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Check by VIN to confirm the
exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (2)
Electrical system: ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Volt vehicles manufactured August 25, 2010, to June 26, 2013. If the driver exits the vehicle without turning off the electrical system, the battery may drain low enough that the gasoline engine will automatically start itself to recharge the electric battery.
Risk and remedy
Risk: If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine management software to limit the time that the stationary vehicle can be left in the ON position, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14617.
Service brakes
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured March 1, 2012, through April 17, 2012. Due to a brake pressure modulator valve problem, the vehicles do not relieve brake pressure from the front brakes during an anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), or traction control event. One or both front brakes may lock up and not release. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems"' and No. 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk and remedy
Risk: If the brakes lock up it could cause a loss of steering control and/or a lengthened distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will install a new brake pressure modulator valve free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 12, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-866-694-6546. GM's recall number is 13184.
Canadian recalls (3)
Show 3 Canadian recalls
Engine
2015-03-12 · campaign 2015-104
On certain vehicles, if a driver exits the vehicle and were to inadvertently leave the vehicle "ON", after a period of time the vehicle's battery would drain and the vehicle's gasoline engine would begin to run. If the gasoline engine were to run for long periods of time when the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, such as a garage, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up, which could result in asphyxiation or carbon monoxide poisoning. Correction: Dealers will update vehicle software to limit the time that an idle vehicle can be left in the "ON" position.
Accessories
2013-12-20 · campaign 2013-460 · 76 vehicles
On certain vehicles, material used in the construction of the windshield sunshade, sold as an optional accessory, may not meet the requirements of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) 302 - Flammability of Interior Materials. The sunshade's inner core material could burn faster than allowable by the standard. Note: The exterior material, exposed in normal use, meets the requirements of the standard. Correction: A production change was made to add a flame resistant coating to the interior corrugated plastic layer to remedy this non-compliance condition. No corrective recall action is required as the technical non-compliance condition is deemed to be non-safety related.
Lights and instruments
2011-11-23 · campaign 2011-412 · 39 vehicles
Certain vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices, as well as CMVSS 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention. These vehicles were inadvertently programmed with incorrect Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) and theft protection calibration files during vehicle assembly. This could allow the driver to switch off the DRL system while the vehicle is underway. It could also allow non-dealership personnel to reprogram a replacement ignition key. A loss of DRL illumination could render the vehicle less visible to other motorists and to pedestrians during daylight hours, possibly resulting in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the Body Control Module.
Owner complaints (245)
Owners filed 245 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Volt (6 crashes, 2 fires, 11 injuries reported). Among 9 model years of this model, it ranks #3 for the most complaints (median 170).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Electrical system | 86 | |
| Air bags | 86 | |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 37 | |
| Engine | 26 | |
| Service brakes | 23 | |
| Power train | 22 | |
| Unknown or other | 17 | |
| Seats | 14 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Volt 4 DR FWD(Early Release-no field upgrade) | 5★ | 4★ | 5★ | 5★ |
| 2012 Chevrolet Volt 4 DR FWD(Early Release- field upgrade) | 5★ | 4★ | 5★ | 5★ |
| 2012 Chevrolet Volt 4 DR FWD(Later Release) | 5★ | 4★ | 5★ | 5★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2012 Chevrolet Volt version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Volt 1.4 L Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 35 | 40 | 37 | $2,200 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.