2013 Chevrolet Volt Problems, Recalls & Reliability
448 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 40/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 76,500 miles.
Below average
Where 2013 sits among all Volt years
What owners report
“My sensor on the passenger seat is faulty my airbag service light keeps on turning on and off consistently. Never had an accident or spills on the seat.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Volt
“The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that the vehicle would not charge. The contact stated that the "service high voltage charging system" warning message was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Volt
“Propulsion power reduced error has happened many times but the recall lookup shows that there are no active recalls on our car. There was a recall on this problem in 2018 so I think it may have been done my the last owner but it is still having this problem.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Volt
“Gas generator failed to start when battery was depleted while on freeway. Warning message about reduced propulsion and yellow engine indicator illuminated and then fews moments after vehicle could no longer accelerate and was slowing down so pulled over onto shoulder and got towed vehicle will not…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Volt
“The airbag for the passenger seat is faulty and turns off and on, took it to the dealership and they said it was a $1000 to fix it. Said it was a bad wiring harness”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Volt
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 300 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 66,781 miles. Half of those reports fall between 37,000 and 85,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. An update to the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 (HPCM2) may have disabled the cell balancing function causing a low-voltage condition.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the HPCM2, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this…
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,…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 22V063000.
Technical service bulletins
1,949 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2013 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 2013 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
The 2013 Chevrolet Volt drew 448 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 40/100, scored against the model's worst year (2017).
What are the most common 2013 Chevrolet Volt problems?
The top reported problems for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt are airbags (161 complaints), electrical (64), and fuel system (53).
At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Volt problems show up?
Owners most often report 2013 Chevrolet Volt problems around 66,781 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 37,000 and 85,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Volt have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2013 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.