44 of the 2,964 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Volt are about the steering — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2017.
44
Complaints
1%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
STEERING
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
NHTSA complaint #11754026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
I am reporting a series of safety concerns regarding my 2017 Chevy Volt, which have persisted despite multiple attempts to address them with the dealership. These issues pose significant risks to my safety and that of others on the road. On January 18th, 2024, I brought my vehicle to the dealer after experiencing reduced propulsion power while driving on the highway, coupled with the illumination of the check engine light. The mechanic performed a quick inspection and used a GM scan tool to diagnose the issue, revealing the code P1E00 for the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2, which was cleared without a thorough investigation. I was advised to return if the issue reoccurred. Despite the reset, the problem persisted, and on February 9th, 2024, I scheduled another appointment due to my Chevy Volt's High Voltage battery charging only to 65% capacity despite indicating a full charge. Subsequently, on February 11th, 2024, the check engine light illuminated again, and on February 12th, 2024, November 25th, 2025, and January 11th, 2026, while driving to work, both times I experienced a loss of propulsion power on the highway, placing my safety at risk and lost all power in a traveling lane of traffic. These ongoing issues with propulsion power and the high-voltage battery charging system are not only inconvenient but also potentially dangerous. Despite multiple visits to the dealership and attempts to diagnose and resolve the problem, it persists, indicating a systemic issue that requires immediate attention. The reduced propulsion power while driving on the highway, coupled with the illumination I urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate this matter thoroughly to ensure the safety of Chevy Volt drivers and passengers. It is imperative that General Motors addresses these issues promptly and implements appropriate measures to prevent further incidents.
NHTSA complaint #11710367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
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
NHTSA complaint #11652364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while the daughter was driving in reverse the warning message "Reduced Propulsion" had displayed and suddenly the power steering failed and the vehicle lurched backward and crashed into a utility pole. During the incident, the driver pressed the brake pedal but the vehicle did not stop. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The daughter was able to drive the vehicle home in "Limp" Mode. The contact later examined the vehicle and diagnosed that the engine battery ECM had failed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the manufacturer's extended coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was 89,800.
NHTSA complaint #11614848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
On [XXX] while traveling at highway speed my Chevrolet volt abruptly lost propulsion and an alert was displayed to pull over and turn car off. I was on [XXX] in California a 4 lane highway forced to cross 3 lanes of traffic at an exceptionally slow speed in heavy traffic. It is a miracle a crash did not occur. Fortunately other drivers were aware and able to stop or quickly change lanes. AAA towed directly to Stewart Chevrolet in Colma Ca. It was diagnosed and I was advised it is under warranty HOWEVER parts are on back order. Today [XXX] ~ the car still has not been repaired and I have been advised parts will not ship until September 2024. This is both dangerous and unacceptable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11579412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
Propulsion error, steering wheel locked up today, last week shut off to dead stop while idling, trouble restarting. Speed and sudden battery drop issues. 14 miles without any power steering. Unsafe.
NHTSA complaint #11574375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
'11 Chevy Volt hybrid was daily driver of 100+ miles, multiple trips both highway and city for last 2 1/2 months. Breaks and rotors have been replaced all the way around, fresh oil changes as needed and filters. Warning on dash "Service High Voltage Charging System", ”Service Airbag" and check engine light have been on since I've owned it (Oct. 23). When plug car in it doesn't charge, but the EV charges while driving. Car generally switches back and forth from EV to ICE without issues. No other issues have been noted. 1/18/24 Start car and drive all day for work. Total of 129 miles between 22 trips. Last trip car sat for 30 minutes after running deliveries all day. Started as normal, turned off at gas station, filled tank with premium, restarted and drive to freeway. Drove 20 miles, pulled over to text, put car in park. 5 mins later took out of park and car wouldn't move. Inside had complete power, radio, windows, ect. Only noticable difference was car would get no acceleration, power steering went out, and heat started blowing cooler air. Absolutely no warning and car just cuts off engines. Thankfully I was parked safe. Towed home, replaced 12v. Started and drove no problem on 1/19/24. No new warnings or anything different. Started up 1/20/24 drove 7 miles and the engines cut off in the middle of a main road while accelerating, once again no warning. Luckily got into turn lane before almost getting hit. Still not sure what's wrong with car. Same codes. No battery warning or loss of power indication at all. Just up and cuts off. This is very very dangerous and needs to be looked into please. When my volt died today the truck behind me had to slam on his brakes and came inches from hitting me. If this would've happen on the freeway, I'd likely been hit.
NHTSA complaint #11566740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
I was driving and then the car turned off and was unable to restart. There was no warning. The car was fine and then it wasn't. The power steering also stops working. Fortunately I was at a red light and not in the intersection yet. The check engine light wasn't on. The BECM (battery control module) failed. I had to get the car towed to the dealership for the repair. The dealership repaired the issue for free since I was still under warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11561253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
While driving home one evening, the power steering suddenly failed. A warning message displayed to service the power steering. It became very difficult to steer the car. I had to pull extremely hard on the wheel to be able to make turns. For the turn into my community, I had to make four attempts to get the car to clear the turn through the entrance gate, needing to back up repeatedly and retry. Fortunately I did make it home safely and shut the car down. I made an emergency repair appointment for the next day at a Chevrolet dealership. In the morning the power steering was back. The car was inspected at the dealership. They told me a software update was needed and they charged me $450 to do that.
NHTSA complaint #11559330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle sputtered and independently turned to the right. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road and became aware that the vehicle was smoking. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 80,200.
NHTSA complaint #11551382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
While driving after the electric battery is used and switches over to gas, I have been getting the check engine, ABS, steering, parking, and brake lights. I have lost power steering, lost the speedometer, lost fuel range, lost stabilitrak, it has randomly turned on the emergency brake while all these other things are happening, It also has said “shift to park”, propulsion power reduced. I have taken it to the dealer and they read some of the codes but say they can’t find anything wrong and they need to be able to reproduce the problem to find it. I lost all propulsion and pulled over and turned it off and it stopped with a “clunk.” Then I turn it back on and just the check engine light is on. I’m very afraid to drive it but with the lack of vehicles available to buy and the dealer not knowing how to fix it I don’t know what to do.
NHTSA complaint #11549089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
While driving down the freeway, the steering starting chattering. After a few miles, the steering became erratic and would not stay centered. I exited the freeway, and halfway through the offramp turn, the power steering completely failed. This cause the car to become very hard to steer.
NHTSA complaint #11515868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
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.
NHTSA complaint #11438705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING INTO BALTIMORE CITY ON I-95. WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT. THE POWER RETURNED AT THE END OF THE WORK DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE ALL DAY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT FOUND "SCAN CODE C056D FOUND BULLETIN 18-NA-313".
NHTSA complaint #11375073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHEN MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LAG TO GET UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WITH THE WHEELS BEING POWERED BY THE ELECTRIC ENGINE, THE RESPONSE HAD ALWAYS BEEN INSTANT, UNTIL TODAY. AFTER ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION, I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DASH READ "SHIFT TO PARK," EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS IN PARK.I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, AND THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR TO DRIVE, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT PROPEL THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. I AGAIN SHIFTED TO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR BACK UP, AND THE FUEL ENGINE TURNED ON THIS TIME, BUT I RECEIVED A MESSAGE SAYING THE CAR WAS NOT CHARGING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, AS IT USUALLY DOES AFTER THE BATTERIES ARE SUFFICIENTLY CHARGED. I DROVE ABOUT 3 MILES ON SURFACE STREETS AND THE FUEL ENGINE REMAINED ON THE ENTIRE TIME. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LAG IN RESPONSE TIME BETWEEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BATTERIES CHARGING UP ENOUGH TO PROPEL THE CAR, CAUSING AN UNSAFE RESPONSE TIME IN MERELY GETTING THE VEHICLE GOING AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT AND TURNING ONTO A NEW STREET.
NHTSA complaint #11329981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. MESSAGE SAYING "SERVICE POWER STEERING" CAME UP, CAD ONLY HAS 28K MILES ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. DEALER SAYS I MUST REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY. MULTIPLE PEOPLE ONLINE HAVING MY SAME PROBLEM, ALL UNDER 30K MILES.
NHTSA complaint #11301161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE MESSAGE SERVICE STABILITRAK SUDDENLY DISPLAYED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN TURNED AS A RESULT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A BLUFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SORE BODY DUE TO THE IMPACT AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT SOUGHT. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE LOCAL DEALER (UNKNOWN) WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BUT THE FAILURE EXPERIENCED WAS NOT DISCUSSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.
NHTSA complaint #11299570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LATCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HELD THE STEERING UP IN ORDER FOR THE STEERING COLUMN TO STAY IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE STEERING COLUMN AND CONFIRMED THAT THE LATCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (TITUS-WILL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC 2425 CARRIAGE LOOP SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502 (888) 528-3416) AND WAS INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 61,368.
NHTSA complaint #11299376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PEARL MOTOR COMPANY (3100 S CLARK ST, MEXICO, MO 65265, (573) 567-4254) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE KEY FOBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE KEY FOBS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED RELAY WAS FINALLY REPLACED AND PROBLEM SOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #11288352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED - ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK AND IT WOULD HAVE IT IT HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC OR PARKING GARAGE OR ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE MANEUVER. THE CAR IS 3 YRS AND 3 MONTHS OLD WITH APPROX 28,000 EASY MILES- THE FIRST 2017 IN SPOKANE DELIVERED IN 2016 (YES, A 2017 BUILT IN EARLY 2016). THE LT VERSION. HAPPENED AFTER TYPICAL CITY DRIVE ON ALL ELECTRIC IN MODEST TEMPERATURES AND CLEAR WEATHER AND RUNNING ON ELECTRIC. MY WIFE WAS TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND IT FELT LIKE THE STEERING LOCKED BUT I BELIEVE IT JUST TURNED VERY HARD AT LOW SPEED WITH NO POWER ASSIST. NO WARNING. AFTER THIS OCCURRED SHE POWERED DOWN AND POWERED BACK ON THE CAR AND THERE WAS A MESSAGE SAYING "POWER STEERING IS WORKING, DRIVE CAREFULLY" SO CAME IN AND TOLD ME BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WORKING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT RECOVERED IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND WORKED LIKE NORMAL FOR A FEW DAYS NOW. SHE DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VOLT NOW. FTI ANOTHER SAME MODEL VOLT LT DELIVERED TO LOCAL DEALER IN THE SAME BATCH OF VOLTS, THE THIRD VOLT DELIVERED TO SAME LOCAL DEALER, HAD MANY MANY MORE ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING. I LOVE MY VOLT, AN OTHERWISE GREAT SAFE AND WELL HANDLING CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11220807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.