2012 Chevrolet Volt problems and recalls

Owners have filed 245 complaints on the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (86 complaints).

245
Complaints
2
Recalls
6
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
11
Injuries
53.6
Severity index

Severity index 53.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 53.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 86 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 34% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 86 complaints (35.1%)86 35%Air BagsAir Bags: 86 complaints (35.1%)86 35%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 37 complaints (15.1%)37 15%EngineEngine: 26 complaints (10.6%)26 11%Service BrakesService Brakes: 23 complaints (9.4%)23 9%Power TrainPower Train: 22 complaints (9.0%)22 9%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 17 complaints (6.9%)17 7%SeatsSeats: 14 complaints (5.7%)14 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8635.1%
AIR BAGS8635.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3715.1%
ENGINE2610.6%
SERVICE BRAKES239.4%
POWER TRAIN229.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER176.9%
SEATS145.7%

Complaints filed per year

020402011: 12012: 62013: 82014: 152015: 152016: 162017: 212018: 312019: 402020: 332021: 222022: 142023: 92024: 82025: 22026: 4 (partial year)1112131415161718194020212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20111
20126
20138
201415
201515
201616
201721
201831
201940
202033
202122
202214
20239
20248
20252
2026 (year to date)4
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.3x those in 2020 to 2022 (19 against 69).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
15V14500013/03/2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONGeneral 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
13V27100027/06/2013ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)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

Other Chevrolet Volt model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.