The Lemon Index2016 Chevrolet Volt.
The 2016 Chevrolet Volt is about average by owner complaints: 22 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 89, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 1 recall, and it gets 42 mpg combined. It's the best Chevrolet Volt year we track.
About average. 1.1× fewer complaints than average.
Worst year 2017
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 170 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Chevrolet Volt year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
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.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 29K to 69K miles on the car (60 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 22K–91K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 30K–51K miles
Recalls 1
- airbags 2017
The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 1335 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips,…
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) ON, No Start, Blown Fuses, Electronic Brake Control Module…
- Squeak, Squawk, Creak or Popping Noise Originating from Rear Axle
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedLoss of motive power due to the battery energy control module2023–2025
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Volt 4 DR FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Shift to park displays after you've set the car to park.
2016 Chevrolet Volt owner · NHTSA complaint 11221570
More owner reports
Unable to turn off power to car with error on dashboard saying shift to park. Have to power on and off several times while moving the shifter in and out of park to get the car to turn off.
NHTSA complaint 11289511
When parking the car after having stopped, ant error message 'shift to park' appears on the display even though the shifter was in park. This problem prevents car from being turned off.
NHTSA complaint 11290093
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 89; 100 is average, lower is better).
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Volt problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (45%), transmission & drivetrain (36%) and engine (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Volt have?
1 safety recall (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Chevrolet Volt get?
42 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Volt problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 29,500 and 69,100 miles. The middle report was at 43,000 miles, from 60 complaints.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Volt have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 36% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Chevrolet Volt cost in fuel a year?
About $1550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Chevrolet Volt have?
1.5L 4-cyl.
Lemon Index = safety 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 year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works