This page covers 3 recalls, 308 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt.
37 mpg combined
6.4 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2013 Volt centers on the airbag system, specifically the passenger seat occupancy sensor. Owners widely report that the sensor behaves erratically, cycling the passenger airbag warning light on and off, triggering false "service airbag" alerts, and occasionally reading the seat as occupied when it's empty or vice versa. The propulsion system draws the second-largest share of complaints, with owners describing sudden power reductions while driving at highway speeds, hesitation when accelerating, and in some cases a complete loss of propulsion accompanied by "No Propulsion Power" or "Propulsion Power is Reduced" messages on the dash. Several of those reports describe the vehicle stalling or becoming difficult to control during the transition between electric and gas power. Seat-related complaints, primarily around the occupancy sensor, overlap heavily with the airbag category and reinforce how frequently that false-detection behavior appears across this model year.
308
Total Complaints
8
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
7
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Chevrolet Volt has 3 recalls, the most serious being a defective driver-side airbag inflator that can explode during deployment and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
A separate hybrid system recall involves a software update to the powertrain control module that may have inadvertently disabled the battery cell balancing function. When that happens, voltage can drop low enough that the car loses propulsion without warning, which raises the risk of a crash. On the electrical side, if a driver exits the vehicle without manually shutting off the electrical system, the 12-volt battery can drain to the point where the gasoline engine starts itself automatically to recharge it. If the car is parked in a garage or other enclosed space when this happens, the running engine can allow carbon monoxide to accumulate to dangerous levels.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver-side air bag inflator may explode when the air bag deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will also be replaced.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software update to the hybrid powertrain control module may have turned off the cell balancing function, creating a low-voltage condition in the battery.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the hybrid powertrain control module to restore proper cell balancing at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
If you leave the vehicle with the electrical system on without turning it off, the battery can drain so low that the gasoline engine starts automatically to recharge it.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the engine management software to limit how long the vehicle can stay in the ON position when stationary.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
