2018 Chevrolet Volt engine problems
52 of the 225 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Volt name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 143 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 engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 52 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 15 · 2025: 11 · 2026: 3
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
225 complaints in all about the 2018 Chevrolet Volt, 3 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 “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Volt engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
My 2018 Chevy Volt was at a Chevrolet dealership in Burbank and they have been running tests on my car to re-create the problem which they have not been able to do. On my car suddenly stopped and shakes violently after I turned it on after about driving 15 feet, and my screen was telling me “engine not available, service needed soon” so…
Initially was receiving intermittent “Recieved Propulsion Power” warning and no check engine light. Did it about every 2 weeks but became worse. Received Reduced Propulsion power warning on a road trip from East TN to Charlotte then showed a check engine light.
The vehicle has a failure of the BECM and the EGR valve and cooler. Both parts are unavailable. I've been without my car for over a month. The service center cannot tell me when parts will be available
While driving my 2018 chevy volt I received a reduced propulsion error. I pulled over to assess and turn off the car and turn it back on only to find when I turned it back on I received an enginer failure error and the car would not drive forward or reverse. I had to have it towed to a Chevy dealership for evaluation.
To begin, I will set the scene of my experience. I was traveling east bound on 84 in northeast PA on my way to Long Island for work meetings that day. I was about one hour and a half away from my home at roughly 6am. I was traveling at apx.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications143 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
P050D B3055 B3060 B3935 P0300 P0308 P1101 P0A0C
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Chevrolet Volt names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Chevrolet Volt
Source: the same files- electrical problems 88 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 85 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 52 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (23% of everything owners filed about it), and 143 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 engine on the 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 2 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.