Chevrolet Volt

916 complaints across 9 scored model years and 8 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Chevrolet Volt Full report

Grade 2011–2019

2017 vs model median 6.8×

Model median3× median

Electrical 108

Drivetrain 104

Fuel System 39

Avoid

2017 · 2018

Best

2011 · 2015

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Severity-weighted complaint volume and grade by model year for the Chevrolet Volt
Year	vs median	Reports	Grade
2011	0.27×	14	A
2012	1.62×	87	D
2013	1.69×	91	D
2014	0.76×	45	B
2015	0.49×	30	A
2016	1.00×	67	B
2017	6.82×	423	F
2018	2.10×	127	D
2019	0.62×	32	B

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

EPA fuel economy and drivetrain
Combined MPG	42
City / Highway	43 / 42
Engine	1.5L, 4 cyl
Drive	Front-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost	$1,450

Recalls

8 campaigns on record.

Recall campaigns, largest first
Campaign	Component	Model years	Units affected
18V576000	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER	2018, 2019	210,628
15V145000	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION	2011–2013	50,236
18V673000	SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER	2018, 2019	15,800
18V397000	HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM	2013	4,606
23V516000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE	2013	767
17V621000	AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	2016	16
15V442000	STEERING	2015	10
13V271000	ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	2012	4

Others in Compact Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Other models in the same segment
Model	Years to avoid	Grade
Acura ILX	20142016	C
Audi A3	20152017	C
BMW 1 Series	none flagged	C
BMW I3	none flagged	C
Buick Verano	none flagged	C
Chevrolet Bolt EV	2017	C
Chevrolet Cobalt	none flagged	C
Chevrolet Cruze	20112012	C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2017 Volt

Complaints in window: 423
Severity-weighted: 631
Model median (weighted): 92
vs model median: 6.82×
Recall campaigns (weighted): 0
Open investigations: 0

Score 25 F