2012 Chevrolet Volt Problems, Recalls & Reliability
359 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 32/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 72,400 miles.
Typical
Where 2012 sits among all Volt years
What owners report
“Lcd screen that shows speed and fuel level and information shorted out while driving”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Volt
“Airbag light coming on intermittently took car to chevrolet dealer and was told it was a bad sensor in the passenger seat and the cost would be 900 dollars for part and labor.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Volt
“Complete loss of propulsion while driving at highway speed immediately after transition from battery to fuel. Able to coast off of interstate and come to a stop on a busy frontage road, not able to accelerate further to move out of traffic.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Volt
“Volt loses power when switching from electric to gas motor. Has no occurred two times, both resulting in a tow bill. Te volt depletes the onboard battery charge and is then supposed to switch ove to the niternal combustion engine. Instead, at the time of transition the vehicle loses all propulsion…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Volt
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 261 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 79,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 44,000 and 109,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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…
Fix: 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,…
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…
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…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 22V063000.
Technical service bulletins
1,847 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
The 2012 Chevrolet Volt drew 359 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 32/100, scored against the model's worst year (2017).
What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Volt problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt are electrical (92 complaints), airbags (87), and fuel system (37).
At what mileage do 2012 Chevrolet Volt problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Chevrolet Volt problems around 79,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 44,000 and 109,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Volt have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 Chevrolet Volt. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.