2018 Chevrolet Volt

The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) failed. Before repair, the check-engine light appeared intermittently, the vehicle sometimes had difficulty starting, and the indicated electric range could suddenly drop from about 30 miles to zero despite a charged high-voltage battery. When this occurred, the gasoline engine started unexpectedly. The air conditioning also intermittently blew warm air until the vehicle was restarted. These symptoms created a safety concern because propulsion mode and indicated range could change without warning, and the vehicle could fail to start in traffic or another unsafe location. An authorized Chevrolet dealer confirmed the problem. The dealer retrieved DTCs U2624 and U2629, performed circuit testing, and diagnosed an internal short in the BECM causing loss of communication with high-voltage battery modules. The dealer stated this failure caused the warning light, starting issue, sudden loss of indicated battery range, and air-conditioning symptoms. The BECM was replaced and programmed after removal of the high-voltage battery assembly. The warning light first appeared about one month before repair, with the other symptoms becoming more apparent in early July 2026. The vehicle had approximately 80,918 miles when inspected. The failed component was retained by the dealership as a core and is not available to me for inspection. To my knowledge, the vehicle was not separately inspected by police, insurance, or GM engineering personnel. My vehicle was excluded from GM Special Coverage N232432680 even though it is a 2018 Chevrolet Volt with the same confirmed BECM failure addressed by that program and NHTSA investigation PE23022. I paid $3,970.56 for the repair. I am filing this complaint because this defect can cause no-start, loss of indicated battery range, warning lights, unexpected propulsion changes, and potentially reduced propulsion, while some affected 2016–2018 vehicles appear excluded from the special coverage.

Incident Jul 13, 2026

My 2018 Chevy Volt started making a creaking and clanking noise when driven at low speeds. Dealer diagnosed the problem as being the rear shocks and bushing. Replacing these did not fix the problem. Not sure if this is a safety issue or not.

Incident Mar 1, 2026

The car suddenly lost power and produced error messages on the screen. I had to quickly change lanes to get out of traffic on the highway. My dealer diagnosed the issue as a BECM malfunction and quoted a repair cost of approximately $3500. However, due to my car originally being registered in California, this failure is not covered under GM Special Coverage Bulletin N232432680 (issued March 2024), which provides an extended warranty for BECM issues on affected 2016-2018 Volts up to 15 years or 150,000 miles. My VIN does not qualify for this coverage despite the vehicle being within the model years affected by known BECM soldering/connection failures. This appears to be part of a broader pattern of BECM defects in 2016-2019 Volts that can lead to sudden loss of propulsion, as previously investigated by NHTSA. GM should extend coverage or issue a recall for all affected vehicles, as this defect compromises vehicle safety and leaves owners with expensive out-of-pocket repairs for a known issue.

Incident Apr 20, 2026

I was driving my 2018 Chevy Volt at about 30 mph on EV mode. The battery was at 50%, the car was performing normally. Then the battery jumped to 100%, the check engine light came on, and the vehicle lost power. I was in rush hour traffic and unable to get the vehicle to go faster than 5-10 mph. I switched to "normal" mode to engage the gasoline engine, hoping this would help but it did not. The gas engine RPM fluctuated wildly and did not restore the ability to accelerate the vehicle. I was still unable to go faster than 5-10 mph. I was a few blocks from home and managed to get home safely. The engine code was P1E00. I put the vehicle on the charger and it seemed fine the next day. This exact situation I ran into - reduced engine power - is addressed in Special Coverage N232432680, which includes this vehicles VIN. I took the car to the GM dealer today and they are telling me that the car is fine, they can find no problems. I mentioned that this issue is covered under Special Coverage N232432680, and was told that unless they can reproduce the issue in the shop, that they cannot apply Special Coverage N232432680.

Incident Apr 29, 2026

The vehicle (2018 Chevrolet Volt) is experiencing an intermittent failure of the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM). Diagnostic trouble code P1E5B was stored in the system. This is a well-documented defect in this vehicle population that frequently results in a sudden, unexpected loss of propulsion power while driving ("Propulsion Power Reduced" mode), posing a significant safety risk in high-speed traffic. ​Although a Chevrolet dealership confirmed the presence of the stored fault code, they refused to perform the repair under the extended warranty (Special Coverage N23243268) because the Check Engine Light was not actively illuminated at the exact time of inspection. The manufacturer requires the vehicle to be operated until the fault recurs, exposing the driver and others to the danger of stalling on highways or at busy intersections. The failed component remains in the vehicle and is available for inspection.

Incident Apr 28, 2026

Dealer non-Compliance with Recall N192273600 I am reporting Anderson Chevrolet for failure to identify and perform a mandatory federal emission recall while the vehicle was in their possession for service. Because the dealer neglected their statutory duty to perform the free recall repair, I was forced to spend $584.83 at independent shops to diagnose and fix a defect that is a direct mechanical match to the recall repair. General Motors has denied reimbursement, claiming the independent shops repair is ineligible, despite the fact that the dealer’s original negligence created the need for the independent repair. I did call the General Motors Customer Relations department, was told by Breanna a case would be opened and followed up by Angel. No case number given. Angel called the next day and informed me the reimbursement was denied because services were rendered by an independent shop.

Incident Apr 2, 2026

The vehicle losses power on high speed, check engine comes on, low propulsion massage displays. Vehicle does not charge. Issues similar to the investigation DCS6812.

Incident Jan 11, 2026

It was the XXX recall for the DTC P0442/check engine light code. The dealership said that the recall had been satisfied in 6/2020 by putting a buffer in to separate the 2 lines but not replacing the part. Now the exact same code DTC P0442/check engine light in the exact spot that occurred for the original recall. The dealership originally quoted $5,093, then after me complaining that it is the same recalled problem they dropped the cots to $2384. I believe that is an agreement that the manufacturer should cover this. Of course I will have to pay to get my car but I would like the manufacturer to reimburse me for it seeing it was a manufacturer default. I spoke to the manufacturer they flat out refused to cover it. I obviously disagree. Would like you to pressure them to change their decision. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident Feb 2, 2026

My 2018 Chevrolet Volt frequently fails to recognize when the vehicle is shifted into Park. The dashboard displays “Shift to Park” even though the gear selector is already in Park. When this occurs, the vehicle will not power off, requiring multiple attempts to move the shifter before shutdown is possible. This creates a safety risk because the vehicle may be left powered on unintentionally and may not properly secure itself in Park. In one occasion, the vehicle moved backwards even when shifter was in Park, which created a collision risk. This is a known defect affecting many GM vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt, and has been widely reported by owners. I am concerned about unintended vehicle movement, battery drain, and driver safety.

Incident Dec 21, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that the battery module became inoperable. While attempting to start the vehicle, the message "Engine Unavailable - Service Soon” was displayed. The contact was unable to use the vehicle. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The contact associated the failure with Technical Service Bulletin: 18-NA-261. The contact called the local dealer and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

Incident Dec 15, 2025

On June 27, 2025, while driving, the vehicle displayed a "Propulsion Power Reduced" warning message and a Check Engine Light illuminated. I immediately experienced a loss of power. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Chevrolet dealer the same day. On July 1, 2025, the dealer diagnosed the failure as a faulty Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) and high-voltage system fault (Code P1E00), requiring a full replacement of the high-voltage battery pack (Part #24296900). The manufacturer (GM) was contacted, and the replacement battery was ordered on July 2, 2025. As of December 2025, the vehicle remains in dealer possession (over 5 months) with no repair completed. The manufacturer has stated the part is on indefinite backorder with no ETA. The failure of this component renders the vehicle inoperable and presents a safety risk due to sudden loss of propulsion power while in motion. The manufacturer has confirmed the failure but is unable to provide a remedy within a reasonable timeframe.

Incident Jun 27, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over as intended. Additionally, the vehicle would not charge when connected to a charger. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the BECM was reset. The vehicle was repaired; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the message "Reduced Power" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer where it was diagnosed, and determined that the BECM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to an unknown Chevrolet recall; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

Incident Nov 6, 2025

Why in operation the car goes into Shift to Park and Also getting a Propulsion Power Reduce

Incident Jul 24, 2023

Component: Battery Energy Control Module, available from dealership ATM Daughter's safety compromised when vehicle power decreased quickly to 5mph in the middle of fast heavy city traffic. The problem has been confirmed by Chevrolet dealership service department The vehicle has not been inspected by other than dealership service center. I contacted GM, and was told that the component was replaced once already in 2021, so they will not replace it a second time on special coverage N232432680 released March 6, 2024. Warnings:Propulsion 11/3/25 Power Reduced and check engine light on 11/3/25. GM dealer service center cleared codes, did a software update 11/7/25: Propulsion Power Reduced and check engine light again. Vehicle is at GM dealer service center.

Incident Nov 7, 2025

My wife and I were on a 200 mile trip and the engine failed about 150 miles into the trip. Was driving and the instrument panel indicated that the engine was in reduced power mode. I switched over to battery power but had only approximately 10 miles of range left so after a couple of miles I switched back to engine power and was almost immediately informed by the instrument panel that the engine was in failure mode. Was fortunate that there was an exit nearby and was able to use the remaining battery power to exit the highway and pack the car before there was no power.the car was towed to a dealer and we were told that the egr valve and cooler had failed.they were replaced and I was told that they were not covered by the federal emissions warranty so the cost would be $4000.the car was driven with the vast majority being electric power.

Incident Oct 8, 2025

The EGR valve clogged, causing a a servo to blow the F3 fuse, disabling the engine while driving. This occured suddenly while driving on a busy road with no shoulders. I managed to coast into a parking lot not too far away but I had no charge left in my battery. I could only get the engine to start back up for less than a minute at a time. I got my car inspected by Chevrolet and they confirmed they issue. Very shortly before the engine cut off, the car started jolting. There weren't any warning lights or error codes before this.

Incident Oct 9, 2025

Chevy had done an update for the Propulsion Power being reduced. In 2024, I had to do another update when the check engine light came on. After that the electric battery power decreased, I am only getting 17 miles per charge. August 2025, the check engine light came on again. I had it check and no codes came up. While driving home on the freeway, the Propulsion Power being reduced warning came up. I had to pull off the freeway. Once I turned my vehicle off, I was unable to drive my car. There was not any acceleration. I had to have my car towed 50 miles home. A mechanic was able to repair it at that time. On 10/7/2025 the check engine light came on again and once again no codes appeared, on 10/14/25 the Propulsion Power being reduced warning came on again. I was able to get home safely, but I got off the freeway and took side streets home. At this time, the vehicle will not accelerate.

Incident Oct 14, 2025

The car can't decide if it wants to use the battery or the engine. It shows zero charge even though it is full. It lurches at stop lights as it tries to decide whether to use battery or engine. It says "propulsion power reduced". "Not able to charge". "Shift to park". Check engine light is on.

Incident Sep 26, 2025

Dashboard displays “Shift to Park” message even when the shifter is in the park position for the past month. I am unable to turn off the vehicle completely until I Shift to drive then back to park multiple times.

Incident Sep 26, 2025

The dealer reported having repaired an emissions recall for a fuel vapor leak, however the repair was ineffective and the vehicle still reports the leak as a fault code "slow" and "fast" emissions leak. The dealer refused to recheck their work without payment. Recently I came into possesion of a borescope camera and was able to photograph the dealer's "repair". The photos clearly show the parts for the emissions repair are located in the wrong place as compared with GM's own service bulletin. Therefore the dealer did not do the repair, or failed to do the repair, and refused to check there own work without compensation when informed of the continuing problems and left me to do their recheck of their work at my own expense. I have provided photos of the GM prescribed parts placement and the incorrectly placed parts in my car as well as the resulting damage. We never experienced the relief intended to be provided by the repair service. They claim to have performed the necessary recall service, but THAT IS A FALSE CLAIM. See Chevrolet TSB N192273600. NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY SO FAILED. The dealer, Haselwood Chevrolet, Bremerton Washington, was contacted by phone and email but offers no response. They have the pictures of the botched repair job. Additionally the car needs warranty service for a bad park switch which service they refuse to perform without my agreeing in advance to pay for that in warranty repair.

Incident Oct 8, 2021

In 2020, GM issued a recall (#N192273600) for emissions pipes on the Chevy Volt that could be compromised by rubbing against the A/C hose connector. I took my vehicle to my local dealership (Chesrown Chevrolet) to have this issue remedied, that same year. This year, my check engine light came on and this same dealership informed me that the cause was this same issue (i.e. a compromised emissions pipe due to rubbing against the A/C/ hose connector). Assuming the fix was conducted per GM's specs, GM did not provide an adequate fix for their faulty design.

Incident Sep 1, 2025

Electrically actuated EGR valve fails, it draws too much current and blows the F03 fuse (Labeled “No Walk Home”) which has 4 other components on it, this causes “Reduced propulsion” message, soon after the engine overheats due to one or more of the 3 other components that lost power, and the “Engine not available” message appears and the vehicle loses all motive power. This syndrome is well documented in the GM-Volt online forum. Additionally this vehicle has portions of the EV battery that failed, I am still waiting for battery parts to arrive and its been 4 months, many owners have waited between 1 and 2 years for the battery to be fixed, this contributed to this issue as the electric propulsion would have possibly been available if the warrantied battery was repaired within a reasonable timeframe. I was refused a service loaner. My recent contact with Chevrolet customer service suggested I rent a car, and they will reimburse $45 per day, however they insist I pay for it and when the repair is complete, they will reimburse me. There is a gentleman on the Volt forum who has laid out about $5,000 on rental cars for well over a year, and is finally reluctantly getting a buyback, but they depreciated the car but did separately make good on the rental reimbursement. Neither he nor I really want that result, we want the car repaired in a good faith effort, instead both battery parts and EGR valves are in short supply. Currently the GM part is between $1400 and $2500 when in 2024 the same part was widely available for $240. I understand this is a bit rambling, but the context matters, and GM is dragging their feet on servicing the warranty liability they have. My TZEV warranty is good until 2034 and they are actively trying to kill my car off to save the ongoing cost of servicing this warranty. They are also putting owners at risk. Please consider a battery recall and an EGR valve recall. Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident Aug 16, 2025

When shift lever is moved to Park, the car often does not recognize it is in Park and can't be shut down. It takes a lot of time of moving the selector in and out of Park to finally get the car to recognize it is in Park. During an occasion when the car would not go into Park, the car ran for hours while the driver was at work. This seems to be a known issue (micro switch) with this model. This is available for inspection upon request. Safety is at risk because this condition leads to not being able to shut the car down, which leads to the potential for a dead battery and getting stranded. While I have not yet had my car's problem reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, there is a lot of evidence in online forums of the prevalence of this problem. The vehicle/component has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There weren't any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure as long as we've owned the vehicle. We purchased this vehicle less than a week ago, on August 2, 2025. The issue presented itself once on our test drive and again intermittently in the six days we've owned the vehicle.

Incident Aug 2, 2025

On [XXX], our 2018 Chevy Volt experienced a critical BECM (Battery Energy Control Module) failure while being driven by our [XXX] daughter. The failure caused the vehicle to enter limp mode, resulting in a severe loss of power and the inability to shift properly. Most alarmingly, the brakes failed to function correctly—despite being fully engaged, the car continued to move forward at a red light, placing our daughter in immediate danger. She was only able to safely stop the vehicle by maneuvering it off the road into a parking lot. This BECM defect is a well-documented issue for Chevy Volts from 2016 to 2018. However, Chevrolet has refused to cover our VIN under the existing special service bulletin, despite our vehicle using the same faulty part number as those included in the recall, and has provided no explanation for this exclusion. As a result, we are being forced to pay $2,100 out of pocket to replace a part that GM knows is defective. This is an unacceptable financial burden for a safety-critical issue. GM should immediately issue a recall for all vehicles equipped with this faulty part number to ensure the safety of all drivers and prevent further undue costs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident Aug 1, 2025

Front brake calipers are sticking on, causing the brake pad to engage the rotor causing excessive heat. Risk of fire when parked in garage. I have had the calipers taken apart and cleaned and greased and still have the issue. I have read many reports on message boards of the same issue with no fix.

Incident Mar 1, 2025

When the vehicle is running, and the gear is moved to park, and I attempt to turn off the car by pressing the ignition button, an error shows on the dash display and the message is "Shift to Park". Even though the car is in park, the vehicle doesn't know it. I then cannot turn off my car.

Incident Jun 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 60 MPH, the message “Power Reduced” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was due to the EGR valve. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

Incident May 21, 2025

On May 26, the car was running in electric mode and switched to gas because the power batteries were depleted. Shortly after switching to gas mode, lights came on the dash board saying Engine Not Available Get Service Immediately. I was on a highway at the time and fortunately had just enough left to get off and the car would not move any further. Turning the car on and off did not resolve the problem. It had to be towed to a Chevy dealer. Even after an hour, the messages would come on when trying to start the car. The next day, the dealer called and said they could find no problems with the car and it works fine. This happened once before, but that time there was enough charge in the battery to get home and then later it would start without the message.

Incident May 26, 2025

BECM module is failing producing a reduced propulsion message. This is happening while driving which is a safety issue. Limiting the ability to drive, handle and brake with the vehicle.

Incident May 16, 2025

While driving northbound on a freeway downhill, my vehicle suddenly lost power and displayed a "Shift to Park" message while still in motion. I was unable to accelerate, and the engine became unresponsive. The vehicle began coasting with no power, creating a dangerous situation. A semi-truck was in the lane next to me, and a car was behind me — I nearly got into an accident while trying to safely exit the roadway. This is the second report I’ve made regarding the same issue. The unexpected "Shift to Park" malfunction while driving is a serious safety concern that needs immediate attention.

Incident Apr 22, 2025

Vehicle produced error without any warning about propulsion system no longer working shortly after low fuel warning when tank is fuel and engine fails and vehicles comes to a crawl.

Incident Apr 5, 2025

Issue Summary: The Chevy Volt has experienced recurring electrical problems, including the "Shift to Park" message, loss of power, and dead 12V battery. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership three times due to these issues. One incident involved a power loss while driving at 65 mph, which caused a near-miss with a semi-truck, posing a significant safety risk. Warranty Status: The additional warranty was purchased, but only one of the three incidents occurred while the vehicle was under warranty. Safety Concerns: The repeated electrical failures, especially while driving at high speeds, raise serious safety concerns

Incident Jan 1, 2025

EGR valve failure at highway speed of 70mpg on busy road with passenger and service dog in vehicle on a road trip (on ICE not electric). This produces a reduced propulsion in the vehicle and it becomes unsafe to drive. The EGR failure blew the 15A #3 fuse known as the "no walk home" fuse, so I needed to be towed to a parts store then unplug the EGR valve to make it somewhere safe. It was a Sunday, so every dealership (in the VA area at least) was closed. It is a well known/documented issue and the warranties have been extended, but only in a few states with the CARB protections. There are no warnings, if I was not an adept driver, we could all be dead. I also became stranded ~six hours from my home and only ~eight thousand miles outside of warranty. The replacement part costs ~$1800 without labor - the most expensive EGR valve the 60yr old parts employee at the dealership had ever seen, on a hybrid car which doesn't even truly require the part to operate or to pass emissions in some states. I think GM will help me with a goodwill repair in this case, as I have been a loyal Chevy customer my entire life and Volt owner since 2013 - but that is not the norm, so please take action and extend warranty protection to all Volt owners like the BECM issue.

Incident Mar 30, 2025

Battery failure is still under warranty but they don’t make batteries any more

Incident Dec 26, 2023

Reduction of power , impossible to charge the kilometre says 21 kkm drops from 21 to 0 and the mountain settings dont run, I drive on maintenance , when charging at paying station does not charge,

Incident Mar 3, 2025

On [XXX], while traveling on [XXX] near Rockingham, NC, the car suddenly decelerated, all of the dash warning lights came as well as a 'Reduced Propulsion' message, stop driving the car immediately. We did, called a tow truck, waited an hour and was towed to Diffenbach Chevrolet in Rockingham. They found multiple trouble codes and a bulletin saying the EGR valve needed to be replaced. (As it happens, these have been on a nationwide backorder for years.) The technician cleaned the valve and the car limped home after it sat at the dealership for a few weeks. BTW, we missed the Iron Maiden concert we were headed to Charlotte for. We then had the car towed from Southport, NC, to Jeff Gordon Chevy in Wilmington, NC. They had it for a while and stated the part was on back order and with no ETA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident Nov 13, 2024

The Volt experienced a "Shift to Park" error, preventing it from recognizing when it was in park, even when the gearshift was engaged. While this issue was frustrating, it initially didn’t affect the car’s driving capability. I simply had to wiggle the gearshift until the system registered that it was in park. This problem persisted for a month until one day, the vehicle would no longer shift into any mode, though the "Shift to Park" message remained on the dashboard. The car turned on but would not accelerate. The issue was eventually repaired at the dealership, a process that took about two weeks. During this time, we were not initially offered a rental car. It was only after we called and insisted that the dealership provided one while waiting for the necessary parts. This issue appeared to be a factory defect. While part of the repair was covered under warranty, we still had to pay $685 out of pocket.

Incident Dec 17, 2024

Yesterday, my daughter was driving on [XXX] in Seattle traveling around 65mph when the vehicle lost power and reported the error of "shift to park", "Propulsion reduced" and "StabiliTrak failure". Luckily, she coasted to an off-ramp and safely put the vehicle in park. Thankfully she was not involved in an accident, but was very shaken by the experience. After doing some research it seems that the Chevy Volt has a known issue with the BECM and GM has failed to issue a recall, putting thousands of lives at risk. After turning the vehicle on and off several times, she was able to get it started and with minimal propulsion on residential streets was able to return to our house. this morning I dropped the vehicle at our local GM dealer for diagnosis and repair, but wanted to file a report, to hopefully prevent this from happening to another unsuspecting driver/child. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident Feb 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the EVAP pipe was rubbing against the air conditioning hose connector. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under GM Campaign Number: N192273600; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 84,800.

Incident Jan 15, 2025

EGR valve clogged and failed on a long trip, bricked the car and had to tow many miles back to home shop. now have been waiting 9 months and still no idea when the part will be available from Chevrolet. My shop and I have claims to Chevrolet for the part for service but still nothing and is getting so we are inconvenienced in travel.

Incident Jun 23, 2024