2018 Chevrolet Volt Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
63/100
#4 most-complained of 9 Volt years
The 2018 Chevrolet Volt has a Complaint Index of 63 and ranks 4th worst of 9 model years, earning a 'Caution' verdict. It logged 222 complaints, 2 recalls, 4 crashes, and 1 injury, with Electrical System issues topping the list.
- Complaints
- 222
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 42
- 43 city / 42 hwy
Top 2018 Chevrolet Volt problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System86 (39%)
- Transmission & Powertrain84 (38%)
- Fuel System72 (32%)
- Engine57 (26%)
- Other40 (18%)
- Brakes10 (5%)
- Steering5 (2%)
- Visibility & Wipers4 (2%)
- Airbags2 (1%)
- Structure & Body2 (1%)
What owners report
- Some drivers report sudden and complete brake failure on downhill slopes despite continuous braking, leading to low-speed collisions.
- Owners describe the car unexpectedly accelerating or rolling forward into parked vehicles or objects with little braking response.
- Drivers report a 'shift to park' warning appearing on the dashboard at highway speed, followed by sudden loss of engine power and the car stalling in traffic.
- Some owners experienced a total loss of power steering while driving, accompanied by a dashboard error message, making the car hard to turn.
- Owners note the regenerative braking paddle slows the vehicle without reliably triggering the brake lights, raising rear-collision risk.
- A few drivers report a burnt plastic smell from under the hood after the gas engine reaches operating temperature.
2018 Chevrolet Volt recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V673000Sep 26, 2018Seat Belts15,800 vehicles
Seat belts:rear/other
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18315.
- NHTSA 18V576000Aug 30, 2018Brakes210,628 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
2018 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.
2018 compared with other Volt years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
- Compared to other Volt years, 2018 ranks 4th worst out of 9 with a Complaint Index of 63 and a 'Caution' verdict. It has fewer complaints than 2017 (698) and 2013 (308) but more than 2015 (44) and 2019 (34).
- What is the most common problem with the 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
- The top problem area is the Electrical System, accounting for 86 complaints, or 39% of all reported issues, with a median mileage at failure of 33,300 miles.
- Does the 2018 Chevrolet Volt have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 Volt: one for seat belt retractors (campaign 18V673000) and one for a brake system bleed fix (campaign 18V576000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- Are there brake problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
- NHTSA logged 10 brake-related complaints (5% share) with 3 crashes and a median mileage at failure of 4,100 miles, and a related brake bleed recall was issued in 2018.
- What year Chevrolet Volt should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, 2017 and 2013 are the worst Volt years with Complaint Index scores of 100 and 88, both marked 'Avoid.' The 2018 model, with an index of 63, falls into the 'Caution' category rather than 'Avoid.'