Chevrolet Volt engine problems, 2016–2019
291 of the 1,126 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Volt 2016–2019 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2017 (187), 2018 (52), 2016 (49). Filed under the same heading across these years: no document yet. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Chevrolet Volt engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 | 9% | — | 88 TSBs | the year → |
| 2018 in depth | 52 | 23% | — | 143 TSBs | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 187 | 27% | 28k | 182 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 | 49 | 29% | — | 212 TSBs | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 28 · 2022: 31 · 2023: 39 · 2024: 103 · 2025: 41 · 2026: 12
Across the model years, half of the 64 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 14,000 and 69,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
When attempting to turn off the vehicle a warning and alarm periodically comes up that the vehicle can not be turned off because it needs to be shifted into park even though it is already in park it somehow does not recognize this and prevents the vehicle from being turned off.
While driving on a busy surface street the vehicle lost all propulsion and stalled. Steering locked up, was disabled, and electric power stopped. The warning light read "action required - shift to park'. This stall is immediate and highly dangerous. I was able to glide to the side of the road without being in or causing an accident.
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.
Component: Dealer said its the BECM. Lots of them failing, check any Chevy Volt forum. What happened: Driving on road, battery drive turns off and it switches to gas engine, "reduced propulsion" message pops up, then gas engine quits and 'shift to park' message pops up.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNothing filed under this heading on these model years.
Other systems with a record on the Chevrolet Volt
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Chevrolet Volt problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Chevrolet Volt years have the most engine complaints?
2017, 187; 2018, 52; 2016, 49. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2016 (29%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Chevrolet Volt?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the Chevrolet Volt?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 40,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 14,000 and 69,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
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.