2012 Chevrolet Volt: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle	2012 / chevrolet / volt
known issues	5 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-09)
complaints	245 on file (2011-09-04 → 2026-06-25)
recalls	2
investigations	3
fars	4 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Instrument panel or driver display going blank while drivingELECTRICAL SYSTEM43 complaints2016-03 → 2026-06volt-2012-instrument-panel-display-blank

10872363 WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED
11486953 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
11746435 The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact attempted to start the vehicle; however, the instrument panel displayed a blank screen

Passenger sensing system malfunction and airbag lightAIR BAGS87 complaints2016-05 → 2025-09volt-2012-passenger-sensing-airbag-light

10944228 MY 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSOR THAT DETECTS THE WEIGHT OF A INDIVIDUAL IN THE SEAT. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND BEGAN AROUND 19,000 MILES
11583704 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
11644947 passenger presence detection system is malfunctioning, and causing a "service airbag" warning. This is a huge safety issue that could be detrimental or deathly in the event of an accident

Reduced propulsion power or stall while drivingFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM40 complaints2016-01 → 2026-06volt-2012-propulsion-power-reduced-stall

10874176 IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS THE ERROR MESSAGE "PROPULSION POWER REDUCED" HAS HAPPENED AND THE VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO LIP MODE. ALL THREE TIMES THE MESSAGE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, BATTERY DEPLETED, AND GAS ENGINE RUNNING
11602358 Propulsion Power Reduced message showed near the speedometer. My speed was immediately decreased. The check engine light also came on. Despite pressing the gas pedal, the speed could not be maintained and I had to pull off quickly before causing an accident
11742075 Message on dash "Service High Voltage charging system" . Code cleared by inexperienced mechanic. Stalled on the side of the road with "Engine not available" , "Low propulsion"

Brake pedal requiring excess pressure or loss of assistSERVICE BRAKES18 complaints2016-02 → 2026-03volt-2012-brake-pedal-loss-of-assist

11557540 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
11560993 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
10960440 THE SPEED CONTROL WOULD STICK ON DURING VERY COLD WEATHER. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWICE TO MY WIFE. SHE RODE THE BRAKE TO SLOW IT DOWN BUT THE CAR KEPT FIGHTING THE BRAKE

Charging equipment or outlet overheating during chargingUNKNOWN OR OTHER4 complaints2016-04 → 2018-08volt-2012-charger-outlet-overheating

10853865 2012 VOLT CHARGER HAS BURNED MY OUTLET, AND MY MELTED IT AND IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE
11000900 THE CHARGER OVER HEATS AND MELTS WIRES COATING SHORTING THE WIRING CAUSE CHARGER TO BLOW FUSE LEAVING A FIRE HAZARD IN YOUR GARAGE
11121732 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT CHARGING STATION HAS BURNED THE OUTLET IN MY GARAGE THREE TIMES. EACH TIME I HIRED AN ELECTRICIAN TO REPLACE BURNED OUTLET AND VERIFY IT IS WIRED PROPERLY. WHATEVER THE MALFUNCTION IS, IT DOES NOT TRIP THE GFCI. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
245	2011-09-04	2026-06-25	6	2	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:86; AIR BAGS:86; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM:37; ENGINE:26; SERVICE BRAKES:23

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
15V145000	13/03/2015	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION	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.	If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, increasing the risk of personal injury.	GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine management software to limit the time that the stationary vehicle can be left in the ON position, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14617.
13V271000	27/06/2013	ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	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."	If the brakes lock up it could cause a loss of steering control and/or a lengthened distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.	General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will install a new brake pressure modulator valve free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 12, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's recall number is 13184.

Investigations all years →

action_number	status	subject	components	opened	closed	recall_campaign	summary
DP22005	closed	Pedestrian alert sounds	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM	2023-01-27	2023-08-07	22V063000	NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc
PE11037	closed	Post-Crash EV Fire Hazard	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY	2011-11-25	2012-01-20	·	The subject vehicles, which employ emerging technology, are range-extended electric vehicles that utilize a high voltage (HV) battery to provide energy for propulsion. The HV battery is lithium-ion based technology that has a nominal full charge of 390 VDC, a 16 kWh capacity, and a control system that incorporates liquid (antifreeze) cooling and various electronic devices (control modules, sensors, wiring, etc) to monitor and manage the HV battery. The HV battery, portions of the cooling system, and the control system are contained within a common enclosure.During an NCAP oblique side pole imp
PE19013	closed	Passenger Sensing System	AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER	2019-09-17	2021-07-02	·	In September 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-013 to assess the potential safety related effects of a malfunction of the Passenger Sensing System (PSS) in 2012-2013 Model Year (MY) Chevrolet Volt vehicles. Consumers reported that due to a malfunction of the PSS, the air bag system malfunction indicator light (MIL) was activated. Many of the complaints noted the malfunction occurred after the warranty period expired and mentioned high repair costs as a major deterrent to the repair of the vehicle.The PSS sensor mat is embedded in the front passenger seat cushion and i

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	4	legacy-code	0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 Chevrolet Volt vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/chevrolet/volt

@misc{wrenchpro_2012_chevrolet_volt_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 Chevrolet Volt},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/chevrolet/volt}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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