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2018 Chevrolet Volt problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2018 Chevrolet Volt has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 2safety recalls
- 225owner complaints
- 4crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 1injury reported
225 complaints, against an average of 228 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 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
The components named most often in the 225 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2018 Chevrolet Volt owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 225 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2018 Chevrolet Volt?38 owners · 16.9%
- Does the 2018 Chevrolet Volt have emissions system or DPF problems?29 owners · 12.9%
- Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Volt stall, lose power or shut off while driving?28 owners · 12.4%
- Why won't my 2018 Chevrolet Volt start?9 owners · 4%
- Why does the battery keep dying on my 2018 Chevrolet Volt?8 owners · 3.6%
Has the 2018 Chevrolet Volt been recalled?
2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Seat Belts: Rear/Other General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18315.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Disc: Caliper General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
What do 2018 Chevrolet Volt owners report?
12 of the 225 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.
2018 Chevy Volt LT. Diagnosed with a bad battery section on September 9, 2026. Warranty part number # 24060120 ordered by dealer. Status September 28, 2026 - Part back-ordered / No ETA. Dealer refuses to provide a loaner car while waiting for the part.
FAILURE SUMMARY & SAFETY RISK: While operating in live traffic, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power and entered a "Propulsion Power Reduced" failsafe mode, creating a severe rear-end collision hazard. The vehicle is currently grounded and remains available for inspection upon request. WARNING SYMPTOMS & DIAGNOSTIC CODES: The instrument cluster illuminated the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine), the ABS warning indicator, and displayed a persistent "Propulsion Power Is Reduced" message. A diagnostic trouble scan confirmed active high-voltage communication failures and…
The vehicle frequently fails to register that the transmission has been shifted into Park. When this happens the instrument cluster displays "Action Required / Shift to Park" and the power (STOP/START) button will not shut the vehicle off. The condition is intermittent. I can usually clear it only by shifting through the gear positions and back into Park repeatedly, sometimes many times, before the vehicle will power down. SAFETY RISK: Because the transmission control module does not confirm Park, I have no assurance the parking pawl is engaged when I leave the vehicle, creating a rollaway…
I was driving back from [XXX] on XXX, when I received a "propulsion power limited" message on my dash with a check engine light. I pulled off to a nearby gas station and tried to scan the code to figure out what was going on when I then received the message "Engine unavailable" and the car shut off. I checked the fuse box and found that the F03 Fuse had blown. I replaced the fuse and attempted to start the car again. It began normally, but then after driving 10 feet, I received the "engine unavailable" message again with a check engine light and the car no longer had power and I had to coast…
I was driving on an interstate in Seattle, and the car completely died. A check engine light went on. I had to roll into the shoulder and call for a tow to the dealership's service department. Here is what they found: ----60GCZ ENGINE REPAIR DIAG/ customer reports the ses lamp is on with reduced propulsion message displayed. Check and advise. 1. Tested vehicle and verified reduced propulsion power message and SES light. Scanned vehicle for codes and found multiple P0489, P0030, P0031, P0132, P0135, P0137, P0443, P0458, P0597, P0598, P06DA, P06DB, and P103C. Traced back to no power on circuit…
What component or system failed? When the BCEM failed on my car, it led directly to the transmission failing as well as the PIM. I was driving normally then had a completely inoperable car with no warning. I was told to pay over $17k for repairs by the dealership because there is no recall on the transmission, but I see proof that this is a common issue among Volt users. There needs to be a recall and repair to keep the road safe. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving on a busy road to school when my car fully locked up, jerked like crazy, and became…
While driving on a highway the car started to hesitate, a message appeared on the console "Propulsion power is reduced" and the engine light turn on. After driving some miles, a new message appeared: "Engine unavailable, service soon" and the car only ran on electric power, no motor engine. I had the same problem 3 year ago and the dealer identified the problem as a shorted EGR valve. This time I knew this shorted EGR valve burns the F3 fuse. I managed to get to a car part shop and bough several fuses (15 amp). After replacing the fuse 3 times I managed to get to the dealer. The repairs cost…
The Vehicle had a the BECM fail at 64,000 miles. This is a known issue that GM still refuses to recall, and is refusing to warranty
I was driving my 2018 Chevy Volt at about 30 mph on EV mode. The battery was at 50%, the car was performing normally. Then the battery jumped to 100%, the check engine light came on, and the vehicle lost power. I was in rush hour traffic and unable to get the vehicle to go faster than 5-10 mph. I switched to "normal" mode to engage the gasoline engine, hoping this would help but it did not. The gas engine RPM fluctuated wildly and did not restore the ability to accelerate the vehicle. I was still unable to go faster than 5-10 mph. I was a few blocks from home and managed to get home safely…
It was the XXX recall for the DTC P0442/check engine light code. The dealership said that the recall had been satisfied in 6/2020 by putting a buffer in to separate the 2 lines but not replacing the part. Now the exact same code DTC P0442/check engine light in the exact spot that occurred for the original recall. The dealership originally quoted $5,093, then after me complaining that it is the same recalled problem they dropped the cots to $2384. I believe that is an agreement that the manufacturer should cover this. Of course I will have to pay to get my car but I would like the manufacturer…
Front brake calipers are sticking on, causing the brake pad to engage the rotor causing excessive heat. Risk of fire when parked in garage. I have had the calipers taken apart and cleaned and greased and still have the issue. I have read many reports on message boards of the same issue with no fix.
while driving my vehicle when the outside temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below I turn my defrost on and for 30 plus seconds my front window completely fogs up and I am unable to see out of my front window and have zero visibility which caused me to crash.
2018 Chevrolet Volt: questions owners ask
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 225 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Volt; the most common categories were electrical system (87, 38.7%), power train (85, 37.8%), fuel/propulsion system (73, 32.4%). There are 2 safety recalls. 4 complaints mention a crash, 1 injury was reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
Across 225 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (38.7% of complaints), power train (37.8% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (32.4% of complaints), engine (22.2% of complaints), service brakes (4% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Volt have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Volt; the most recent (campaign 18V673000, 2018-09-26) concerns Seat Belts: Rear/Other. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
38 of the 225 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Volt (16.9%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "The car can't decide if it wants to use the battery or the engine. It shows zero charge even though it is full. It lurches at stop lights as it tries to decide whether to use battery or engine. It says "propulsion power reduced". "Not able to charge"." (NHTSA complaint 11693450, October 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.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Volt have emissions system or DPF problems?
29 of the 225 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Volt (12.9%) describe emissions faults such as DPF, EGR, catalytic converter, AdBlue/DEF or NOx sensor problems. One owner wrote: "The EGR valve clogged, causing a a servo to blow the F3 fuse, disabling the engine while driving. This occured suddenly while driving on a busy road with no shoulders." (NHTSA complaint 11693733, October 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 2018 Chevrolet Volt stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
28 of the 225 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Volt (12.4%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "While driving northbound on a freeway downhill, my vehicle suddenly lost power and displayed a "Shift to Park" message while still in motion. I was unable to accelerate, and the engine became unresponsive." (NHTSA complaint 11657016, April 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 won't my 2018 Chevrolet Volt start?
9 of the 225 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Volt (4%) describe the car failing to start. One owner wrote: "Upon attempting to start the car, displayed "Propulsion Power Is Reduced" error message and "Check Engine" light came on, and the car failed to start. Mission Bay Chevrolet on Morena Blvd in San Diego repaired the car by replacing the BECM." (NHTSA complaint 11557990, December 2023). 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 battery keep dying on my 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
8 of the 225 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Volt (3.6%) describe a dead or draining battery. One owner wrote: "Issue Summary: The Chevy Volt has experienced recurring electrical problems, including the "Shift to Park" message, loss of power, and dead 12V battery. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership three times due to these issues." (NHTSA complaint 11652364, April 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.
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 2018 only.