2016 Chevrolet Volt Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
50/100
#5 most-complained of 9 Volt years
The 2016 Chevrolet Volt has 169 complaints and a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 5th worst out of 9 model years and earning a Caution verdict. Electrical System issues dominate at 46% of complaints, alongside one airbag recall.
- Complaints
- 169
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 42
- 43 city / 42 hwy
Top 2016 Chevrolet Volt problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System77 (46%)
- Fuel System64 (38%)
- Engine54 (32%)
- Transmission & Powertrain51 (30%)
- Other20 (12%)
- Brakes5 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (2%)
- Airbags2 (1%)
- Steering2 (1%)
- Structure & Body1 (1%)
What owners report
- Loss of steering and brake response after a StabiliTrak warning appeared, sometimes leading to a crash.
- Sudden loss of power steering with a 'Reduced Propulsion' message while driving in reverse or at highway speed.
- Center display console going blank intermittently on startup, hiding charge and climate information.
- Vehicle failing to start despite being recently serviced, requiring jump-starts or towing to a dealer.
- Unexpected loss of acceleration or stalling at low speed, with the car rolling backward instead of moving forward.
- StabiliTrak, ABS, and traction control warning lights triggered together, with metal debris found on the tone ring.
2016 Chevrolet Volt recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 17V621000Oct 5, 2017Airbags16 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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.
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: 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 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17387.
2016 Chevrolet Volt fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 43 MPG
- Highway
- 42 MPG
- Combined
- 42 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,550
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular 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.
2016 compared with other Volt years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 169 complaints and a Complaint Index of 50 for the 2016 Volt, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 5th worst among the 9 Volt model years tracked.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Chevrolet Volt?
- Electrical System issues are the top problem area, making up 46% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 45,558 miles. Fuel System and Engine issues follow at 38% and 32%.
- Does the 2016 Chevrolet Volt have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 17V621000) covering the driver's frontal airbag, which may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2016 Volt compare to other model years?
- The 2016 Volt's Complaint Index of 50 is worse than 2011 (13), 2014 (38), 2015 (0), and 2019 (25), but better than 2012 (75), 2013 (88), 2017 (100), and 2018 (63).