This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
'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.
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.
Propulsion power reduced warning happening often. Car was brought in for diagnosis and I was told there was a sw reflash required. It continues to occur after this reflash. It is a major safety issue when this occurs while entering a highway and I cannot get up to highway speeds. It will eventually clear, maybe after 10 minutes or so, and acceleration will normalize.
My 2011 Volt frequently shows "propulsion power reduced" after the battery has been depleted and on restart. This affects performance, acceleration and thus safety for several minutes until the system rebalances itself. This condition began back in 2015 several years ago but is first noted in dealer's records at 101,000 miles. The car has 142,000 now. It has been in the shop several times asking for this condition to be repaired as the problem became more frequent. It appears to have had the software update you reference in your bulletin that may cause the problem. The condition is identical to that in your recall 18215, reference number N172130460. Please contact me for more information. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
My first problems I experience with the 2011 Chevy Volt was around October, 2014. When driving on the highway at highway speed, I received a "propulsion power reduced" indication on my dashboard and I was not able to keep up with highway traffic which resulted in a hazard for myself and other drivers. I was afraid I would be rear ended or cause an accident due to my low relative speed. This has happened several times while driving my vehicle, at times, not able to go faster than 45-55 mph on highways with 65-75 mph speed limit. I live in san diego ca where there is a lot of traffic especially on the highway. I have also review the lift gate struct "customer satisfaction" dilemma. I have had my hatch close on my head but it did not cause serious injury. It was more of an annoyance than anything else. It continues to be weak, and sometimes not keep the hatchback up at all. I have noticed it is worse at lower temperatures (40-50 degrees F). Last but not least, I received a notice from GM stating "this letter is intended to make you aware that some 2011 model year Chevrolet Volt vehicles may have increased friction in the steering system. This could cause the steering wheel to stick in the strait-ahead position after driving long distances on a straight highway. The steering wheel can be turned but it may require increased effort." Contacted GM about this notice I received and the GM represented me said there was no safety issue regarding this letter. I disagreed (how is a steering wheel lock up on the highway not a safety issue?) and requested to get out of my vehicle and into a different one that does not have the possibility of my and my family being killed by a vehicle defect. After several emails back and fourth and going to a Chevy dealership they told me to go to, the issue has not been resolved.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hazel Park , MI, USA