it’s more. The propulsion thing loses power and I as a driver going up a hill or anywhere now will lose speed and it’s dangerous, I feel like I may not make it home and I took it to the dealership many times and they told me there’s no issue. I took it again recently now that I’m out of warranty because it also had some high voltage issue and a sensor coolant issue that misreads. I like the car but very unhappy about dealership and manu not fixing this issue that every volt owner I talk to has, read about. I lose power, my car randomly heads up when it’s been cold all night and not driven now I have the same issues. I have the same issues and I use 91 gas, I have inspected my car and I had to learn about cars or more than I ever did which was like zero all because of this car. I even took it to the dealership 3-4 times (documented) to get it fixed and they just said there isn’t anything wrong nor did they say there’s a known issue and watch out for this or that. I had to look up the issue and learn about it on my own. Very dangerous date happening this is happening now almost everyday but was frequent 1.5 years ago but last 8 months it’s like the standard. I’m afraid my car will lose power on freeway, which it does and I have to take toll to stay away from others for everyone’s safety

NHTSA ID

11562870

Incident

May 15, 2023

Vehicle stopped when changing from battery power to gasoline. Unable to drive. Not charging the Lithium battery therefore, I experienced 3 similar incidents with this vehicle. The first one on 02/15/22. The vehicle was towed to Bommin Chevrolet in Florida City, FL. This time it was under warranty. The second time 01/02/23 while on the road similar thing happened, again was towed to Tropical Chevrolet in North Miami, FL; a diagnostic was performed the error code was cleared and started charging again. This time same issue when the main battery was depleted the vehicle stalled. I had to towed to my home where is still sitting. Not operational.

NHTSA ID

11534639

Incident

Jun 27, 2023

Early this year GM disabled the OnStar feature on all Chevrolet Volts that have 2G connectivity. GM offered Canadian owners the option to upgrade their Volt's from 2G to 4G. In September 2019 they issued Service Bulletin 15-08-44-001J that gives the GM service department instructions on how to upgrade the Volt from 2G to 4G connectivity. They should give us the same options here in the states!

NHTSA ID

11533890

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle during an electrical storm the power would shut off causing the vehicle to become inoperable. On one occasion the power shut off causing the vehicle to roll into the rear of a second vehicle causing damage to the bumper. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure and no repairs were performed. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000.

NHTSA ID

11431253

Incident

Feb 28, 2017

Mileage

46,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING IN THE ELECTRIC MODE, THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY VOLTAGE SUDDENLY FAILED AND THE PROPULSION SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO ITS BACKUP MODE, WHICH WAS THE USE OF THE FUEL GENERATOR, AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DYER CHEVROLET FORT PIERCE (LOCATED AT 4200 S US HWY 1, FORT PIERCE, FL) WHERE THE HPCM2 SYSTEM WAS REPROGRAMMED, WHICH RELATED TO THE HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V397000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. *CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SOLD.*JS

NHTSA ID

11265587

Incident

Sep 26, 2019

Mileage

105,000 mi

CAR TELLS ME THAT THE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE SERVICED EVERY TIME THE CAR TURNS ON AND CONTINUES TO ALERT ME AS I DRIVE, EVEN AFTER I ACKNOWLEDGE THE ERROR. APPARENTLY THE FRONT PASSENGER DETECTOR FOR TURNING ON THE AIRBAG MUST BE REPLACED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAYS HE'S DRIVEN WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR. OVER $600 TO REPLACE. FROM READING FORUMS ONLINE, I SEE THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. THE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

11220628

Incident

Jun 6, 2019

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE 120V CHARGING CORD THAT CAME WITH THE VOLT HAS CRACKED AND FRAYED, EXPOSING ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THE ELEMENTS AND CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. SEE PHOTO OF CORD CONDITION. THE CHARGER IS A NECESSARY ELEMENT TO USING AN ELECTRIC-HYBRID VEHICLE. WE ASKED THE CHEVY DEALER FROM WHOM WE BOUGHT THE VOLT (SEE BUSINESS CARD PHOTO) TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT CHARGER, AND THEY REFUSED TO. THIS EQUIPMENT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE FIRE HAZARD, AND ITS CONDITION SHOULD NOT HAVE RESULTED FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

NHTSA ID

11181913

Incident

Feb 18, 2019

Mileage

55,000 mi

STARTING UP THE CAR IN THE MORNING, THE DISPLAY PANEL WENT DARK. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TRIED STARTING UP THE VEHICLE AGAIN WITH NO CHANGE. THE DISPLAY PANEL IS DARK. I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE GAS INFORMATION, BATTERY INFORMATION, SPEED, AND TURN SIGNALS.

NHTSA ID

11176666

Incident

Feb 10, 2019

Mileage

42,000 mi

THE ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY VOLT WHICH DISABLED THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER, CREATING A DANGEROUS VISIBILITY SITUATION. THE VOLT HAS TWO HEATING SYSTEMS, THE TRADITIONAL WASTE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM AND AN ALL-ELECTRIC RESISTOR PACK. WHEN THE CAR RUNS IN ALL-ELECTRIC MODE, THE ENGINE DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE TRADITIONAL HEATING SYSTEM IS INEFFECTIVE. THERE IS A MODE THAT WILL OPERATE THE ENGINE WHILE THE BATTERY STILL HAS A CHARGE, BUT THE CAR STILL RUNS PRIMARILY ON BATTERY POWER AND ONLY RUNS THE ENGINE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN CHARGE LEVEL. THERE IS NO BACKUP MODE TO FORCE THE ENGINE TO RUN IF THE ELECTRIC HEATER FAILS. I PARK OUTDOORS OVERNIGHT IN A PARKING LOT. THIS MORNING, DESPITE ENGAGING THE VEHICLE MODE THAT OPERATES THE ENGINE TO SUSTAIN THE BATTERY CHARGE LEVEL, THE ENGINE DID NOT OPERATE OFTEN ENOUGH TO GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO DEFROST/DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD UNTIL TRAVELLING NEARLY 2 MILES. YOU CAN'T SIT AND WAIT FOR THE ENGINE TO HEAT UP BECAUSE THE ENGINE STOPS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11160660

Incident

Dec 11, 2018

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN BATTERY MODE, THE BATTERY EMPTIED AND THE VEHICLE SWITCHED TO GAS MODE. THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE AND LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ON STAR SYSTEM ACTIVATED AND INDICATED A SYSTEM FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BEDARD BROS (391 SOUTH STATE ROAD, CHESIRE, MA 01225, (413) 743-0014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (PART NUMBER: 12670036) FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND REPROGRAMMED THE VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,509.

NHTSA ID

11129813

Incident

Jul 2, 2018

Mileage

33,509 mi

WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL WITH THE RADIO BARELY ON I CANNOT HEAR THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR AT ALL. THE TURN SIGNAL SOUND IS EXTREMELY LOW. TODAY I LEFT IT ON ACCIDENT AND A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME ASSUMING I WAS TURNING, HOWEVER I WAS NOT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT IF HE DID PULL OUT, THE VEHICLE STOPPED JUST INCHES BEFORE BEING IN THE ROAD. IF THE BLINKER INDICATOR IS THROUGH THE VEHICLE AUDIO SYSTEM, IT NEEDS TO BE INCREASED. I HAVE LEFT MY BLINKER ON MULTIPLE TIMES >10.

NHTSA ID

11113259

Incident

Jul 24, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT WARNING. REPAIR SHOP SAYS THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT 'PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE' NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHAT IS THE SAFETY RISK OF NOT PAYING THE $500?

NHTSA ID

11089117

Incident

Mar 12, 2018

Mileage

39,200 mi

A USED CHEVY VOLT.IT CAME WITH A LEVEL 1 CHARGER. BASIC 110 V TAKES 8 HOURS TO CHARGE 18KVH BATTERY. THIS CHARGER WAS REPAIRED FROM THE LOOKS OF IT.I USED IT FOR A FEW TIMES AND IT BURNT. LUCKILY IT WAS NOT NEAR ANY FLAME ABLE MATERIAL, OR IT MAY HAVE CAUSED FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11080771

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET VOLT. STARTED CAR WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND TOLD ME TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP WHICH WILL RESULT DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ID

11023930

Incident

Sep 17, 2017

Mileage

61,000 mi

THE SCREEN THAT DISPLAYS SPEED, FUEL REMAINING, ETC GOES DARK AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENS MOST OFTEN WHEN I FIRST TURN ON THE CAR AND LASTS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. OCCASIONALLY IT HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE.

NHTSA ID

11021531

Incident

Sep 4, 2017

Mileage

25,000 mi

AIR BAG SENSOR AND COMPUTER SYSTEM MALFUNCTION THE DRIVER SIDE SENSOR AT TIMES MALFUNCTION AND SO THE SOFTWARE DISABLE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. THE SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE COMES ON FOR FEW MINUTES AND THEN DISAPPEARS ASSUMING EVERYTHING IS OK. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I NEED TO CHANGE WHOLE AIRBAG SENSOR KIT AND WOULD COST ME MORE THAN 1300 DOLLARS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THIS RELATES TO SAFETY

NHTSA ID

11019602

Incident

Jul 28, 2017

Mileage

5 mi

CHEVY VOLT WAS DRIVEN INTO THE GARAGE WITH 10 MILES LEFT ON THE BATTERY, THE CAR WAS PLUGGED INTO THE ELECTRIC CHARGER FOR OVER NIGHT CHARGE. IN THE MORNING IN THE ATTEMPT TO TURN ON THE CAR A MESSAGE APPEARED STATING. "NOT ABLE TO CHARGE" "BATTERY RANGE 0 MILES" "CHARGING OVERRIDE/INTERRUPT OCCURRED" MY HUSBAND CAME AND CHECKED OUT THE CAR WE PLUGGED INTO OUR 110 VOLT CHARGE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WASN'T OUR CHARGING SYSTEM. WAITED SEVERAL HOURS STILL NO CHARGE. ON STAR WAS CALLED THEY COULD NOT COLLECT ANY DATA BECAUSE THE CAR WAS TOTALLY SHUT DOWN. SOME TIME LATER POSSIBLY THE NEXT DAY (SUNDAY) THERE APPEARED A MESSAGE. "CHARGING OVERRIDE/ INTERRUPTION A CHARGING OVERRIDE OR INTERRUPTION HAS OCCURRED DUE TO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING EVENTS: * OVERRIDE OF CHARGING SETTINGS BY VEHICLE OWNER VIA ONSTAR. (THIS DID NOT HAPPEN) * UNINTENDED INTERRUPTION OF AC POWER KATH THE VEHICLE'S CHARGE PORT. (ALSO DID NOT HAPPEN) *INTERRUPTION OF CHARGING BY THE UTILITY COMPANY VIA ONSTAR AS AUTHORIZED BY VEHICLE OWNER. (ALSO DID NOT HAPPEN) SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR FURTHER DETAIL." MONDAY MORNING CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE AND RUN TESTS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AFTER FIVE DAYS THEY DECIDED TO ORDER A PART, NOT SURE WHAT THE PARTS ACTUAL NAME WAS, SOMETHING TO DO WITH AN ELECTRICAL STARTING MODULE. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED, PICKING UP ON THE 6TH DAY AT DEALERSHIP. HOPING ALL IS WELL.

NHTSA ID

10960094

Incident

Mar 4, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

CHEVROLET VOLT 2014 HEAD UNIT REBOOTS WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION (CITY STREETS AND FREEWAYS). NO USER AUXILIARY DEVICE PLUGGED IN. FH DAILY SAN LEANDRO COULD NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. REBOOTING OCCURED APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AGO AFTER MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIR. CAR WAS LAST SERVICED 11/22/16 FOR STATED PROBLEM. HEAD UNIT REBOOTED 12/1/16 WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY STREET. HEAD UNIT PROVIDES VITAL INFORMATION INCLUDING VEHICLE OFF/ON STATUS AND AUDIBLE TONES.

NHTSA ID

10929023

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

20,289 mi

IGNITION SHUT OFF ON MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE FROM NORMAL (ELECTRIC) TO HOLD (GAS) MODE. MODE BUTTON IS TOO CLOSE TO IGNITION POWER BUTTON. I HAD TO STOP IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND RESTART, COULD HAVE BEEN HIT. I CALLED ONSTAR EMERGENCY SERVICE IN THE MOMENT, BUT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF A WAY TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE IT WAS ROLLING. DISCOVERED LATER THAT THERE IS A 3-STEP PROCESS TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE IT'S STILL MOVING, BUT IT IS COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT TO REMEMBER WHILE PANICKING ABOUT THE DANGER OF BEING HIT. THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC WAY TO RESTART IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL SHUT OFF. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED OR SOMEONE WILL GET HURT OR KILLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN HIT WHILE FIGURING OUT HOW TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. I COMMUTE DAILY INTO BOSTON AND HAVE TO KEEP EYES ON THE ROAD AT ALL TIMES; WITH THE MODE BUTTON NEXT TO THE POWER BUTTON, THERE IS CONSTANT DANGER OF SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN AT PRECISELY THE MOMENT WHEN I EXPECT AND NEED TO BE ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ID

10781322

Incident

Apr 30, 2014

Mileage

1,000 mi

SATURDAY ON 09/5/2015 AROUND 12:00 NOON WHILE DRIVING OUR 2014 CHEVY VOLT, WHILE I WAS PASSENGER, MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR SUDDENLY NOTICED THE CAR COMPUTER PROGRAM HAS GONE CRAZY AND STARTED THROWING ALL KINDS OF ERRORS STARTING WITH 1) PROGRAM CLUSTER ERROR 2) ICE MAY BE POSSIBLE 3) WASHER LEVEL LOW 4) SOME OTHER KIND SENSOR ERRORS 5) BATTERY LEVEL STARTED SHOWING ZERO ( IT WAS FULL ) 6) FUEL LEVEL WAS ZERO ( HAD OVER 1/2 TANK FUEL) 7) ODOMETER INDICATION HAD CHANGED ON ITS OWN TO KM FROM MILES 8) NO PROPER VEHICLE SPEED INDICATION.9 ) SUSPENSION NEED ADJUSTMENT ETC ALL THESE ERRORS KEPT REPEATING OVER AND OVER WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A BIG PANIC TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER (ME) BESIDES RESULTING IN DISTRACTED DRIVING. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT HEATING KICKED IN ON ITS OWN. FOR A SHORT PERIOD WE WERE NOT SURE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS MOVING UNDER OUR CONTROL OR NOT. ON THE CENTER PANEL ALSO THE INFORMATION SYSTEM WAS SHOWING ALL KINDS OF ERRORS LIKE, BATTERY WAS SHOWING EMPTY, THE AMBIENT TEMP WAS SHOWING - 27C ALTHOUGH IT WAS QUOTE HOT AT THAT TIME AND THE MILES HAD CHANGED TO L / KM ETC. LOOKS LIKE ALL THE UNITS CHANGED IN THE CAR TO METRIC ON ITS OWN. ALL THE SYMPTOMS INDICATIONS WERE SIMILAR TO THE VIDEO SOME ONE HAS ALREADY POSTED HERE AT THE BELOW YOU TUBE LINK. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=07ZMNH5Z1GO SCARIEST PART WAS OUR VEHICLE STARTED DOING WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN IT WAS LIKE CAR LOSING ITS BRAIN ( COMPUTER PROGRAM GETTING CORRUPTED ) WHILE ON ROAD. THIS SITUATION POSES A BIG SAFETY RISK TO PEOPLE. CURRENTLY AS OF TODAY 09/09/2015 VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP AND YET TO BE FIXED AND HANDED OVER BACK TO US. I HAVE ALREADY CALLED GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPRESSED THE SAFETY CONCERNS, BESIDES THEY EXPECT ME TO PAY IN PART TO FIX THIS. I CAN PROVIDE NHTSA MY CASE NUMBER THAT GM REPRESENTATIVE GAVE ME.

NHTSA ID

10762700

Incident

Sep 5, 2015

Mileage

48,600 mi