2012 Chevrolet Volt

Coolant leaking and damage to Drive Motor Battery Coolant Radiator due to the design of the vehicle that allows for rocks and debris large enough to damage radiator through. There is a service bulletin (13-06-02-001A) for this issue. When the radiator is damaged, the driver will suddenly receive a check engine light, reduce propulsion notice, and engine not available message. The car will suddenly stall and this cause a major safety concern especially on highways at high speed. However no active recalls, even though this is a common reoccuring problem amongst first generation Volts.

Incident May 14, 2024

Vehicle propolusion reduced and engine not available messages were suddenly showing. Check engine light turned on. Suddenly Stalled/stopped in the middle of highway. Safety concerns

Incident May 14, 2024

In September 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened [XXX] to assess the malfunction of the Passenger Sensing System (PSS) in the 2012-2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. Due to that malfunction, the air bag system malfunction indicator light is activated. This could cause the passenger airbag to be suppressed in a crash. In July 2021, the ODI closed [XXX] after GM instituted a cost reduction program for the repair/replacement of the PSS in the subject vehicles. In July 2023, I took my 2012 Volt to a local dealer to correct this problem, only to learn that the necessary replacement part has been DISCONTINUED by GM and is no longer available. That is, frankly, unconscionable. I am requesting that ODI reopen the investigation and take further action to compel GM to make this repair available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident Jul 28, 2023

This issue has been reported extensively: NHTSA PE19013. The passenger seat sensor has failed leading to the airbag turning on and off rapidly while driving. This is available for inspection upon request. I worry about the safety of occupants in the car. If the airbag is turned off despite a passenger sitting in the seat that is a problem. The price of repair at a dealer is very high considering that this is a very clear quality control issue by GM that has been acknowledged by both GM and NHTSA. This warning light has turned on before and then went away for a long time. Now it has returned and after some research it is clearly an issue that many other 2012-2013 volt owners have experienced.

Incident Apr 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the front passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the front passenger’s side air bag Passenger Sensor System was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the part to repair the vehicle had been discontinued and no repair was available. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the part was discontinued. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Incident Jul 1, 2023

Grandson was driving and went to brake to make a turn and the engine not available light came on and he had no brakes. He was unable to slow and take the turn and hit a truck in the front driver quarter panel which resulted in the car being a total loss.

Incident Dec 11, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving approximately 50-60 MPH, the Engine Failure, Mountain Mode Not Available, Battery at Zero Percent, Propulsion Power Reduced, and High Voltage messages were displayed. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle then inadvertently decelerated to 30-40 MPH. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the high-voltage battery pack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to pass the yearly vehicle inspection. The dealer loaded sample data into the computer and then drove the vehicle for 50 miles before the vehicle passed inspection. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE23022 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Incident Dec 13, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to slow down, the brake pedal required an abnormal amount of pressure to slow the vehicle. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the brake pressure modulator valve. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V271000 (Electronic Stability Control, Service Brakes) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Incident Nov 28, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the "Service Air Bag" warning light intermittently illuminated. The contact notified a dealer about the failure and was provided a diagnostic fee. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided the same information. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Action Number: PE19013 which was linked to the failure. The NHTSA investigation was later closed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Incident Oct 12, 2023

Airbag sensor harness underneath the passenger seat comes disconnected from moving the seat back and forth causing a warning on the dash. GM has a TSB about this and should rewire the harness for free. The passenger presence module is undetected when the seat moves forward but is detected when moved to its full rearward position.

Incident Aug 10, 2023

A false code was given indicating the coolant level was low on the batteries. This was a know compute glitch problem which required an update costing me 400 dollars.

Incident May 10, 2023

Defective front passenger seat occupancy sensor. The defective sensor makes the passenger airbag unusable, sacrificing passenger safety.

Incident Jan 1, 2019

The 2012 Chevy Volt Passenger Airbag Sensor was an issue that the NHTSA investigated. It will cause the passenger side airbags not to deploy in a crash. I can reproduce the airbag warning light by pressing on the passenger seat. It has also been confirmed by an independent service center. There is supposed to be a reduced cost replacement program (according to the NHTSA) but both dealers and the Chevrolet Support Center do not seem to know about it)

Incident Jun 1, 2017

2012 CHEVROLET VOLT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOSING POWER FOR PROPULSION ON THE HIGHWAY/ROADS AT ALL SPEEDS. SHUTTING OFF. ELECTRIC CHARGE IS SUPPOSED TO SWITCH TO THE GASOLINE MOTOR WHEN IT IS LOW, BUT IT DOES NOT, AND VICE VERSA. IT SHOWS HYBRID BATTERY MANAGEMENT HAS A LOSS OF PROPULSION WITH A MESSAGE OF LOW PROPULSION POWER. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED WITH A RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK BECAUSE THE SAME PROBLEM IS SHOWING UP. NOW, CHEVY DOES NOT HAVE THIS VIN BEING RECALLED. BUT WORSE, THE CONDITIONS IN THE SOFTWARE ARE CAUSING A POWERTRAIN FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE HELP. I AM PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Incident Oct 1, 2022

The passenger seat occupancy sensor is malfunctioning and needs replaced.

Incident Nov 1, 2022

Seat sensor for passenger air bag is not working. It picks up a passenger and turns on air bag then turns it off. Then back on then off. Getting service airbag light. I see this was investigated by NHTSA and chevy was supposed to build a replacement program for 12-13 volts but when I call chevy they see no such program even though it is reported as a known consumer concern and was part of agreement when closing NHTSA investigation as per articles on this from journalist.

Incident Aug 11, 2021

Airbag light is on due to faulty passenger seat sensor that is a known defect by manufacturer. Your investigation was closed with the note that "GM created a program to replace the passenger sensing systems in 2012 and 2013 model year Chevy Volt vehicles". I am trying to get them to fix the issue, but they say there is no program for this repair. And the repair consists of replacing full passenger seat for over $1000. It looks like GM is misleading NHTSA that they have a program to correct the problem.

Incident Aug 1, 2022

Driver’s display completely dark. I can’t see speed, gas remaining, charge remaining, turn signals, gear, warnings if tire pressure is low, etc. Upon turning the car off and back on, the display lights back for an couple of minutes until it goes dark again. There was no warning before it happened for the first time a couple of days ago. The car is extremely unsafe and not drivable as I have no idea how fast I’m going, if I’m about to run out of gas, etc. Luckily, the screen went dark when my 16-year-old daughter was driving in our neighborhood. This should definitely be a recall issue.

Incident Sep 26, 2022

Blank (dark) main screen display for speedometer, fuel, etc. Fuse not blown. the vehicle is unsafe to drive. One can run out of electrical power and or gas and not know, stop on the highway and be in harms way. no turn signals, no speed indication at all, nothing. this is recall worthy! and needs to be addressed by chevy.

Incident Jul 28, 2022

I'm constantly receiving a "Propulsion Power Loss" notification on my car. I have brought the car in to a Chevrolet dealer and they refuse to fix it unless I start paying out of pocket costs because the ticket is "closed". This has been going on for about a year since I purchased the car last November and I'm terrified to drive this car since it literally looses power.

Incident Nov 1, 2021

Regular Faulty Warnings referring to air bag component

Incident Jan 1, 2022

brakes locked up durring a panic stop. abs did not engage. abs code C012E-12 Hydraulic Brake Boost Pressure Loss-Low Input

Incident Jul 14, 2022

In mid 2020 I began to get an intermittent warning of a problem with the passenger side, front seat occupant sensor. The problem has become much more frequent. The GM service department was familiar with the problem in 2020, but said there was no recall. If the passenger moves around the sensor will activate or deactivate. I assume that the airbag would not dependably deploy in an accident. Today I discovered a discussion of this problem in the GM-Volt Forum. The forum mentions the same problem with other GM models. This is obviously a safety and manufacturing issue. Repairs are quoted in the $800 to $1,000+ range with no guarantee the problem won't reoccur.

Incident Sep 1, 2020

Airbag Service Light comes on for unknown reason. This appears to be a very common problem amongst Chevy Volt owners (2012-2013). Why no recall for this serious safety issue?

Incident Jan 12, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while his son was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with engine software failure. The contact was informed that the engine software needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

Incident Feb 15, 2022

CAR SUDDENLY ENTERSINTO A NO START AND STALL.THIS IS BEING REPAIRED BY H&H CHEVROLET IN OMAHA AT OWNERS EXPENSE.THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE IN A FAULTY BATTERYCHARGE SENSOR. THE PART IS BEING ORDERED BY H&H SERVICE DEPARTMENT ANDIS NOTYET INSTALLED.AS OF 2/9/2022.

Incident Feb 7, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was applied however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle and coast to a parking lot. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the brake module modulator needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 13V271000: (Electronic Stability Control, Service Brakes). The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximate 84,682. Vehicle exhibited the issues listed in the recall but your VIN is not included.

Incident Feb 28, 2017

My 2012 Chevrolet Volt has had a failure with the passenger air bag presence sensor. As a result, the passenger air bag indicator has been going on and off intermittently while someone is riding in the passenger seat. This has been happening since 2017. It has gotten worse over time and is usually off when it should be on. My passengers no longer feel safe. This is a failure that could result in the passenger’s death if the air bag fails to deploy in a crash. The repair cost from the dealer is also unreasonably expensive at over $1,000. The part alone costs $400 and requires proprietary dealer programming equipment for installation. A critical safety failure like this should be immediately recalled and fixed at no cost to the owner. This is not an isolated incident and has been widely reported across the internet.

Incident Aug 1, 2017

We began receiving the intermittent warning message "Service Airbag" on our 2012 Chevy Volt at around 65,000 miles, and are continuing to receive it at 69,000 miles. Research reveals that other Volt owners have encountered the same problem. Cost of repair: $1,000. It appears to be a manufacturer sensor defect that requires a recall.

Incident Mar 1, 2021

While traveling slowly (about 25mph) on an uphill grade, my Volt suddenly, with no warning messages or other alerts to me, lost propulsion, power brakes and power steering. This car is extremely hard to steer and to brake without the power assists, so I really had to wrestle with the wheel to avoid losing control of the car, and I really had to jam on the brake pedal to get it to a stop, even though I was moving slowly and had a gravity assist from the uphill slope. It seems to me an event such as I experienced could be catastrophic if it occurred at high speed, and / or on a steep downhill slope or a street with a lot of traffic. Incidentally, when this happened I had just turned onto a side road from a highway with lots of traffic moving at 60-80 miles an hour on a slope so steep that in spite of numerous warning signs, accidents, including fatal accidents, occur regularly on this section of the highway due to drivers failing to apply their brakes hard enough or early enough to keep the car on the road. As a result I felt like I had barely escaped with my life, only as a result of a sudden whim that entered my head to leave the highway for the scenic side road. It may also be relevant that the incident occurred directly after I picked up the car from the Chevy dealer following repair for another incident where I lost propulsion, power brakes, and power steering - the difference being that the car was stationary during the previous incident. The photo shows the electrical connections that the dealer ultimately determined were responsible for the second (Oct. 20) incident, and maybe the first as well. These terminals are enclosed, and not visible to the car owner, even with the hood lifted. Checking the terminals is not part of any maintenance recommended in the owner's handbook, nor apparently in the standard service procedures, even when a car comes in with symptoms that could be caused by a loose connection, even after replacing the 12V battery, as they did.

Incident Oct 20, 2021

LCD Driver panel, fuel,odometer, speedometer, screen is completely black. Started flickering then went out. No warnings given. I have no idea how fast I am going nor how much gas/ battery power I have.

Incident Oct 1, 2021

2012 Chevy Volt, has been stalling out on the highway since it was brand new, every 6 months. It has been to the Chevrolet dealer many times and they just reset it and move on. In every case the car works for a short time, 6 to 8 months max and dies out again. They have updated the software many times, but nothing has changed it. It keeps stalling out on the interstate with high speed traffic, a severe hazard. Chevy dealerships have never been able to get to the core of the issue. The last time it died, the dealer said they did not know what else to do and told me to call GM. I have every receipt of this happening. The last time this happened is today, 9/29/2021 and has happened 3 times in the last month now. My wife and kids life was at risk several times with this car. It is an extreme safety hazard.

Incident Sep 29, 2021

My instruments cluster that displays speedometer/fuel/battery charge indicator went absolutely blank while vehicle was in motion on busy highway. Only remedy recommend by Chevy dealer was to replace the entire assembly and reprogramming. I feel failure of essential display of basic functions to the driver is definitely a hazard to the vehicle operator and to the general public.

Incident Sep 13, 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that after entering and starting the vehicle, she became aware that the center console screen was showing a blank screen. The contact restarted the vehicle however, the failure persisted. After waiting for a few minutes, the contact drove the vehicle to her son’s home to charge the vehicle and the display screen started working. The contact was concerned that the failure would recur. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.

Incident Sep 3, 2021

The display screen which shows my gas, battery amount as well as my speed has stopped working. I have changed the fuses, disconnected the battery and it still will not come on. This is dangerous, as I cannot see how fast I am going and can potentially run out of gas and battery power on the highway with no way to get anywhere. This is the only thing that has gone out, everything else in the car is working. It has been reproduced and I cannot drive anywhere safely because of this. I am in fear of what may happen, as well as the legal ramifications of not knowing my speed. No warning, just flickering of the screen and then it went blank and has not come back on.

Incident Aug 12, 2021

The "service airbag" light starting coming on. I took the car to the dealership and they said that the harness in the driver's seat has a bad sensor or plug and cannot be replaced because GM no longer makes this part. They suggested that I might try to find a replacement seat in a junkyard. This means I have car that is less than 10 years old with a driver's side airbag that may or may not deploy in an accident. The dealership does not have a solution.

Incident Jul 6, 2021

AIRBAG PROBLEM WARNING LIGHT. DEALER SAID THERE IS LIKELY A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SENSOR IN THE SEAT AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1200 BUT THAT MIGHT NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WE DECLINED THE SERVICE. I HAVE SINCE READ ABOUT MANY MORE VOLT OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. OURS STARTED AROUND 80,000 MILES. WE ARE CURRENTLY AROUND $120000 MILES.

Incident May 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE WITH AN OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BOB BELL CHEVROLET OF BEL AIR (1230 BELAIR RD, BEL AIR, MD 21014) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WHICH HE DECLINED. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WITH OR WITHOUT AN OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

Incident Apr 1, 2018

THE VEHICLE HAS ILLUMINATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH A WARNING THAT THE BATTERY IS TOO COLD. THIS OCCURRED WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS IN SUMMER TEMPERATURES. AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT A TEMPERATURE SENSOR MAY BE TO BLAME, AND THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY TRY TO HEAT THE BATTERY TO AN UNSAFE LEVEL.

Incident Apr 2, 2021

ANYTIME THE VEHICLE GOES OVER BUMP, POTHOLE, OR PARTICULARLY ROUGH ROAD SURFACE AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE FAILS TO SLOW DOWN. YOU MUST RELEASE THE PEDAL AND APPLY PRESSURE A SECOND TIME IN ORDER TO STOP. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT ANY SPEED.

Incident Dec 1, 2020