2016 Chevrolet Volt transmission and drivetrain problems
51 of the 169 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Volt name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 124 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 51 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 16 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 2
Half of the 22 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 31,000 and 49,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
169 complaints in all about the 2016 Chevrolet Volt, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Volt transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
While turning off vehicle: vehicle is shifted to park ignition button is pressed message appears on console 'action required: shift to park' vehicle will not turn off with prndl in park position
System does not recognize when gear is in park (p) - the prompt on the screen states "action required: shift to park" (see attached screenshot) even when the gear is already on park (p) - the work-around is shifting the gear from park (p) then l then back to park - sometimes you have to do this several times
Shift to park issue. When trying to turn off the car you put in park and press on/off button. Car says you need to shift into park even though you have shifted into park and is so indicated on the dash. You have to shift the shifter and turn on and off until finally turns off. Crazy and a know problem. Dangerous and need a recall
Car says "shift to park" at random, when car is already in park. Prevents you from powering off the vehicle, and have to sometimes wiggle the shifter before it will detect it is actually in park
Various times when putting the car into park and then turning off the car the message stating action required: shift to park will show on the console screen. The car will not turn off until the car recognizes the gear is in the park position, which it already is.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications124 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B3055 B3060 B3935 P1AEF P1101 P1AEE P1AF0 P1AF2
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Chevrolet Volt names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt
Source: the same files- electrical problems 77 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 51 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (30% of everything owners filed about it), and 124 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 1 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 40,000 miles; half of them between 31,000 and 49,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.