YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Volt Structure & Body Problems

NHTSA lists 20 Structure & Body complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, 8% of its 245 total complaints that year. One crash and two injuries are tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 61,500 miles, and no related recalls exist.

Structure & Body complaints
20
8% of 245
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
61,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Passenger seat airbag sensor intermittently fails to detect an occupant, triggering a warning light and disabling the airbag.
  • Rear liftgate struts weaken over time, causing the hatch to fall unexpectedly after being propped open, especially in cold weather.
  • Rear window glass shows visible optical distortion that owners say does not meet expected quality standards.
  • Side airbag failed to deploy during a low-speed crash, resulting in head injury to the driver.

When 2012 Chevrolet Volt body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 18, 2012, latest Feb 25, 2025.

2012 Chevrolet Volt structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2012Mar 2016Apr 2018Nov 2018Oct 2019May 2024
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2012 to Feb 2025; peak Sep 2019 (3).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Structure & Body complaints by Volt model year

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

  1. 20113 (6%)
  2. 201220 (8%)
  3. 201337 (12%)
  4. 20146 (6%)
  5. 20154 (9%)
  6. 20161 (1%)
  7. 20174 (1%)
  8. 20182 (1%)
  9. 20191 (3%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are structure and body complaints on the 2012 Chevrolet Volt?
NHTSA records 20 Structure & Body complaints for the 2012 Volt, which is 8% of the 245 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt's structure and body issues?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls for this problem area on the 2012 Volt.
At what mileage do these problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2012 Volt is 61,500 miles.
Were there any crashes or injuries linked to this area?
Yes. NHTSA data show one crash and two injuries associated with Structure & Body complaints on the 2012 Volt.
How does the 2012 Volt compare to other Volt years for this problem area?
The 2012 Volt's 8% share of complaints in this area is lower than the 2013 Volt's 12% (37 complaints) but higher than most later model years, which fall to 1% to 3%.

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.