Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system86
- Air bags86
- Fuel/propulsion system37
- Engine26
- Service brakes23
- Power train22
- Unknown or other17
- Seats14
- Vehicle speed control11
- Structure6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 8 2012 Volt vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2012 Chevrolet Volt failed the safety check 3.96% of the time — 57% more often than the average 2012 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 109,926 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2012
513 new Chevrolet Volt cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2012; the largest markets were the Netherlands (304), the United Kingdom (64), Belgium (38).
- Average mass
- 1,724 kg
- Average power
- 83 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol/electric 76% · Electric 13% · Petrol 11%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
115 first registered in 2012 are on Dutch roads; 2% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €46,025.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde74
- Band onvoldoende profiel36
- Remschijf ernstig gecorrodeerd32
- Band beschadigd29
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld29
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af27
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm25
- Waarschuwingsinrichting controlesysteem bandenspanning geeft13
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
46 cars built in 2012 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 5 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
33 of these cars first registered in 2012 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 193,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
1 2012 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 3 variants; 3 of 3 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Volt 4 DR FWD(Early Release- field upgrade) | ★★★★★ | 9.3 % |
| 2012 Chevrolet Volt 4 DR FWD(Early Release-no field upgrade) | ★★★★★ | 9.3 % |
| 2012 Chevrolet Volt 4 DR FWD(Later Release) | ★★★★★ | 9.3 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt.
| 2015104 12 Mar 2015 | Engine On certain vehicles, if a driver exits the vehicle and were to inadvertently leave the vehicle "ON", after a period of time the vehicle's battery would drain an… |
| 2013460 20 Dec 2013 | Accessories On certain vehicles, material used in the construction of the windshield sunshade, sold as an optional accessory, may not meet the requirements of the Canada Mo… |
| 2011412 23 Nov 2011 | Lights And Instruments Certain vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices, as well as CMVSS 114 - Theft… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 2012 Chevrolet Volt: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011896 | This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information. |
| 11011805 | This Preliminary information communicates a GM part number forreflective high temperature heat or insulating tape when repairing wiring harnesses. |
| 11011782 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads. The J-35616-64B is the latest test probe released for checking tension or probing the .64 series terminals. The test probe terminal has been released in the terminal repair kit (J-38125-620H) located in Lear Tray 7 part number 963716-2. There are 5 terminated leads in a package part number is 13505346, which can be ordered through your normal General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales parts channel. |
| 11011709 | This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer. |
| 11011467 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the replacement Accessory Power Module does not have an orange wire harness like the original. Technician will need to order a jumper harness General Motors part number 24268507. |
| 11011444 | This Preliminary information communicates to the dealer a process for accessing the procedure to add attachments to a GM technical assistance case using the dealer case management tool. |
| 11010545 | This service bulletin provides information on key code security rules and information on GM keycode look-up applications (U.S). |
| 11010491 | This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information for GM courtesy transportation and roadside assistance programs. |
| 11010421 | This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information on the requirements for 12V battery testing and warranty replacements. |
| 11009764 | This service bulletin provides information on Concerns or Questions Regarding Installation of Dealer Installed Accessories. |
| 11009156 | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update. |
| 11009088 | This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk noise. This is a slight movement that is more often seen visually, rather than felt, when viewed from the outside and using the auto-start feature, if equipped. |
| 11009039 | This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information, proper labor operation selection and causal part identification for warranty transactions (U.S. Only). |
| 11008956 | This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on When and How to Submit a Field Product Report (FPR) (U.S. and Canada Dealers Only). |
| 11008898 | The bulletin provides direction on how to locate the Temporary Service Part (TSP) form in GlobalConnect. |
| 11008893 | This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information. |
| 11007936 | This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel on diagnosis and replacement of shock absorber and strut due to fluid leak. |
| 11007935 | This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel on diagnosis and replacement of shock absorber and strut due to fluid leak. |
| 11007744 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature. |
| 11007743 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature. |
| 11007208 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection. |
| 11007196 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies. |
| 11006682 | This service bulletin provides information on a guide to help reduce repeat visits for the same customer concern. |
| 11006644 | This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides information for dealers/Service advisors on when and how to submit a Pre-Repair Authorization (PRA). |
| 11006621 | Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Passenger Sensing System
Post-Crash EV Fire Hazard
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation