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2012 Chevrolet Volt problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Chevrolet Volt has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 2safety recalls
- 245owner complaints
- 6crash reports
- 2fire reports
- 11injuries reported
245 complaints, against an average of 225 for the other 7 Chevrolet Volt model years.
Every Chevrolet Volt model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Chevrolet Volt?
The components named most often in the 245 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2012 Chevrolet Volt owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 245 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Volt?58 owners · 23.7%
- Why does my 2012 Chevrolet Volt stall, lose power or shut off while driving?17 owners · 6.9%
- Why does the infotainment screen freeze, reboot or go black in my 2012 Chevrolet Volt?12 owners · 4.9%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Volt?11 owners · 4.5%
Has the 2012 Chevrolet Volt been recalled?
2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
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.
Risk: If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14617.
Electronic 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 (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), or traction control event. One or both front brakes may lock up and not release. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems"' and No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: If the brakes lock up it could cause a loss of steering control and/or a lengthened distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. GM's recall number is 13184.
What do 2012 Chevrolet Volt owners report?
12 of the 245 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact attempted to start the vehicle; however, the instrument panel displayed a blank screen. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000.
Message on dash "Service High Voltage charging system" . Code cleared by inexperienced mechanic. Stalled on the side of the road with "Engine not available" , "Low propulsion" . My local Chevy dealership confirmed a high volt battery leak its now at risk for catching on fire
Car will randomly accelerate when not on gas pedal and/or a delay in brakes working. Has happened on more than one occasion.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, and the lights inside and outside of the vehicle failed to illuminate. The vehicle was jump-started. The failure reoccurred while attempting to restart the vehicle, and the contact was unable to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
passenger presence detection system is malfunctioning, and causing a "service airbag" warning. This is a huge safety issue that could be detrimental or deathly in the event of an accident. This is a common issue among generation 1 volt owners, and should be considered for a recall or warranty coverage. The passenger presence detection system parts are discontinued, and even if I found the part the dealership cannot confirm for the pricey repair, that the airbag / sensor will not simply malfunction again -- which makes this a persistent safety concern and huge owner inconvenience to say the…
Vehicle over-revs in cold weather. Engine runs excessively fast (4250 RPM) at highway speeds and around 3000 RPM when just sitting. Often times if I pull over and restart the car it will correct itself. This results in MPG as low as 22. The internet is full of examples of people with the exact same problem. I have seen no examples of the problem being solved. The engine will operate correctly in warmer weather (above 50° F). I believe it is related to an aging propulsion battery and could be solved by improved programing to accommodate the battery state.
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…
Vehicle propolusion reduced and engine not available messages were suddenly showing. Check engine light turned on. Suddenly Stalled/stopped in the middle of highway. Safety concerns
In September 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened [XXX] to assess the malfunction of the Passenger Sensing System (PSS) in the 2012-2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. Due to that malfunction, the air bag system malfunction indicator light is activated. This could cause the passenger airbag to be suppressed in a crash. In July 2021, the ODI closed [XXX] after GM instituted a cost reduction program for the repair/replacement of the PSS in the subject vehicles. In July 2023, I took my 2012 Volt to a local dealer to correct this problem, only to learn that the necessary replacement…
This issue has been reported extensively: NHTSA PE19013. The passenger seat sensor has failed leading to the airbag turning on and off rapidly while driving. This is available for inspection upon request. I worry about the safety of occupants in the car. If the airbag is turned off despite a passenger sitting in the seat that is a problem. The price of repair at a dealer is very high considering that this is a very clear quality control issue by GM that has been acknowledged by both GM and NHTSA. This warning light has turned on before and then went away for a long time. Now it has returned…
I'm constantly receiving a "Propulsion Power Loss" notification on my car. I have brought the car in to a Chevrolet dealer and they refuse to fix it unless I start paying out of pocket costs because the ticket is "closed". This has been going on for about a year since I purchased the car last November and I'm terrified to drive this car since it literally looses power.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while his son was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with engine software failure. The contact was informed that the engine software needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
2012 Chevrolet Volt: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 245 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Volt; the most common categories were air bags (86, 35.1%), electrical system (86, 35.1%), fuel/propulsion system (37, 15.1%). There are 2 safety recalls. 6 complaints mention a crash, 2 mention a fire, 11 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Volt?
Across 245 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (35.1% of complaints), electrical system (35.1% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (15.1% of complaints), engine (10.6% of complaints), service brakes (9.4% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Volt have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt; the most recent (campaign 15V145000, 2015-03-13) concerns Electrical System: Ignition. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Volt?
58 of the 245 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt (23.7%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. One owner wrote: "passenger presence detection system is malfunctioning, and causing a "service airbag" warning. This is a huge safety issue that could be detrimental or deathly in the event of an accident." (NHTSA complaint 11644947, February 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2012 Chevrolet Volt stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
17 of the 245 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt (6.9%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Message on dash "Service High Voltage charging system" . Code cleared by inexperienced mechanic. Stalled on the side of the road with "Engine not available" , "Low propulsion" ." (NHTSA complaint 11742075, June 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the infotainment screen freeze, reboot or go black in my 2012 Chevrolet Volt?
12 of the 245 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt (4.9%) describe the infotainment or touch screen freezing, rebooting or going black. One owner wrote: "The information display has gone black. the information display shows speed, mileage, fuel level, turn blinker status, and other critical information. the screen brightness adjustment does not affect the display and is not the problem." (NHTSA complaint 11230575, July 2019). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2012 Chevrolet Volt?
11 of the 245 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt (4.5%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Coolant leaking and damage to Drive Motor Battery Coolant Radiator due to the design of the vehicle that allows for rocks and debris large enough to damage radiator through. There is a service bulletin (13-06-02-001A) for this issue." (NHTSA complaint 11588954, May 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Volt
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only.