Most common 2011 Chevrolet Volt problems
Share of the 49 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Volt complaints by model year
Best Volt years: 2011, 2015, 2019. Years to avoid: 2017, 2013, 2018, 2012. Compare all years →
2011 Chevrolet Volt recalls (1)
Electrical system › Ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Volt vehicles manufactured August 25, 2010, to June 26, 2013. If the driver exits the vehicle without turning off the electrical system, the battery may drain low enough that the gasoline engine will automatically start itself to recharge the electric battery.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine management software to limit the time that the stationary vehicle can be left in the ON position, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2015.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2011 Chevrolet Volt:
Post-Crash EV Fire Hazard
The subject vehicles, which employ emerging technology, are range-extended electric vehicles that utilize a high voltage (HV) battery to provide energy for propulsion. The HV battery is lithium-ion based technology that has a nominal full charge of 390 VDC, a 16 kWh capacity, and a control system that incorporates liquid (antifreeze) cooling and various electronic devices (control modules, sensors, wiring, etc) to…
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2011 Chevrolet Volt owners say
Electrical system all 23 →
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.
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.
Air bags
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.
'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).
Fuel & 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.
'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. …
2011 Chevrolet Volt engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | CVT | FWD | 35 / 40 / 37 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Volt a good car?
Based on 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Volt rates better than average: 80% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Volt at the same age. It is one of the best Volt years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt?
The electrical system — 23 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the air bags (8) and fuel & propulsion system (7).
How many recalls does the 2011 Chevrolet Volt have?
There is 1 recall for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the most recent from March 13, 2015 (ignition). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Volt?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2015 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2013, 2018 and 2012. See the full Chevrolet Volt years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Chevrolet Volt problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 37% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.