2018 Chevrolet Volt Problems

My 2018 Chevy Volt is experiencing the EXACT same symptoms as GM's Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) Warranty Extension Program N232432680 AND Program N202307990 AND TSB 19-NA-206. My vehicle falls within the guidlines of affected vehicles, yet GM will not honor their program specifications. My vehicle has stalled while driving on the highway, not started, reduced power, and will not charge or depletes a full charge within 30 minutes. I stalled while driving 75 mph on a freeway. My car also would not allow me to shift into park while returning home, then tells me to shift into park when I am trying to tleave for work. GM tells me that "Your VIN does not fall within the repair requirements, even though your vehicle exeriences everything taking place and meets the standard requirements." The dealership tells me that I have to take it up with GM. I have children I drive to school, I drive to work, and I do not think that something of this nature, with the EXACT SAME symptoms that GM claims is happening, with the EXACT SAME codes related to the issue, with very possible safety issues being experienced should be overlooked. This has been happening for months, and I have been trying to explain to GM and the service department at the dealership what is going on, they have proof of what is going on, but I do not qualify because of my VIN even though, as stated by GM, "This specific program extends coverage to 15 years or 150,000 miles regardless of whether your specific VIN shows an active safety recall."

My 2018 Chevrolet Volt LT (VIN [XXX]) suffered a Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) failure at 142,185 miles. Gandrud Chevrolet in [XXX], diagnosed the failure, citing GM Technical Service Bulletin 18-NA-261 and diagnostic codes U2619, U2620, U2621, U2622, U2623 and U2624. The dealer replaced the BECM (part 24296900), programmed it, and performed associated work. The repair was completed XXX. The invoice was $3,160.70; I am seeking $3,066.25 in reimbursement for the qualifying repair expenses. GM denied coverage because my VIN is excluded from Special Coverage XXX, despite the dealership-confirmed BECM failure. I pursued the matter through GM Customer Assistance (case 106790207), mediation (case XXX), and Wisconsin DATCP (case XXX). GM maintained that the special coverage does not apply to my VIN. NHTSA previously investigated BECM failures under PE23022. However, owners continue to report similar problems in 2026, including reduced propulsion, inability to drive or restart, charging failures, and reported BECM failures. I ask NHTSA to review these 2026 complaint records alongside mine: XXX A sudden loss of propulsion can leave a vehicle unable to maintain speed or move safely with traffic, creating a potential crash risk. I am concerned that VIN-based coverage exclusions may leave vehicles susceptible to the same failure without an effective remedy. Please review these reports collectively, reassess whether the current coverage captures the affected vehicles, and determine whether further investigation, expanded coverage, or a safety recall is warranted. I can provide my repair invoice, diagnostic documentation, and GM’s written denial. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FAILURE SUMMARY & SAFETY RISK: While operating in live traffic, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power and entered a "Propulsion Power Reduced" failsafe mode, creating a severe rear-end collision hazard. The vehicle is currently grounded and remains available for inspection upon request. WARNING SYMPTOMS & DIAGNOSTIC CODES: The instrument cluster illuminated the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine), the ABS warning indicator, and displayed a persistent "Propulsion Power Is Reduced" message. A diagnostic trouble scan confirmed active high-voltage communication failures and powertrain faults: U2603 (Lost Communication with Hybrid/EV Battery Interface Control Module), P25A2 (Brake System Control Module Requested MIL), and ABS code C0500-00. PRIOR HISTORY & FAILURE TO CURE: This identical high-voltage Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) failure previously occurred in December 2025 at 97,808 miles and was presented to an authorized Chevrolet dealership for repair. The facility claimed the vehicle was repaired, but the exact same catastrophic high-voltage failure recurred in under 4,000 miles (at 101,635 miles). MANUFACTURER POLICY & OBSTRUCTION OF REPAIR: General Motors recognized this hazardous defect under Special Coverage N232432680 (covering BECM replacement for 15 years/150,000 miles at $0.00 cost). This policy links to GM Master Bulletin 07-00-89-037S mandating direct-bill Courtesy Transportation for grounded safety defects. Despite this, when presented for warranty repair, the authorized Chevrolet dealership explicitly refused intake and refused to honor the transportation mandate, stating on the record: "Yes, I do decline". GM Corporate (Case 98734634) admitted coverage applied but failed to compel franchise compliance, leaving a dangerous, immobilized high-voltage hybrid vehicle stranded without access to safety-mandated repair bays.

The vehicle frequently fails to register that the transmission has been shifted into Park. When this happens the instrument cluster displays "Action Required / Shift to Park" and the power (STOP/START) button will not shut the vehicle off. The condition is intermittent. I can usually clear it only by shifting through the gear positions and back into Park repeatedly, sometimes many times, before the vehicle will power down. SAFETY RISK: Because the transmission control module does not confirm Park, I have no assurance the parking pawl is engaged when I leave the vehicle, creating a rollaway hazard. The vehicle also cannot be shut down, which leaves its systems energized and drains the 12-volt battery, risking being stranded. I now apply the parking brake at every stop as a precaution. WARNING MESSAGE: The "Action Required / Shift to Park" message first appeared within days of purchase. I bought the vehicle used on 07/29/2026 at 69,471 miles and reported the fault to the selling dealer on 08/10/2026, twelve days later. CONFIRMED BY DEALER: Yes. On 08/19/2026 the selling dealer's service center diagnosed the cause as "internal shifter microswitch failure" and recorded the correction as "Replaced Transmission shifter controller assembly and cleared codes" (repair order 1133072). The fault returned within approximately half a day. On 08/26/2026 the dealer opened a second order for the same concern, recording the same cause and the same correction and listing the same part, shifter assembly part number 13540961 (invoice 1133224). The vehicle is currently at that service center and the defect is not corrected. The condition is worsening — it occurs more often and takes more attempts to clear than when first reported. The vehicle is available for inspection. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, by police, or by an insurance representative.

My 2018 Chevy Volt is experiencing the EXACT same symptoms as GM's Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) Warranty Extension Program N232432680 AND Program N202307990 AND TSB 19-NA-206. My vehicle falls within the guidlines of affected vehicles, yet GM will not honor their program specifications. My vehicle has stalled while driving on the highway, not started, reduced power, and will not charge or depletes a full charge within 30 minutes. I stalled while driving 75 mph on a freeway. My car also would not allow me to shift into park while returning home, then tells me to shift into park when I am trying to tleave for work. GM tells me that "Your VIN does not fall within the repair requirements, even though your vehicle exeriences everything taking place and meets the standard requirements." The dealership tells me that I have to take it up with GM. I have children I drive to school, I drive to work, and I do not think that something of this nature, with the EXACT SAME symptoms that GM claims is happening, with the EXACT SAME codes related to the issue, with very possible safety issues being experienced should be overlooked. This has been happening for months, and I have been trying to explain to GM and the service department at the dealership what is going on, they have proof of what is going on, but I do not qualify because of my VIN even though, as stated by GM, "This specific program extends coverage to 15 years or 150,000 miles regardless of whether your specific VIN shows an active safety recall."

My 2018 Chevrolet Volt LT (VIN [XXX]) suffered a Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) failure at 142,185 miles. Gandrud Chevrolet in [XXX], diagnosed the failure, citing GM Technical Service Bulletin 18-NA-261 and diagnostic codes U2619, U2620, U2621, U2622, U2623 and U2624. The dealer replaced the BECM (part 24296900), programmed it, and performed associated work. The repair was completed XXX. The invoice was $3,160.70; I am seeking $3,066.25 in reimbursement for the qualifying repair expenses. GM denied coverage because my VIN is excluded from Special Coverage XXX, despite the dealership-confirmed BECM failure. I pursued the matter through GM Customer Assistance (case 106790207), mediation (case XXX), and Wisconsin DATCP (case XXX). GM maintained that the special coverage does not apply to my VIN. NHTSA previously investigated BECM failures under PE23022. However, owners continue to report similar problems in 2026, including reduced propulsion, inability to drive or restart, charging failures, and reported BECM failures. I ask NHTSA to review these 2026 complaint records alongside mine: XXX A sudden loss of propulsion can leave a vehicle unable to maintain speed or move safely with traffic, creating a potential crash risk. I am concerned that VIN-based coverage exclusions may leave vehicles susceptible to the same failure without an effective remedy. Please review these reports collectively, reassess whether the current coverage captures the affected vehicles, and determine whether further investigation, expanded coverage, or a safety recall is warranted. I can provide my repair invoice, diagnostic documentation, and GM’s written denial. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My 2018 Chevy Volt is experiencing the EXACT same symptoms as GM's Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) Warranty Extension Program N232432680 AND Program N202307990 AND TSB 19-NA-206. My vehicle falls within the guidlines of affected vehicles, yet GM will not honor their program specifications. My vehicle has stalled while driving on the highway, not started, reduced power, and will not charge or depletes a full charge within 30 minutes. I stalled while driving 75 mph on a freeway. My car also would not allow me to shift into park while returning home, then tells me to shift into park when I am trying to tleave for work. GM tells me that "Your VIN does not fall within the repair requirements, even though your vehicle exeriences everything taking place and meets the standard requirements." The dealership tells me that I have to take it up with GM. I have children I drive to school, I drive to work, and I do not think that something of this nature, with the EXACT SAME symptoms that GM claims is happening, with the EXACT SAME codes related to the issue, with very possible safety issues being experienced should be overlooked. This has been happening for months, and I have been trying to explain to GM and the service department at the dealership what is going on, they have proof of what is going on, but I do not qualify because of my VIN even though, as stated by GM, "This specific program extends coverage to 15 years or 150,000 miles regardless of whether your specific VIN shows an active safety recall."

I was driving back from [XXX] on XXX, when I received a "propulsion power limited" message on my dash with a check engine light. I pulled off to a nearby gas station and tried to scan the code to figure out what was going on when I then received the message "Engine unavailable" and the car shut off. I checked the fuse box and found that the F03 Fuse had blown. I replaced the fuse and attempted to start the car again. It began normally, but then after driving 10 feet, I received the "engine unavailable" message again with a check engine light and the car no longer had power and I had to coast into a parking spot. I checked the fuse again and found it was blown. If I had not stopped in the gas station, I would have been stranded on the side of the highway, or worse yet, I would have stalled out on the highway and potentially got hit. I had my car towed to a dealership who eventually completed their inspection of the car on XXX and determined that the EGR Valve had failed (the servo motor burned out and blew the F03 Fuse). This is a well known issue on the 2nd Generation of Volts and it is likely faulty servo motors in the EGR valves. The Dealership even included in its financial assistance request to Chevy on my behalf that the EGR valve failure is a known issue. When asked if there was any preventative maintenance suggested to prevent the EGR valve from failing, the service technician indicated that there wasn't anything that I did as the end user to cause the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Front brake calipers are sticking on, causing the brake pad to engage the rotor causing excessive heat. Risk of fire when parked in garage. I have had the calipers taken apart and cleaned and greased and still have the issue. I have read many reports on message boards of the same issue with no fix.

Main Issue: Ongoing issue with stuck caliper causing the pads and wheels to overheat increasing the tire pressure to dangerous levels. The regenerative braking system is actually very effective in slowing the car when driven in L mode. If driven smartly, driver rarely have to use a lot of force using the physical brakes and rotors. Three times now, I have had issues where the front calipers were seized and the brakes were stuck causing the wheels to have visible smoke, odors and extreme temps. Perhaps they are not being used as much as normal brakes but service was done at the dealership on both cases, only to have the issue return within a year on a low mileage car. Looking at online forums, this appears to be a common issue with the Volt. Often the High Pressure Accumulator (HPA) is not properly reset during a brake job. [XXX] I have had other non EV cars with regular brakes that worked fine for > 50k miles before service, so there is clearly an issue here. Ironically, as these brakes caliper/pistons/rotors are less used due to regen, the chance of them getting stuck seems to be an issue when they are actually engaged leading to dangerous conditions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was driving my 2018 Chevy Volt at about 30 mph on EV mode. The battery was at 50%, the car was performing normally. Then the battery jumped to 100%, the check engine light came on, and the vehicle lost power. I was in rush hour traffic and unable to get the vehicle to go faster than 5-10 mph. I switched to "normal" mode to engage the gasoline engine, hoping this would help but it did not. The gas engine RPM fluctuated wildly and did not restore the ability to accelerate the vehicle. I was still unable to go faster than 5-10 mph. I was a few blocks from home and managed to get home safely. The engine code was P1E00. I put the vehicle on the charger and it seemed fine the next day. This exact situation I ran into - reduced engine power - is addressed in Special Coverage N232432680, which includes this vehicles VIN. I took the car to the GM dealer today and they are telling me that the car is fine, they can find no problems. I mentioned that this issue is covered under Special Coverage N232432680, and was told that unless they can reproduce the issue in the shop, that they cannot apply Special Coverage N232432680.

While driving northbound on a freeway downhill, my vehicle suddenly lost power and displayed a "Shift to Park" message while still in motion. I was unable to accelerate, and the engine became unresponsive. The vehicle began coasting with no power, creating a dangerous situation. A semi-truck was in the lane next to me, and a car was behind me — I nearly got into an accident while trying to safely exit the roadway. This is the second report I’ve made regarding the same issue. The unexpected "Shift to Park" malfunction while driving is a serious safety concern that needs immediate attention.

I put it in park, and try to turn off the car, but it says "Shift to Park", and won't let me turn off the car.

When the vehicle is placed in park and I attempt to turn it off, the dash will indicate the vehicle is not in park and subsequently, the vehicle cannot be turned off. Sometimes, if you wiggle the shifter or move it through all the settings (RNDL) and back to park, it will resolve the issue. Sometimes, it can take a few minutes to resolve the issue.

The Vehicle had a the BECM fail at 64,000 miles. This is a known issue that GM still refuses to recall, and is refusing to warranty

Issue Summary: The Chevy Volt has experienced recurring electrical problems, including the "Shift to Park" message, loss of power, and dead 12V battery. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership three times due to these issues. One incident involved a power loss while driving at 65 mph, which caused a near-miss with a semi-truck, posing a significant safety risk. Warranty Status: The additional warranty was purchased, but only one of the three incidents occurred while the vehicle was under warranty. Safety Concerns: The repeated electrical failures, especially while driving at high speeds, raise serious safety concerns

while driving my vehicle when the outside temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below I turn my defrost on and for 30 plus seconds my front window completely fogs up and I am unable to see out of my front window and have zero visibility which caused me to crash.

In August 2023, while driving on I-93 in Boston, car switched from Battery Mode to Engine Mode, and Driver Information Screen reported "Reduced Propulsion". Propulsion Battery charge and gasoline fuel levels were adequate such that this should not have happened. In this Reduced Propulsion state the environmental systems, i.e. Heat/Defrost/AC, become inoperative. A thunder storm overhead was pouring cold rainwater on the windshield and it became fogged inside from condensation. Because windshield Defrost was not functioning my passenger and I had no recourse but to frantically grab whatever we could to wipe away the condensation and keep some small amount of road visibility. This problem is intermittent. Car is available for inspection upon request. Reduced visibility in a moving vehicle is a safety hazard to the driver and all those in their vicinity. A dealer or service center has not been alerted. The vehicle has not been inspected for this problem. The intermittent problem of vehicle entering "Reduced Propulsion" Mode first occurred in July of 2023. I have an On Board Diagnostic (OBD) reader that always reports Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P1E00 when the problem occurs.

CHEVROLET VOLT CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN DEEP SNOW. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN IN SNOW AT A SPEED OF ONE MILE PER HOUR COVERING 6 MILES IN 6 HOURS AFTER FIRST SNOW IN NYC NOV 15, 2018. THE PROTECTIVE UNDER CARRIAGE PANEL THAT COVERS THE ELECTRICAL AND TUBING BECOMES BRITTLE AND BREAKS AWAY WHEN IMPACTED.

I RAN INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DURING NORMAL TRAFFIC ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, TWO MONTHS TO THE DAY OF PICKING UP MY 2018 VOLT. THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME MAY HAVE STOPPED QUICKLY, BUT IT WAS NOT A STOP THE VOLT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE. I WAS ON A STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I DRIVE EVERY DAY IN TRAFFIC. I HAD MENTIONED TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT THE VOLT'S BRAKES JUST DID NOT FEEL ON PAR WITH THE REST OF THE CAR AND WOULD BE THE ONLY ASPECT OF THIS EV EXPERIENCE I FOUND LACKING. I HAVE THE DATED TEXT MESSAGES TO PROVE THIS. NOW I HAVE A VOLT AT THE BODY SHOP FOR THE 5TH WEEK (LACKING AN AC LINE FOR REASSEMBLY), AN OVER 55% INCREASE IN MY INSURANCE PREMIUMS (PER THE RENEWAL NOTICE I JUST RECEIVED) AND WHAT REALLY HASN'T BEEN A GOOD EXPERIENCE. WHILE I'M WAITING FOR THE RETURN OF MY VOLT I HAVE RECEIVED THE IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL INDICATING THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE MAY BE REDUCED. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN ABLE TO STOP TWO FEET SHORTER I'D HAVE AN UNDAMAGED THREE MONTH OLD VOLT AND MY INSURANCE STANDINGS UNTARNISHED. THAT TWO FEET ENDED UP COSTING OVER $17,500 TO THE CAR. TURNS OUT VOLTS ARE ALSO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. I'M A 55 YEAR OLD MALE, NO WILD KID. STILL STUNS ME THAT IN 2018 GM CAN'T GET BRAKES RIGHT...THE MOST IMPORTANT OF SAFETY SYSTEMS.

Chevy Volts from 2016 - 2019 all have a manufacturing defect which can prevent the driver from powering - the error message is "Shift to Park". GM released a Volt Service Bulletin in May 2021 but offered no assistance to replace the defective part. On [XXX] I was driving home on [XXX] headed [XXX] from Santa Cruz in fair weather in the afternoon. This highway can be dangerous with limited shoulders and poor visibility, making it an unsafe place to pull over. While traveling at about 55 mph, the car made an alert sound and illuminated the check engine light and presented a message "Shift to Park". I was running out of room on the shoulder to pull off safely so I had to make the quick decision to pull off to the left-hand shoulder. I followed the instructions on the display which said to shift into park, followed by shifting back into drive. During this time I had my foot on the brake, but after removing my foot from the break, the vehicle began to roll towards traffic, so I put my foot back on the break. I tried powering the car off/on multiple times and tried to get the car to go back into drive but was unsuccessful. Eventually, I put the car back into park, called a tow truck driver, and waited for over an hour to have my car safely towed off [XXX]. Prior to this, I had not experienced any of these or similar symptoms. An OBD code scan was done (screenshot attached). Once at the Chevy dealership, they confirmed that the car could, at that time, shift into park and were not able to reproduce the "Shift into Park" issue. However, they reported that the car was revving high and the transmission would not shift into the proper gear ratio. The dealership was not able to fully diagnose the problem and instead suggested to replace the entire transmission as assembly and then continue investigating. We reached out to the manufacturer, Chevrolet/GM, about the issue(s) and were ed case # [XXX] while they work with the dealership to investigate further. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (F

I RAN INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DURING NORMAL TRAFFIC ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, TWO MONTHS TO THE DAY OF PICKING UP MY 2018 VOLT. THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME MAY HAVE STOPPED QUICKLY, BUT IT WAS NOT A STOP THE VOLT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE. I WAS ON A STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I DRIVE EVERY DAY IN TRAFFIC. I HAD MENTIONED TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT THE VOLT'S BRAKES JUST DID NOT FEEL ON PAR WITH THE REST OF THE CAR AND WOULD BE THE ONLY ASPECT OF THIS EV EXPERIENCE I FOUND LACKING. I HAVE THE DATED TEXT MESSAGES TO PROVE THIS. NOW I HAVE A VOLT AT THE BODY SHOP FOR THE 5TH WEEK (LACKING AN AC LINE FOR REASSEMBLY), AN OVER 55% INCREASE IN MY INSURANCE PREMIUMS (PER THE RENEWAL NOTICE I JUST RECEIVED) AND WHAT REALLY HASN'T BEEN A GOOD EXPERIENCE. WHILE I'M WAITING FOR THE RETURN OF MY VOLT I HAVE RECEIVED THE IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL INDICATING THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE MAY BE REDUCED. IF THE CAR HAD BEEN ABLE TO STOP TWO FEET SHORTER I'D HAVE AN UNDAMAGED THREE MONTH OLD VOLT AND MY INSURANCE STANDINGS UNTARNISHED. THAT TWO FEET ENDED UP COSTING OVER $17,500 TO THE CAR. TURNS OUT VOLTS ARE ALSO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. I'M A 55 YEAR OLD MALE, NO WILD KID. STILL STUNS ME THAT IN 2018 GM CAN'T GET BRAKES RIGHT...THE MOST IMPORTANT OF SAFETY SYSTEMS.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that the battery module became inoperable. While attempting to start the vehicle, the message "Engine Unavailable - Service Soon” was displayed. The contact was unable to use the vehicle. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: 18-NA-261. The contact called the local dealer and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.