Chevrolet Volt
Problems & Worst Years

One model year towers over the rest of the Chevrolet Volt's NHTSA record: 2017, with 538 complaint occurrences — more than the 2016 and 2018 combined, each of which logged 162. The 2017's top complaint is a Shift-to-Park issue at 184 reports, followed by engine overheating at 133, the latter classified at safety severity. Behind those sit 66 reports of Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) failure, plus check-engine warnings and reduced propulsion power.

Those same threads run through the neighboring years, just at lower volume. The 2016 Volt's leading complaint is BECM failure (40 reports), with "propulsion power reduced" errors (30), shift-to-park problems (28), and loss of power with stalling (15). The 2018 leads with shift-to-park errors again (61 across two variants), adds 21 reports of the engine not shutting off after shifting to park, and repeats the reduced-propulsion and BECM complaints. A used-Volt shopper is really evaluating three recurring themes: a parking-detection fault, the Battery Energy Control Module, and episodes of reduced or lost propulsion power.

None of these is a reason to walk away by itself, but each has a clear check. Cycle the car into park several times and watch for shift-to-park messages. Look for any "propulsion power reduced" history in service records — BECM replacement is a documented, recurring repair across all three years, and a car that has already had it done is arguably the safer buy. On a 2017 specifically, ask about any overheating history. The 2018 also carries two NHTSA recall campaigns, 18V576 and 18V673, so confirm both are closed on the VIN.

Weigh the volume honestly: 2017's spike partly reflects how many owners filed about a couple of well-known issues, and complaint counts are owner reports, not measured failure rates. Later cars have also simply had less time to generate filings. A pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with these systems, plus complete service records, will tell you more than the year on the title.