2016 Chevrolet Volt Problems, Recalls & Reliability

285 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt, alongside 1 recall campaign and 2 defect investigations. It scores 23/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 45,558 miles.

285Complaints
23/100Trouble index
1Recalls
44,000Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2016 sits among all Volt years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 78 complaints (27%) · typically ~45,558 miles
“Sensor does not recognize when car is in park. Continues to run and will not turn off when in park. Error message displayed is "shift to park" even when in park. This is a safety issue because car will not disengage or turn off. This occurs frequently.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Volt
Fuel system 64 complaints (22%) · typically ~57,500 miles
“P0401, P0B9A Loss propulsion power on highway Shift to Park issues And car uses gas before electricity is empty”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Volt
Transmission & drivetrain 51 complaints (18%) · typically ~40,000 miles
“Car won't shut down and states shift to park on screen while car is in park. Shift assembly is bad.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Volt
Engine 49 complaints (17%) · typically ~42,779 miles
“EGR valve has failed leaving me stranded on side of the road. Problem was confirmed by a Chevrolet dealership. Engine light came on moments before it happened.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Volt
Other 23 complaints (8%) · typically ~41,045 miles
Speed control 6 complaints (2%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 90 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 44,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,217 and 71,114 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (1)

AIR BAGS 17V621000 2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…

Federal defect investigations

Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module PE23022 opened 2023, closed 2025
Pedestrian alert sounds DP22005 opened 2023, closed 2023

Led to recall campaign 22V063000.

Technical service bulletins

1,332 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2016 Volt TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2016peak 97 in 20242026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Volt reliable?

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt drew 285 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 23/100, scored against the model's worst year (2017).

What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Volt problems?

The top reported problems for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt are electrical (78 complaints), fuel system (64), and transmission & drivetrain (51).

At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Volt problems show up?

Owners most often report 2016 Chevrolet Volt problems around 44,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,217 and 71,114 miles.

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Volt have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2016 Chevrolet Volt. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2015 Volt All Volt years 2017 Volt →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

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.