YearToAvoid

2018 Chevrolet Volt Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 57 engine-related complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Volt, 26% of that year's 222 total complaints. Owners most often report a

Engine complaints
57
26% of 222
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
31,563 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the dashboard displaying a "shift to park" message even though the gear selector is already in park, preventing the vehicle from powering off.
  • Some drivers describe the vehicle stalling or jerking violently at highway speed, with the check engine light coming on before the car loses power in traffic.
  • Several owners report a burnt plastic smell from under the hood after the gas engine warms up, appearing repeatedly over thousands of miles.
  • One owner described the vehicle jerking and losing power at 60 mph, then being unable to shift out of park at a stoplight.
  • A separate complaint describes the RPMs spiking and dropping while driving 80 mph with adaptive cruise control engaged, followed by the vehicle entering limp mode.

When 2018 Chevrolet Volt engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 25, 2018, latest Aug 27, 2026.

2018 Chevrolet Volt engine complaints: complaints filed per month6Oct 2018Aug 2020Oct 2021Aug 2022Feb 2024Aug 2024Jan 2025Oct 2025
57 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2023 (6).

Engine recalls for the 2018 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 2018 Chevrolet Volt have?
NHTSA lists 57 engine-related complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Volt, which is 26% of the 222 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Volt engine problems?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint area on the 2018 Chevrolet Volt.
At what mileage do 2018 Chevrolet Volt engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 31,562 miles.
What is the most common engine-related complaint on the 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
Owners frequently describe a "shift to park" warning that appears even when the car is already in park, along with reports of stalling, jerking, and a burnt plastic smell under the hood.
Did the 2018 Chevrolet Volt engine issue cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this problem area shows 1 crash and 1 injury, with no fires reported.

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.