YearToAvoid

2017 Chevrolet Volt Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 9 Volt years

The 2017 Chevrolet Volt ranks worst of 9 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 698 complaints, including 9 fires and 8 crashes. Electrical System issues account for 45% of complaints, making it an Avoid year relative to other Volt years.

Complaints
698
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
8 / 9
Injuries / deaths
11 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
42
43 city / 42 hwy

Top 2017 Chevrolet Volt problems

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

  1. Electrical System312 (45%)
  2. Fuel System238 (34%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain219 (31%)
  4. Engine212 (30%)
  5. Other115 (16%)
  6. Brakes35 (5%)
  7. Steering16 (2%)
  8. Airbags12 (2%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (2%)
  10. Structure & Body4 (1%)

What owners report

  • Electrical system fires have occurred both while driving on the highway and while the vehicle sat parked and charging, including one incident at the charger plug.
  • Owners report the vehicle failing to shut off after pressing the power button, with the system appearing to turn back on repeatedly.
  • Some owners describe unexpected acceleration or rollback during low-speed maneuvers, including automatic parking assist engaging incorrectly and a vehicle rolling backward after the driver exited.
  • A fuel system complaint describes the vehicle unable to turn off, a constant motor light, and a smell of smoke and gasoline.
  • An EGR valve failure was reported causing blown fuses and reduced propulsion, described as a safety issue by multiple dealerships.
2017 Chevrolet Volt complaints: complaints filed per quarter1272016 Q22017 Q42019 Q22020 Q42022 Q22023 Q42025 Q2
1186 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q4 (127).

2017 Chevrolet Volt recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2017 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.

2017 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
2015Best044137
2016Caution50169142
2017Avoid100698042
2018Caution63222242
2019Good2534242

All Chevrolet Volt years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
Among the 9 Volt model years with data, 2017 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst overall, with 698 complaints, 9 fires, and 8 crashes reported to NHTSA.
What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Volt?
Electrical System issues are the top problem area, making up 45% of complaints (312 complaints), with a median failure mileage of 38,500 miles and 7 reported fires.
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Volt have any recalls?
NHTSA data lists 0 recalls for the 2017 Volt in this dataset.
How does the 2017 Volt compare to other years?
The 2017 Volt has a complaint index of 100, the highest of any Volt year, compared to 2015 which has an index of 0 and is rated Best.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Chevrolet Volt?
The EPA rates the 2017 Volt at 42 mpg combined (43 city / 42 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,550.

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.