15 Common Problems Of A Chevy Volt - The Driver Adviser (2024)

What kind of problems does a Chevy Volt usually have, and are they reliable? This blog lists the most critical issues you should consider while buying a Chevy Volt. First, let’s take a look at a quick answer.

The most common problems of the Chevy Volt include the windows fogging up during winter, the transmission not recognizing it’s in park mode, and steering wheel vibrations at highway speeds. Finally, charging issues such as the charge door not opening and the Volt refusing to charge at level 2 chargers have been reported.

That was the most straightforward answer possible. In the article below, we’ll outline all the problems in detail. This includes identifying it, fixing it, and how much it costs to fix. Read on!

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Windows Fog Up In Winter

Now there is a defogger that does the trick. Still, as most owners would like to get the maximum range, the defogger option does feel heavy as it will hit the efficiency, and your range will considerably decrease after prolonged use. The windows will get foggy as soon as you turn off the defogger.

Some products in the market claim to reduce the fogging issue, however, they are not that good, and we advise against using such products. They will reduce overall visibility during the night, and the residue that sticks to the window will become an ordeal to remove. It’s best to stay away from defogging products.

The trick you can use is cleaning the windows regularly from the inside and out. With super clean glass, they will notice a considerable decrease in the fogging problem. The other trick is to crack open the windows a little to let the air circulate. The fogging happens due to the change in temperature outside compared to the inside.

Interior Trims Rattling

It is one of the major pains in the interior of the Volt. The interior trims rattle, which is something you could address—only if you knew where the sound was coming from. Once you pinpoint the place, you can then remove the trim and place some zip ties or velcro on the spot that rattles.

Make sure that you don’t do it yourself while driving. Have a family member or friend help you find the exact place while you drive or vice versa.

The Mode Button Doesn’t Work Sometimes

This is a problem that might happen to some and not to others. The piece inside that presses onto the board deteriorates after some time. It could be because of extensive use; you can remove the cap and put electrical tape in a way that covers the gap, and you will be good to go.

You can also use silicon and get the same result. It depends on your preference. So sports mode will work without a problem now.

The Charge Door/Latch Not Opening

It is a problem you will find in every other Chevy Volt mode before 2014. The automotive door opening mechanism would stop working, and the door could get stuck in the closed position. Due to this problem, you will also be looking at a check engine light. The scanner tool will show codes like POCD2 and P1E00.

This problem might occur even when you have a Volt with a few thousand miles on the clock. Luckily there are some things you can do. You can put some silicone grease on the door/latch, which will help keep the surface moist/loose, and the door will open without a hitch.

The silicon grease would have to be cleaned every once in a while and applied again. So you would have to keep doing this until you sell it eventually.

Coolant Bypass Valve Failure P26A8

P26A8 is a common code you would get in case of a check engine light. The coolant bypass valve replacement is going to cost somewhere around $350. These bypass valves go to heaven around 80k miles or so. If you are in the used market looking to buy a Chevy Volt, bring a scanner tool to check for any codes.

Chugging Issue Causing Misfire or Hesitation While Accelerating

It is a reasonably common issue that happens when you drive on gas only; this issue has been discussed on forums repeatedly as there is no viable solution in sight. However, research has shown several cases where the transmission fluid was so low that it was basically empty.

There might have been a leak somewhere that causes this problem, so it’s best to check the transmission fluid level. No dipstick is available to check the level, so the manual is the only option. After topping up the fluid, you can check if you still have the problem or not. If the problem persists, it would be one of those issues that are just there with no possible issue in sight.

Shifting to Park Issue

There have been several reports regarding this shifting to park problem on Chevy Volt. When you push the power button to turn off the vehicle, it will display the “actioned required shift to park” message. You might also experience a reduction of power or loss of propulsion altogether.

You might be able to shut down the vehicle by pressing the power button repeatedly. Make sure you are not traveling at highway speeds. There are instances when Chevy volt owners, instead of pushing the mode button, accidentally double pressed the power button on the highway, having left with no brakes, power steering, etc.

The position of the mode and power button in the first generation is confusing; the second-gen is much better (although the problem still occurs in this generation).

There are two service bulletins available for this issue; if the dealership cannot solve your problem, you would have to go for the whole shifter assembly replacement, which will cost a lot if you don’t have a warranty. So make sure to put this shifter in the park position and check if it turns off normally when inspecting a Chevy Volt for any faults.

Steering Gear Problem

This recall involved vehicles that were manufactured in April 2014. The tie rod is said to be left untightened, causing the tie rod to come off from the steering gear and potentially causing an accident. This problem will cause a complete loss of steering, so you can imagine what can happen next.

The problem is taken care of by the dealerships. The recall was announced in 2015, and you can check if your vehicle has attended the recall by looking into the service records. The GM number for this particular recall is 15386, and the NHTSA campaign number is 15V442000.

Brakes Pedal Movement Reduced

It is a problem that will cause a fatal accident in case the master cylinder completely goes out. When there is a problem with the brake master cylinder, you will start to lose movement, so make sure that when you push the brake pedal, there is enough movement. If the movement is less than 1 inch, make sure that you have it inspected.

The dealership cost for brake master replacement is going to cost you $1500+. It is an expensive fix, so check the brakes thoroughly when inspecting the vehicle for buying purposes.

In case of failure, the regen brakes might be able to get you out of a pinch, but it’s best not to take any risk. The regen brakes, however, can get you to about two mph.

Vibration at Highway Speeds

If you are experiencing vibrations at high speeds, there might be a couple of reasons you are experiencing this issue. There have been several complaints about the vibration; the most dominant culprit is the tires having flat spots. In the video below, you can see how this makes the steering wheel wobble.

If the wheels are not the problem, you might have a wheel balancing issue, or your alignment might be out. In both cases, you can have it fixed from any other reputable alignment shop, and they will balance the wheels and align the suspension and wheels so that you won’t have that shaky ride, and you will finally get a smooth ride.

You can have this service taken care of within $100. If your tires are the problem, you will have to replace them, and thus you will have to spend on a new set of tires.

110 ESV Charge Cord

If you are experiencing an issue charging with the 110 plugs showing a red light after turning on with green, you probably have a bad ground. You can check the ground in the rear passenger side bumper or the rear cargo area in Gen 2. The EVSE here might not be an issue when you have a problem with the circuit.

You can try using a different power outlet and see if the problem still occurs; if the problem persists, you can then move on to checking the EVSE.

Issue With Lithium-Ion Battery

If your engine light comes on when you are driving on electric, you will notice the car shifting to gas, and the scanner will give you codes like PE00, P1E00, and a bunch of U-codes.

This problem is a telltale sign that your BECM (Battery Energy Control Module) is out; you will have to replace the BECM of your Chevy Volt. If your battery warranty is still intact, you will get it replaced under warranty even when the general warranty has expired. You will have to bear the cost if you are out of battery warranty.

The cost of BECM replacement is somewhere around $500. The part costs around $350, while the diagnosis can cost about $150. This part is often on back order, so order it as soon as the issue is diagnosed.

This issue is pretty common in 2017 models, and the later models have also been seen with this issue, but slightly less than the 2017 models.

Unable to Charge on L2 Charger

Suppose you are having issues with charging on the L2 charger station. You might also have a problem with the ELR charging. You will also see a message “unable to charge,” which means you will have to replace some things.

Usually, the charge port would be replaced, which should solve the problem. However, some might have issues even after replacing the charge port. The next possible reason would be the onboard charging unit. Another reason could be the failing junction relay. Replacing the fuse will solve the problem if it is the reason that is causing this issue.

However, before you move on to replacing stuff, it is a good practice as dirt and debris sometimes cause the same problem. If cleaning does not solve the issue, you would have to resort to the replacing tactic.

LED DRL “Fang”

If you are experiencing an issue with one of the DRLs turning off when you turn on the headlights, you probably have a fault with the internal wiring. The exact cause will require a further diagnosis to pinpoint the precise cause. The diagnosis and repair can cost you somewhere around $200.

If your vehicle is still under warranty, you can have it fixed without a cost, so make sure to book an appointment. If you are in the used market, make sure to check the DRLs when you are inspecting them.

MyLink Infotainment Display Not Booting Sometimes

Infotainment issues aren’t uncommon problems with Chevy vehicles but the Volt suffers from an issue where the screen won’t come to life when you turn on the car.

Nothing works on the screen; the rear view camera, however, might still work without a problem. The screen will come to life when you turn off the car and turn it on after a minute or two.

There are a couple of things you can do to solve this issue. Before you do anything with the electronics, removing the battery’s negative terminal and then the positive is good practice. You can remove and reinsert fuse#25 (display) in the instrument panel fuse box.

The fuse normally shorts out and causes these kinds of problems. If your Chevy Volt USB ports are not working, you can remove and reinsert fuse#26, and you will be good to go. You can also go for the software update option; ask your dealership where you take it for regular maintenance, and they will be able to do that without a hitch.

The software in question will be the HMI module that you can update. There is also a recall for this issue, so you can have your Chevy Volt inspected at the dealership. This issue is relatively common in the gen two models.