AI Damage2019 Chevrolet Volt: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Chevrolet Volt filed 34 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. The maker issued 482 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 34
- involving a crash
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 482
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 47% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 32% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 9% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 3% of all complaints
- 7 Forward collision avoidance 3% of all complaints
- 8 Seats 3% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 16 complaints (47% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 47.
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (32% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 109.
- Engine: 3 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 25.
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
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 34 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 16 | 1 | 47 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 2 | 109 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 25 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 2 | 11 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 191 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 43 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 34 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 24 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
There were no warning light prior. The car has less than 28,000 miles and relatively new tires.
Was approaching an intersection with a stoplight that was red. Another car stopped at light. Applied brakes, but car slowed down only slightly, no matter how hard the brake pedal was applied. It was like braking on black ice, even though the cars wheels were still going around. Rear ended the car at the light.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the battery high-voltage disconnect relay. The vehicle was not repaired due to a lack of part availability.
Driver seat frame has a loud squeak during normal operation of vehicle. Driver seat is a critical safety item, and my concern is that the seat frame has a manufacturing defect.
1) In December, 2023, the EV battery was drained and the car would not start based on the gas motor. The dealer fixed it in our recollection. 2) On [XXX], I was driving the car out of a Detroit Convention Center parking lot, going up the ramp when the car, with no warning, completely lost power and stopped.
I was driving 70 mph when I suddenly received the error messages above on my dashboard screen. The vehicle immediately had power from 70 mph quickly going below 59 mph. The traffic was extremely high and I had to quickly use my hazard flashes and carefully maneuver to the right shoulder of the frwy.
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.
Vehicle has developed an intermittent issue when placed in park. Displays a message "Attention Needed: Shift to Park" accompanied by audio alerts inside and outside of the vehicle. This is obviously unsafe as the vehicle cannot be parked and turned off reliably.
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 1,029 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 49% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Volt has 283 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 34, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
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 Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic…
This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic module with no DTC'ss
- This Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue with the Telematic…
- 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…
NHTSA lists 482 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 2019 Chevrolet Volt?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 34. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (18%), loss of power / limp mode (9%), won't start (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Chevrolet Volt?
NHTSA lists 482 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 2019 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 2019 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.