2012 Chevrolet Volt Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

26Engine complaints

10.6%Of all 245 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS84 · 34.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM78 · 31.8%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM37 · 15.1%

ENGINE26 · 10.6%

SERVICE BRAKES23 · 9.4%

Share of the 245 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Chevrolet Volt overview page.

What owners report

“11/10/2018 WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH HEADING SCHOOL THE CAR TOTALLY SHUT DOWN FOR NOT REASON, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE EV MODE SHUT DOWN AND…”NHTSA complaint 11151786 — filed 11/15/2018

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. IN…”NHTSA complaint 10960002 — filed 03/10/2017

“I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 4.5 YEARS. IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS THE ERROR MESSAGE "PROPULSION POWER REDUCED" HAS HAPPENED AND THE VEHICLE HAS…”NHTSA complaint 10874176 — filed 06/14/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Volt have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Chevrolet Volt: 26 of 245 complaints on file (10.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Volt have in total?

245 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 6 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 11 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.