UNEXPECTEDLY, GENERALLY ON UNEVEN STREET/ROADWAY, HILLY THE BRAKES DO NOT IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE AND WILL CREATE A FEELING THAT YOU MANY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP AND/OR STEER, OR KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. AFTER TAKING THE AUTOMOBILE TO A DEALER ABOUT FOUR TIMES, IT WAS…

12/29/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10668925.0

2012 Volt · airbags

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the front passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the front passenger’s side air bag Passenger Sensor System…

12/28/2023 · NHTSA ODI #11562249.0

2012 Volt · electrical

AT RANDOM TIMES AND DAYS, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE CENTER LCD DISPLAY IS BLANK. THIS DISPLAY IS CRUCIAL FOR THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT DISPLAYS YOUR SPEED, THE BATTERY LIFE AND GAS TANK AMOUNT, TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS AS WELL AS OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS NEEDED WHEN…

12/28/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10937982.0

2012 Volt · powertrain

2012 CHEVROLET VOLT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOSING POWER FOR PROPULSION ON THE HIGHWAY/ROADS AT ALL SPEEDS. SHUTTING OFF. ELECTRIC CHARGE IS SUPPOSED TO SWITCH TO THE GASOLINE MOTOR WHEN IT IS LOW, BUT IT DOES NOT, AND VICE VERSA. IT SHOWS HYBRID BATTERY MANAGEMENT HAS A LOSS OF…

12/27/2022 · NHTSA ODI #11498960.0

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi

At 80,000 miles

Likely repair cost in next 24 months

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 13V271000 27/06/2013

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, through April 17, 2012

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.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Volt reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 243 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Chevrolet Volt is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2012 Chevrolet Volt?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 78 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Chevrolet Volt has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Chevrolet Volt?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 243 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with chevrolet. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.