The Lemon Index
2012Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 7,671 in the U.S. in 2011 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 8 complaints in its first 3 years.
Better years to buy
8 owner complaints, first 3 years 37 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2011 Toyota Prius 662011 Ford Fusion 2982011 Mitsubishi Lancer
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 8 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 15V145000 (electrical) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Any clunks over bumps or uneven tire wear? Were struts, shocks or control arms replaced?
- Any steering noise, wander or power-steering warning? Has the steering rack or pump been replaced?
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done? (40 owners named a airbags repair bill; the middle one was $1,000.)
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Chevy's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 8 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Transmission problems in every Chevrolet Volt year →
Check engine light on? Codes owners of the Chevrolet Volt (2009–2013) name most: B0081 · P1E00. Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 12K to 31K miles (19K to 50K km) on the car (8 of all 8 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
The rear end of this car feels as if it is slipping out when you enter a curve at 60 to 65 mph. Gm calls it sensitive steering but I call it scary and unsafe.
2011 Chevrolet Volt owner · NHTSA complaint 10402364
What repairs cost
Repair bills owners named in their complaints to the government (NHTSA), 2011–2015 Chevrolet Volt, in U.S. dollars.
- Airbagsone repair bill$800–$1,000middle $1,000 · 40 owners named a bille.g. NHTSA complaints 11286412, 11326717, 11444858
- Electricalone repair bill$800–$1,200middle $898 · 14 owners named a bille.g. NHTSA complaints 11386798, 11352971, 11022955
Not enough reports yet for a number: Cooling (2), A/C & heat (1), Engine (1), Transmission (1). We show a range once 5 owners name a bill.
Each range is the middle half of the bills owners wrote down (one repair, parts and labor as they said it), not a yearly or total cost. Owners who complain often had expensive repairs, so typical bills can be lower. Prices depend on the shop, the miles and where you live.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 6.0M views · 2011–2015 Chevrolet Volt
Prices people quote
- Price when new$41,0009 videos▶ Hear it
Most-watched topics
- Infotainment, battery & electrical141K views
2012 chevy volt won't start after 12 volt battery replacementEric Johnson · 29K views · 9 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors46K views
CHEVROLET VOLT, CHECK AND REPAIR WINDOW REGULATOR...2012, 2013, 2014, 2015...Jimmy, Making it work · 22K views · 3 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door43K views
Problem with the heater on my 2014 Chevrolet VoltKamil Wojtowicz · 20K views · 3 videos - Driveshaft, axles & 4x434K views
How to Replace CV Axle Chevrolet Volt 2010-2015 Gen 1 - Full Tutorial2CarPros · 34K views
Show 4 more
- Oil changes & service18K views
![[HOW TO] - 2014 Chevrolet Volt Oil Change](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eHzHMNZk2Vs/mqdefault.jpg)
[HOW TO] - 2014 Chevrolet Volt Oil Changediuneimaaaaaa · 9K views · 3 videos - Cooling system15K views
2013 Chevy volt auxiliary radiator replacementStalo Fabrication · 15K views - Spark plugs & ignition coils9K views
How to Replace Spark Plugs Chevrolet Volt 2010-2015 | WITH SIZES AND TORQUE SPECS! | EASY!2CarPros · 9K views - Gauges, lights & wiring2K views
2015 Chevrolet volt maintenance light resetService Maintenance · 2K views
Before you buy, watch
Should you buy a used Chevy Volt? Behind the Wheel In Depth Electric Car Review 2011 ModelLon.TV · 170K views
2015 Chevy Volt Heater Problems and How it Got ResolvedArkansas EV · 23K views
2011-2015 Chevy Volt Buyers Guide FYI- Charging w/ Portable ChargersBuiltByPi · 7K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2011 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Recalls 1
- Electrical · recall issued 2015
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Chevrolet Volt recall, all years · All Chevrolet recalls
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Volt 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,150 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl.
Every Chevrolet Volt year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 4 Chevrolet Volt years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2011 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/chevrolet-volt/?y=2011" title="Chevrolet Volt reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="307" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/chevrolet-volt/2011/">Lemon Index</a> (2011 Chevrolet Volt reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
We can't score it: only 7,671 were sold in the U.S. in 2011 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 8 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2011 Chevrolet Volt problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (38%), suspension (25%) and steering (25%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Chevrolet Volt have?
1 safety recall (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Chevrolet Volt get?
37 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Volt safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Volt have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2011 Chevrolet Volt cost in fuel a year?
About $2,150 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Chevrolet Volt have?
1.4L 4-cyl.
What Chevrolet Volt year is better than the 2011?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2016 drew the fewest (somewhat fewer complaints than the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works