YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Volt Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#3 most-complained of 9 Volt years

The 2012 Chevrolet Volt ranks 3rd worst of 9 model years, with a Complaint Index of 75, 245 NHTSA complaints, and 2 recalls. Electrical System (36%) and Airbags (35%) are the top reported problem areas, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Volt years.

Complaints
245
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
6 / 2
Injuries / deaths
11 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
37
35 city / 40 hwy

Top 2012 Chevrolet Volt problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System87 (36%)
  2. Airbags86 (35%)
  3. Engine37 (15%)
  4. Fuel System37 (15%)
  5. Brakes25 (10%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain22 (9%)
  7. Structure & Body20 (8%)
  8. Other19 (8%)
  9. Steering6 (2%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (2%)

What owners report

  • Rear reverse lighting reported as too dim to judge distance, contributing to a low-speed backing crash.
  • Charging cord/outlet reportedly overheated and melted during 110-volt home charging, producing smoke and a smoldering electrical outlet.
  • Owners describe unexpected loss of braking or engine power warnings during low-speed maneuvers, leading to collisions.
  • Side or passenger airbags reportedly failed to deploy in moderate-speed side-impact and T-bone crashes.
  • Vehicle reportedly stalled at low speed near a merge point and would not restart for an extended period.
  • Power steering assist reportedly cut out twice within days at very low mileage, nearly causing a lane-change collision.
2012 Chevrolet Volt complaints: complaints filed per quarter292011 Q32013 Q42015 Q32017 Q22019 Q12020 Q42022 Q32024 Q3
348 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2019 Q3 (29).

2012 Chevrolet Volt recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V145000Mar 13, 2015Electrical System50,236 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    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.

    Risk: 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.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 13V271000Jun 27, 2013Brakes4 vehicles

    Service brakes

    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."

    Risk: 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.

    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.

2012 Chevrolet Volt fuel economy and fuel cost

City
35 MPG
Highway
40 MPG
Combined
37 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,150
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium Gas or Electricity
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Volt years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Best1349137
2012Avoid75245237
2013Avoid88308337
2014Good3893037

All Chevrolet Volt years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2012 Volt has a Complaint Index of 75 and ranks 3rd worst of 9 model years, so it is rated Avoid relative to other Volt years.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Volt?
Electrical System complaints make up 36% of reports and Airbags make up 35%, followed by Engine and Fuel System issues at 15% each, per NHTSA data.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Volt have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Volt: one for an electrical system battery drain issue and one for a brake pressure modulator valve defect, neither marked do-not-drive.
At what mileage do 2012 Volt problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 80,000 for the 2012 Volt overall, with Electrical System failures reported at a median of 72,400 miles.
How does the 2012 Volt compare to other years?
The 2012 Volt's Complaint Index of 75 is worse than the 2011 (13), 2014 (38), 2015 (0), 2016 (50), 2018 (63), and 2019 (25) model years, but better than 2013 (88) and 2017 (100).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.