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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Chevrolet Volt Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 245 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2012 Chevrolet Volt owner complaints

Owners have filed 245 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, describing incidents dated September 1, 2011 to May 26, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 86 complaints
  • Electrical System 86 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 37 complaints
  • Engine 27 complaints
  • Service Brakes 23 complaints
  • Power Train 22 complaints

Of the 245 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 245 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11746435 · Filed

    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. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be…

  • ODI #11742075 · Filed

    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" . My local Chevy dealership confirmed a high volt battery leak its now at risk for catching on fire

  • ODI #11724225 · Filed

    Car will randomly accelerate when not on gas pedal and/or a delay in brakes working. Has happened on more than one occasion.

Read all 245 complaints

Owner-reported

2012 Chevrolet Volt mileage at failure

184 of the 245 complaints on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Electrical SystemMedian 85,000 milesMiddle half 50,000–110,000 milesBased on 71 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Chevrolet Volt in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

On, but Unattended, Vehicle may cause CO Poisoning

NHTSA #15V145000 · Electrical System — Ignition · NHTSA notice

Reported March 13, 2015 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 50,236 vehicles

Repair completion: 89.79% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14617 · Owners notified April 15, 2015 · Vehicles built April 12, 2011 – June 6, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Brakes May Lock Up/FMVSS 126, 135

NHTSA #13V271000 · Electronic Stability Control (ESC) · NHTSA notice

Reported June 27, 2013 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 4 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 13184 · Vehicles built March 1, 2012 – April 17, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Chevrolet Volt model years

Check your 2012 Chevrolet Volt VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Volt at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Chevrolet VIN