2016 Chevrolet Volt problems and recalls

46% of owner complaints on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt related to the Electrical System (77 of 169).

169
Complaints
1
Recalls
2
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
1
Injuries
30.8
Severity index

Severity index 30.8 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 30.8p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 130 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 8% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 77 complaints (45.6%)77 46%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 63 complaints (37.3%)63 37%Power TrainPower Train: 51 complaints (30.2%)51 30%EngineEngine: 48 complaints (28.4%)48 28%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 20 complaints (11.8%)20 12%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 6 complaints (3.6%)6 4%Service BrakesService Brakes: 4 complaints (2.4%)4 2%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3 complaints (1.8%)3 2%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7745.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6337.3%
POWER TRAIN5130.2%
ENGINE4828.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2011.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL63.6%
SERVICE BRAKES42.4%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)31.8%

Complaints filed per year

026512016: 42017: 22018: 32019: 132020: 292021: 152022: 122023: 162024: 512025: 112026: 13 (partial year)161718192021222324512526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20164
20172
20183
201913
202029
202115
202212
202316
202451
202511
2026 (year to date)13
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (78 against 56).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
17V62100005/10/2017AIR BAGS:FRONTALGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.

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.