YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Volt Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 37 engine-related complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, 15% of all complaints filed for the year. The median mileage at failure was 64,700 miles, and no related recalls are listed for this component.

Engine complaints
37
15% of 245
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
64,700 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle stalling or losing propulsion power without warning while driving at highway speeds, sometimes leading to a coast to a stop in traffic.
  • Several complaints describe sudden power loss paired with a check engine light and, in some cases, a dealer unable to duplicate or diagnose the failure.
  • Some owners report the vehicle entering a limp mode with a 'propulsion power reduced' message, most often occurring at startup with the gas engine running.
  • A few complaints describe the engine or drivetrain surging then losing power mid-drive, in one case accompanied by a locked steering wheel.
  • One owner reported a cylinder misfire that caused the vehicle to stall at 60 mph before being repaired by the dealer.
  • One complaint describes a speed control that stuck on during cold weather, forcing the driver to fight the brake to slow down.

When 2012 Chevrolet Volt engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 4, 2011, latest Mar 13, 2026.

2012 Chevrolet Volt engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2011Apr 2014Jul 2015Jun 2018Oct 2019Sep 2021Jul 2024
37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2011 to Mar 2026; peak Mar 2017 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Volt model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20115 (10%)
  2. 201237 (15%)
  3. 201343 (14%)
  4. 201411 (12%)
  5. 201510 (23%)
  6. 201654 (32%)
  7. 2017212 (30%)
  8. 201857 (26%)
  9. 20194 (12%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Volt have?
NHTSA lists 37 engine-related complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, which is 15% of the 245 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt engine?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the engine component on the 2012 Chevrolet Volt.
At what mileage do 2012 Volt engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints on the 2012 Chevrolet Volt is 64,700 miles.
What kind of engine problems do 2012 Volt owners report?
Owners report sudden stalling or power loss while driving, check engine lights, a limp-mode 'propulsion power reduced' warning, and in one case a cylinder misfire and a stuck speed control in cold weather.
Were there any crashes linked to engine complaints on the 2012 Volt?
The data shows 1 crash and 0 fires and 0 injuries among the reported engine complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt.

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.