AI Damage2016 Chevrolet Volt: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Volt filed 170 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel/propulsion system. The maker issued 927 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 170
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 927
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 45% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 38% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 30% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 28% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 2% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 2% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 1% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 77 complaints (45% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 255.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 64 complaints (38% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Powertrain: 51 complaints (30% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 73.
- Engine: 48 complaints (28% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 63.
- Vehicle speed control: 6 complaints (4% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · plug-in hybrid · 4 cyl
- CVT
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 170 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 77 | 1 | 255 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 64 | 0 | 9 |
| Powertrain | 51 | 0 | 73 |
| Engine | 48 | 0 | 63 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 2 | 21 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Air bags | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 67 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 20 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 18 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
No start. Stuck in middle of street. Yes. Confirmed by dealership service department that becm is bad. Check engine, propulsion reduced, shift to park. Started appearing intermittently around 84000 miles.
This failure caused the vehicle to enter a "reduced power mode" and subsequently resulted in a no-start and no-charge condition. The sudden loss of propulsion power presents a severe safety and crash risk, as the vehicle can lose motive power and stall unexpectedly while in transit.
Issue may be BECM which has extended warranty service but dealer not addressing the issue of car stalling but instead other costly minor issues leaving the vehicle a safety concern. Replacing battery with a bad BECM would lead to exact same issue
The engine light came on, but the car would run and so took it to the dealer. They determined that the EGR valve had failed and would cost $2400 to repair. Apparently, this is a common failure point for Generation 2 Chevy Volts. If it might trigger a forced recall, I'd like to add this to the list.
The car will not start and when it does start it has loss of power while driving. Chevy is only fixing certain VIN numbers even thou it pulls up the same codes in their bulletin. Chevy only gave extended warranties to certain VIN numbers also. Extra warranty bulletin N232432680.
The last time that I had driven the car, the heater would not turn off, and the smell of burnt rubber filled the car and then dissipated soon after. The car would only run in it's gas engine mode, and not switch over to electric mode, as it usually would. The next morning, the car would not start.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 385 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Volt has 283 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 170, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and…
This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
- This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be…
This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
NHTSA lists 927 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Volt?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, powertrain. Total complaints: 170. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (24%), loss of power / limp mode (11%), won't start (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt?
NHTSA lists 927 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Chevrolet Volt from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.