Most common 2012 Chevrolet Volt problems
Share of the 245 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 →
2012 Chevrolet Volt recalls (2)
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.
Service brakes
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, through April 17, 2012. Due to a brake pressure modulator valve problem, the vehicles do not relieve brake pressure from the front brakes during an anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), or…
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will install a new brake pressure modulator valve free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 12, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2012 Chevrolet Volt:
Passenger Sensing System
In September 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-013 to assess the potential safety related effects of a malfunction of the Passenger Sensing System (PSS) in 2012-2013 Model Year (MY) Chevrolet Volt vehicles. Consumers reported that due to a malfunction of the PSS, the air bag system malfunction indicator light (MIL) was activated.
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 2012 Chevrolet Volt owners say
Electrical system all 86 →
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving approximately 50-60 MPH, the Engine Failure, Mountain Mode Not Available, Battery at Zero Percent, Propulsion Power Reduced, and High Voltage messages were displayed. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle then inadvertently decelerated to 30-40 MPH. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the high-voltage battery pack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to pass the yearly vehicle inspection. The dealer loaded sample data into the computer and then drove the vehicle for 50 miles before the vehicle passed inspection. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that after entering and starting the vehicle, she became aware that the center console screen was showing a blank screen. The contact restarted the vehicle however, the failure persisted. After waiting for a few minutes, the contact drove the vehicle to her son's home to charge the vehicle and the display screen started working. The contact was concerned that the failure would recur. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.
Air bags all 86 →
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the "Service Air Bag" warning light intermittently illuminated. The contact notified a dealer about the failure and was provided a diagnostic fee. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided the same information. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Action Number: PE19013 which was linked to the failure. The NHTSA investigation was later closed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the front passenger's side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the front passenger's side air bag Passenger Sensor System was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the part to repair the vehicle had been discontinued and no repair was available. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the part was discontinued. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 37 →
2012 Chevy Volt, has been stalling out on the highway since it was brand new, every 6 months. It has been to the Chevrolet dealer many times and they just reset it and move on. In every case the car works for a short time, 6 to 8 months max and dies out again. They have updated the software many times, but nothing has changed it. It keeps stalling out on the interstate with high speed traffic, a severe hazard. Chevy dealerships have never been able to get to the core of the issue. The last time it died, the dealer said they did not know what else to do and told me to call GM. I have every receipt of this happening. The last time this happened is today, 9/29/2021 and has happened 3 times in the last month now. My wife and kids life was at risk several times with this car. It is an extreme safety hazard.
7/6/2024 Was driving 45 mph on a busy road (running only on the gas engine of this plug-in hybrid). Propulsion Power Reduced message showed near the speedometer. My speed was immediately decreased. The check engine light also came on. Despite pressing the gas pedal, the speed could not be maintained and I had to pull off quickly before causing an accident. Luckily, no accident occurred but I fear would could have happened if I wasn't in the right place to pull over quickly. After getting the car towed to a Chevy dealership, they diagnosed the problem as being with the hybrid battery - it needs to be replaced. I don't understand why I had a full tank of gas, was running on gas, and that a bad EV battery would cause ALL propulsion to stop so quickly.
2012 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 2012 Chevrolet Volt a good car?
Based on 245 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Volt rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Volt at the same age. It is one of the Volt years we suggest avoiding. 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 2012 Chevrolet Volt?
The electrical system — 86 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the air bags (86) and fuel & propulsion system (37).
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Volt have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2012 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 2012 Chevrolet Volt problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 28% 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.