Most common 2017 Chevrolet Volt problems
Share of the 702 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 →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2017 Chevrolet Volt:
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE23022 to investigate allegations of a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM).
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 2017 Chevrolet Volt owners say
Electrical system all 313 →
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH the message "low brake fluid" suddenly displayed before multiple warning lights began to illuminate and the vehicle stalled. While the vehicle was coasting on the shoulder the contact discovered that the braking system had malfunctioned and the vehicle did not stop when pressing the brake pedal. After coasting to a stop the contact noticed smoke coming from the front end of the vehicle. Eventually, the flames engulfed the front end of the vehicle and the fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A fire report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, another unknown vehicle crashed into his vehicle which went airborne and over the median. There were no warning lights to illuminate. A police report was not filed. There was no reported fire or air bag deployment. The contact sustained injuries to his neck and back and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to a body shop who informed him the battery was scratched. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where the battery electronic module was damaged due to being dropped. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 241 →
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 - 40 MPH, the message stating that the propulsion was reduced was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle, and the vehicle unintendedly decelerated. The contact arrived at the destination and parked the vehicle, and the message "Shift to Park" was displayed even though the gear shifter was in park(P). The message "Charging Unavailable" was displayed. The contact stated that while charging the vehicle, the mileage was reduced from 72 miles to approximately 29 miles during the winter months, and 42 miles during the summer months, while still indicating a FULL charge. The "Shift to Park" failure had occurred twice the previous year, and the vehicle was turned off and restarted to correct the failure. …
The contact 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle switched over from battery to fuel and a message was displayed that there was no fuel available. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve failure light illuminated, and the vehicle started decelerating. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The contact continued to drive at slower speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the propulsion power was reduced. The contact was informed that the battery energy control module needed to be replaced. The dealer later found upon further inspection that the EGR valve needed to be replaced but was not replaced. The contact stated that after having the repair completed the failure occurred approximately 3 times. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 221 →
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 - 40 MPH, the message stating that the propulsion was reduced was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle, and the vehicle unintendedly decelerated. The contact arrived at the destination and parked the vehicle, and the message "Shift to Park" was displayed even though the gear shifter was in park(P). The message "Charging Unavailable" was displayed. The contact stated that while charging the vehicle, the mileage was reduced from 72 miles to approximately 29 miles during the winter months, and 42 miles during the summer months, while still indicating a FULL charge. The "Shift to Park" failure had occurred twice the previous year, and the vehicle was turned off and restarted to correct the failure. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that after arriving at the destination and moving the shifter into park(P), the message "Shift to Park" was displayed. The contact became aware that with the message displayed the vehicle would not start. The contact disconnected and reconnected the 12-Volt battery to reset the system, enabling the vehicle to start. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the Battery Energy Control Module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 96,000.
2017 Chevrolet Volt engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | CVT | FWD | 43 / 42 / 42 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Volt a good car?
Based on 702 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Volt rates avoid: 5.9× 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 2017 Chevrolet Volt?
The electrical system — 313 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about propulsion system › traction battery › management system/energy control module (bms/becm). Next are the fuel & propulsion system (241) and transmission & drivetrain (221).
How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Volt have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Volt. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2017 Chevrolet Volt problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 36,000 miles; 71% 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.