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.
Upon attempting to start the car, displayed "Propulsion Power Is Reduced" error message and "Check Engine" light came on, and the car failed to start. Mission Bay Chevrolet on Morena Blvd in San Diego repaired the car by replacing the BECM. This repair was covered under the Voltec warranty, so I was not charged for it, but lost usage of the car for 18 days it was in the shop. November 8-26, 2021.
On 8/3/ 2023, my 2018 Chevrolet Volt lost propulsion power while I was camping in the Lassen National Forest near Susanville, CA. I was leaving my campsite when I was on the way to Bend, OR when the car lost power and went into limp mode. It was a two lane road on CA 36 without a shoulder, so I was stuck on a travel lane. I was able to turn the car off and on for a few seconds where I would reach a maximum speed of about 15 mph for about 5-10 seconds before the car would go into limp mode again. I did this for about 20 to 30 times until I reached an incline and the car did not have enough power to inch up the hill, so I had to push the car down the travel lane to the nearest open space I could find that would not block the travel lane. After walking two miles to get cell phone reception, I was able to contact AAA where then towed my vehicle two hours south to the nearest Chevrolet dealership in Reno, NV (Champion Chevrolet). I had to rent a car to continue my trip and eventually get back home. On 8/21/2023, I was contacted by Champion Chevrolet and was told that the issue was the issue was the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) and that was going to be covered under warranty. However, they noted that the BECM was on national backorder and that there was no ETA for when they would receive the part. Because of this, I had to extend my rental for the month at a cost of about $1,800 to be able to get home to Los Angeles. As I write this on 12/1/2023, I have still not received my vehicle from the dealership and the part is still not available. I've now lost almost 4 months of use of my car and still make payments on it, after I purchased it at lease end. The car had about 55,000 miles on the odometer when the car stopped working and the BECM issue was discovered. The status on the part for my car is still backordered with no ETA. After reading GMs claims they have sufficient replacements in supply, I write this complaint to call their bluff, as no parts are available.
BECM (Battery Energy Control Module) failed. Initially received check engine light, reduced propulsion power, and battery not available warnings but was able to drive via the internal combustion engine. Within 24 hours, car was completely dead in my driveway and would not drive at all on either propulsion system. Ended up having to have it towed to the dealership where the faulty BECM was diagnosed and replaced under warranty.
The vehicle has a failure of the BECM and the EGR valve and cooler. Both parts are unavailable. I've been without my car for over a month. The service center cannot tell me when parts will be available.
The car lost propulsion while driving on an on-ramp road onto an interstate, luckily the car was able to make it the shoulder. Vehicle slowed to below 40mph and intermittently down to 0mph when waiting and restarting vehicle. Able to finally get home in the emergency lane. VERY DANGEROUS and do not recommend! The check engine light was not on prior to this and it was taken to the dealership where it diagnosed as a faulty battery energy control module (BECM). The part is under warranty and awaiting replacement, but no spare parts are currently available. Internet review indicates an average of 3 months or 90-day until part received, serviced, installed, and repaired. Dealership without loaner car until November 22nd. Unacceptable customer service per previous GM rules to have a rental available and did not offer a rental service alternative upon drop off of the 2018 Volt.
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
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When the vehicle is placed in park and I attempt to turn it off, the dash will indicate the vehicle is not in park and subsequently, the vehicle cannot be turned off. Sometimes, if you wiggle the shifter or move it through all the settings (RNDL) and back to park, it will resolve the issue. Sometimes, it can take a few minutes to resolve the issue. It's getting worse. If you can't shut off car someone can steal it, you also can't lock doors.
The BECM (Battery Electric Charging Module) is failing, and making my Chevrolet Volt unsafe to drive. I can't get over 35 miles per hour on the highway, and it stops driving on electricity randomly. Going from 25 miles to saying 0 miles of EV charge while driving on the road. It also says "reduced propulsion", and has a hard time accelerating from a complete stop.
While driving my 2018 chevy volt I received a reduced propulsion error. I pulled over to assess and turn off the car and turn it back on only to find when I turned it back on I received an enginer failure error and the car would not drive forward or reverse. I had to have it towed to a Chevy dealership for evaluation. I understand from research and talking to service experts this is a common failure among the 2017 and 2018 Chevy volt and it is abhorrent that Chevy has not issued a recall on a common failure that compromises the safety of the driver and other drivers around them.
My 2018 Chevrolet Volt has a defective Battery Energy Control Module (BECM). Because of the defect my car lost all propulsion while I was driving. Neither battery motor nor gasoline engine would work and the car would not switch between the two. I was literally stuck in the roadway (fortunately not on a highway. The Check Engine light was on. I was able to barely get the vehicle to a GM dealer, where they diagnosed a defective BECM. The part is apparently on back order and some owners have waited months for the part to arrive. This is a serious safety issue by potentially causing a vehicle to lose power while operating in traffic.
Although the battery showed fully charged, the vehicle was not using battery power. At various points I would receive a "propulsion power reduced warning" and the car would lose power. I was driving on 2-lane windy country roads with no passing zones and lots of hills. At one particularly steep hill, I received the warning light and the car started lowing power again. By the time I reached the crest, the car had nearly come to a complete standstill. I have no doubt had I not reached it at that point, the car would have lost all power and begun rolling backward. The speed limit on this road is 55mph with several blind curves and hills, so the potential for a serious collision was great had it begun to roll back. When I reached my destination and turned off the car and restarted it again, it would only shift to neutral. It is now at the dealership where it was diagnosed as needing the BECM replaced.
To begin, I will set the scene of my experience. I was traveling east bound on 84 in northeast PA on my way to Long Island for work meetings that day. I was about one hour and a half away from my home at roughly 6am. I was traveling at apx. 70 mph when my car suddenly says "engine unavailable, reduced propulsion." and the fueld tank turned yellow in color on my dashboard. Then a sign said "service soon." My car then COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. My speed fell from 75 mph or so to 0 in a matter of a minute, I had no idea what was happening because there were no appropriate warnings such as, "Pull over immediately" or "SAFETY CONCERN PLEASE GET OFF THE HIGHWAY" -I would have taken anything to know that this was an actual emergency and I needed to at least get to a shoulder. I luckily was able to come to a stop mostly off the highway in a shoulder. I was located around a bend, in the pitch black, unable to stay in my car out of fear I would be smashed by a tractor trailer or car that did not see my car suddenly stopped. The car would not go in neutral or anything other than park and I left the hazards on (they eventually failed). I called my husband who drove to me while I stood on the side of the highway for an hour and a half in 30 degree weather. I called the police who were eventually able to put up flares and mark me as a hazard on the road. If there was a car traveling behind me, I would have been killed or seriously injured because I slowed so suddenly and had no way of knowing that this was an absolute emergency. The worst part is that this is the second BECM failure in my volt and I have driven less than 1000miles since it was repaired the first time (which took >5 months). The first time this happened my car was on a quiet town road and my brother who was driving just parked and had it towed. He hadn't thought there were any warnings but he wasn't sure. This time, I could have been smashed on the hwy with little to no warning. I can't believe Im alive.
Reduc d propulsion power warning while driving in EV mode. ICE started and was able to make it 1/2 mile home. Failure diagnosed to a faulty BECM. Has been at the dealer for 1 month today with no word on when the part or repair will be done.
Ntsb should require a recall of certain Chevrolet Volts. As an owner I received a letter from Chevrolet stating that my Volt 'may have a condition where it could gradually lose the ability to maintain voltage. If battery concerns are not addressed, over time the vehicle could enter a reduced propulsion mode while driving, or lose propulsion, or it may not start.' Losing propulsion while driving is a serious safety issue, and warrants a recall. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving the vehicle at around 60 mph, the 'check engine' light came on and a message saying 'shift to park' appears on the dashboard. Once the vehicle was stopped at the traffic light, the driver shifted to park and was not able to pull down to drive again. Vehicle was stranded in the middle of the road while cars were approaching from behind with high speed. After repeated attempts to press the vehicle 'start' button, we finally were able to pull down to neutral and pushed the vehicle to the side of the road. Vehicle needed to be towed to dealership for diagnosis.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Diego, CA, USA