Chevrolet Volt Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2017 draws 15.11 complaints per run and the 2014 1.67, a 9.0-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 87.9% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 685 complaints, typically at 5.5 years.

Chevrolet Volt years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Chevrolet Volt — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2019	1.7	34	20	yes
2018	5.21	224	43	yes
2017	15.11	695	46	yes
2016	5.09	163	32	yes
2015	1.62	42	26	yes
2014	1.67	92	55	yes
2013	4.08	302	74	yes
2012	4.11	222	54	yes
2011	3	45	15	yes

ROWS 9·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2017 Volt asks a median $10,411, against $10,999 for a 2018, the next model year: about 5% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 5 Chevrolet Volt years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2017, 2018, 2012; the three worth hunting are 2014, 2013, 2012.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Chevrolet Volt — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	68	3.8%	covered
1 year	55	6.8%	covered
2 years	95	12.1%	covered
3 years	227	24.7%	you pay
4 years	219	36.9%	you pay
5 years	218	49%	you pay
6 years	286	64.9%	you pay
7 years	251	78.9%	you pay
8 years	193	89.6%	you pay
9 years	92	94.7%	you pay
10 years	42	97.1%	you pay
11 years	25	98.4%	you pay
12 years	16	99.3%	you pay
13 years	6	99.7%	you pay
14 years	6	100%	you pay

ROWS 15·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 12.1% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 87.9% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 43% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Electrical System at 5.5 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Chevrolet Volt — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Electrical System	685	5.5 yrs	14	9
Fuel/propulsion System	496	6.4 yrs	8	1
Power Train	427	4.6 yrs	2	—
Engine	363	5.7 yrs	5	1
Air Bags	302	6.4 yrs	8	—
Unknown Or Other	221	4.6 yrs	4	5
Service Brakes	95	4.6 yrs	16	—
Vehicle Speed Control	64	5.8 yrs	3	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Volt's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Corolla draws 5.16, the Lexus IS 1.31 and the BMW M3 1.49, against 5.04 for the Volt.

FIG.05·Chevrolet Volt — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Volt	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Corolla	12,389	219	1981–2026
Lexus IS	47	118	2001–2026
BMW M3	565	78	1988–2026
Acura TLX	893	41	2015–2026
Ford Focus	22,576	138	2000–2026
Subaru WRX	290	17	2015–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Chevrolet Volt

Recalls15 campaigns Fuel economy42 mpg best Common problems1,868 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space19 cu ft Used prices521 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2011–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chevrolet Volt reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 5.04 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Volt years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2017, 2018, 2012. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2014, 2013, 2012. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Volt problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 5.5 years, followed by Fuel/propulsion System.

Will the warranty cover Volt problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 12.1% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 43% of the complaints here.

Is the Volt more reliable than the Toyota Corolla?

Yes: 5.04 complaints per production run for the Volt against 5.16 for the Toyota Corolla.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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