2011 Chevrolet Volt

49 complaints on file, page 1 of 3.

1. Filed Oct 20, 2025Failure Aug 20, 202597,000 milesWillmar, MNExterior lighting

   The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that water was accumulating inside the driver's side taillight assembly. The contact stated that the water caused a short circuit in the taillight, and the passenger’s side turn signal became inoperable. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and determined that the wiring harness for the driver's side taillight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11694484
2. Filed Aug 4, 2025Failure Jul 30, 2025Cincinnati, OHService brakesCrash

   I was stopped at a red light with my foot on the brake. When the light turned green, I released the brake and the car suddenly accelerated forward on its own, without me touching the accelerator. As soon as the car surged forward, I immediately pressed the brake pedal hard to stop it but instead of slowing down, the car continued to accelerate. It felt like pressing the brake was making it worse. The car was totally out of my control. The vehicle collided with tow truck and even after the impact, the engine was still revving as if it was trying to keep going. I had to shut the car off to stop it completely. There were no warning lights or error messages before or during the malfunction. The front end of my car was damaged in the crash. No one was injured, but the malfunction could have easily caused serious harm or death. This was not user error it was a terrifying mechanical and electronic failure. The car accelerated on its own and the brakes failed or possibly triggered more acceleration. I have never experienced anything like this. After looking online, I found other Volt owners reporting similar problems involving brake assist failure, unintended acceleration, and stuck revving. This looks like a serious pattern that deserves urgent attention. I’m asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and General Motors to immediately investigate this issue. I want to know if there are any recalls, technical service bulletins (TSBs), or known defects related to brake failure or unintended acceleration in the 2011 Chevy Volt. Please contact me with next steps. This is a major safety risk that could easily result in fatalities if not addressed.

   NHTSA complaint 11678156
3. Filed Apr 26, 2024Failure Apr 21, 2024Julian, CAElectrical system

   Driver display is blank (no speed, gear position, odometer, gas tank, etc), with the exception of some warning icons like tire pressure and passenger seat belt status. Does no return after turning off power.

   NHTSA complaint 11585428
4. Filed Jan 20, 2024Failure Jan 20, 2024Hazel Park, MIEngine, Fuel/propulsion system, 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
5. Filed Dec 29, 2023Failure Feb 17, 2023Lady Lake, FLFuel/propulsion system

   The car quit running when my wife was driving the car when the mileage range went down to 4 miles range remaining. The car was towed to the local Chevrolet dealership who charged over $1,000 to reset the electronics so car would run. I was advised that if battery range was run down to a low mileage range that car would quit running again and that it would have to be towed back to the dealership for the electronics to be reset. I was concerned about liability if anyone drove car and it stopped on highway. It was clear to me that the only way out of potential liability, associated with the car stopping on the highway was to sell the car for salvage. I purchased this Chevrolet Volt Premier new. It was never in a collision or damaged in any way. The car was sold for with approximately 81,000 miles for $2,013.

   NHTSA complaint 11562597
6. Filed Sep 14, 2023Failure Aug 25, 202390,000 milesConcord, CAEngine

   The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormal whining sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11544532
7. Filed Dec 16, 2022Failure Jan 15, 2020Jadwin, MOElectrical heating element

   The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the defroster failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer replaced the heating system module; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

   NHTSA complaint 11497799
8. Filed Jun 16, 2022Failure Jun 16, 2022Grass Lake, MIService brakes

   Several times over the 2 years I have owned this vehicle while driving an almost complete loss of braking occurs with a service notice for the ABS system. If you turn off the ignition and restart it the braking works fine. I am in the process of having the Electronic Brake Control Module - GM (84070136) and the Brake Pressure Modulator Valve - GM (23283683) replaced. i believe that there is a design flaw in this system in that a problem of the ABS should not eliminating the ability to stop the vehicle. This is costing me $3500, but the point is that loss of braking is a serious safety issue and should be addressed by the manufacturer. Thank you.

   NHTSA complaint 11469570
9. Filed Oct 9, 2021Failure Oct 6, 2021Austin, TXElectrical system

   Driver instrument panel went blank. Speedometer, fuel/battery gauge, odometer, etc are all gone. The screen display light lit on and off in the background without any information.

   NHTSA complaint 11436185
10. Filed Aug 23, 2021Failure Aug 20, 2021San Diego, CAAir bags, Seats

    FOR UNKNOWN REASON CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. NO ONE SITS IN PASSENGER SEAT AND THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN WET.

    NHTSA complaint 11430167
11. Filed Jul 13, 2021Failure Jul 13, 2021Perris, CAElectrical system

    Charging station over heated and the plug burnt my wall plug

    NHTSA complaint 11424711
12. Filed Nov 6, 2020Failure May 2, 202053,000 milesRiver Forest, ILAir bags, Electrical system, Seats

    SINCE THE SPRING OF 2020, "SERVICE AIR BAG" WARNING COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, RELATED TO PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. WARNING GENERALLY COMES ON AT STARTUP, IF IT APPEARS. NO FLUIDS HAVE BEEN SPILLED ON THE SEAT, AND NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE SEAT. I AM THE SECOND OWNER, PURCHASED FROM FRIEND, CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND SERVICED REGULARLY. ONLINE SEARCH SUGGESTS THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE SAME ISSUE, AND THAT DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR CAN BE $500 TO $1000. I HAVE NOT HAD A CHEVROLET DEALER DIAGNOSE THIS ISSUE SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT. CURRENT MARKET VALUE OF VEHICLE (55K MILES, OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION, A GREAT CAR TO DRIVE) MAKES COST OF REPAIR DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY, ESPECIALLY IF IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING.

    NHTSA complaint 11373533
13. Filed Sep 24, 2020Failure Sep 18, 20191 milesHudson, WIElectrical system

    THE HEAT WILL NOT WORK IN THE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS USING THE BATTERY - HEAT WILL ONLY WORK WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.

    NHTSA complaint 11360870
14. Filed Sep 24, 2020Failure Sep 24, 202010 milesHudson, WIAir bags

    THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS TURNED AND AIRBAG SENSOR IS BAD. PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT ILLUMINATE AND WORK FOR SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

    NHTSA complaint 11360869
15. Filed Aug 30, 2020Failure Aug 29, 2020201,314 milesSAN Jose, CAElectrical system

    INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WHICH DISPLAYS SPEED, ODOMETER AND FUEL LEVER AMONG OTHER SAFETY INFORMATION, STARTED TO GLITCH TOWARDS THAT END OF A TRIP OF ABOUT TWO HOURS. AT FIRST THE SCREEN WOULD FLICKER BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY REBOOT AND THE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE SHORTLY AFTER. NEXT MORNING THE SCREEN WOULD TURN ON SLOWLY AT FIRST, BUT THEN IT WENT OUT AGAIN AND NEVER STARTED AGAIN EVER SINCE.

    NHTSA complaint 11352164
16. Filed Aug 13, 2020Failure Aug 10, 2020125,000 milesBuford, GAUnknown or other

    DRIVER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. CAN NOT SEE SPEED, BATTERY CHARGE, FUEL LEVEL, TIRE PRESSURE, OR ANY OTHER WARNING. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH OUT SPEED AND FUEL REMAINING.

    NHTSA complaint 11349072
17. Filed Jun 18, 2020Failure Jun 18, 2020117,000 milesConcord, NCElectrical system

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.*BF*JB

    NHTSA complaint 11329552
18. Filed Jan 9, 2020Failure Jan 9, 2020Jackson, NJElectrical system

    WHEN BELOW FREEZING OUT MAIN DISPLAY CONTAINING SPEED, DIRECTIONAL, GEAR SELECT, TIRE PRESSURE AND FUEL IS BLACK. ONLY AFTER TEMP GOES ABOVE FREEZING DOES DISPLAY GO BACK TO NORMAL.

    NHTSA complaint 11298161
19. Filed Nov 21, 2019Failure Nov 6, 201981,000 milesNEW Bern, NCAir bags

    'SERVICE AIRBAG' CHIME AND LIGHT COMING ON, ROUTINELY, EVEN WITH OR WITH ANYBODY IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO A DEALER YET SINCE I HAVE BEEN READING FORUM INPUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SEEING HUGE COST TO REPAIR. CAR HAS ONLY 81K MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN FLOODED OR HAD WATER ON THE SEAT(PASSENGER).

    NHTSA complaint 11281492
20. Filed Sep 24, 2019Failure Aug 21, 2019134,458 milesOrem, UTAir bags

    AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED DUE TO A FAILED SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HAD TO REPLACE WITH A USED SEAT.

    NHTSA complaint 11257702