YearToAvoid

2017 Chevrolet Volt Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 212 Engine-area complaints for the 2017 Chevrolet Volt, 30% of all complaints for that year, the highest engine complaint volume of any Volt model year. Median mileage at failure is 26,000 miles, with 4 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries reported. No related recalls are listed.

Engine complaints
212
30% of 698
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
26,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power on the highway with a 'shift to park' message appearing on the dash while driving around 65 mph.
  • Some describe a strong burning or fuel smell entering the cabin, occurring both while the gas engine was running and in electric mode.
  • Several complaints describe the vehicle stalling or shutting down unexpectedly in traffic, sometimes with the steering wheel locking and the accelerator not responding.
  • Owners report the gas engine turning on and off randomly and revving up and down even while the car was set to electric mode.
  • One complaint describes a hole forming in the emissions pipe with the check engine light illuminated and fuel vaporizing from the evaporative system.
  • A separate complaint describes a failed EGR valve causing blown fuses and reduced propulsion.

When 2017 Chevrolet Volt engine complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 3, 2016, latest Sep 10, 2026.

2017 Chevrolet Volt engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter252016 Q22017 Q42019 Q12020 Q32021 Q42023 Q12024 Q22025 Q3
212 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q4 (25).

Engine recalls for the 2017 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 2017 Chevrolet Volt have?
NHTSA lists 212 Engine-area complaints for the 2017 Volt, which is 30% of the 698 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is the engine complaint volume worse than other Volt years?
Yes. Among Volt model years, 2017 has the highest number of engine complaints (212), compared to 54 in 2016 and 57 in 2018.
Is there a recall for the 2017 Chevrolet Volt engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2017 Volt.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 26,000 miles at the time of failure for engine-area complaints on the 2017 Volt.
Have any crashes or fires been linked to these engine complaints?
NHTSA records 4 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries among the 212 engine-area complaints filed for the 2017 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.