2012 Chevrolet Volt: check engine light

Filed Jul 15, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · OK

7/6/2024 Was driving 45 mph on a busy road (running only on the gas engine of this plug-in hybrid). Propulsion Power Reduced message showed near the speedometer. My speed was immediately decreased. The check engine light also came on. Despite pressing the gas pedal, the speed could not be maintained and I had to pull off quickly before causing an accident. Luckily, no accident occurred but I fear would could have happened if I wasn't in the right place to pull over quickly. After getting the car towed to a Chevy dealership, they diagnosed the problem as being with the hybrid battery - it needs to be replaced. I don't understand why I had a full tank of gas, was running on gas, and that a bad EV battery would cause ALL propulsion to stop so quickly.

Filed May 15, 2024 · Body · CA

Coolant leaking and damage to Drive Motor Battery Coolant Radiator due to the design of the vehicle that allows for rocks and debris large enough to damage radiator through. There is a service bulletin (13-06-02-001A) for this issue. When the radiator is damaged, the driver will suddenly receive a check engine light, reduce propulsion notice, and engine not available message. The car will suddenly stall and this cause a major safety concern especially on highways at high speed. However no active recalls, even though this is a common reoccuring problem amongst first generation Volts.

Filed May 14, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

Vehicle propolusion reduced and engine not available messages were suddenly showing. Check engine light turned on. Suddenly Stalled/stopped in the middle of highway. Safety concerns

Filed Apr 17, 2024 · Airbags · IL

In September 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened [XXX] to assess the malfunction of the Passenger Sensing System (PSS) in the 2012-2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. Due to that malfunction, the air bag system malfunction indicator light is activated. This could cause the passenger airbag to be suppressed in a crash. In July 2021, the ODI closed [XXX] after GM instituted a cost reduction program for the repair/replacement of the PSS in the subject vehicles. In July 2023, I took my 2012 Volt to a local dealer to correct this problem, only to learn that the necessary replacement part has been DISCONTINUED by GM and is no longer available. That is, frankly, unconscionable. I am requesting that ODI reopen the investigation and take further action to compel GM to make this repair available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 14, 2023 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while driving approximately 50-60 MPH, the Engine Failure, Mountain Mode Not Available, Battery at Zero Percent, Propulsion Power Reduced, and High Voltage messages were displayed. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle then inadvertently decelerated to 30-40 MPH. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the high-voltage battery pack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to pass the yearly vehicle inspection. The dealer loaded sample data into the computer and then drove the vehicle for 50 miles before the vehicle passed inspection. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Action Number: PE23022 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Apr 14, 2021 · Electrical, Fuel system · 101,000 miles · VA

The vehicle has illuminated the check engine light with a warning that the battery is too cold. This occurred while in motion on a highway under normal conditions in summer temperatures. An internet search has indicated that a temperature sensor may be to blame, and that the electrical system may try to heat the battery to an unsafe level.

Filed Feb 16, 2021 · Electrical, Fuel system · 75,000 miles · PA

Temperature sensors responsible for monitoring the battery pack fail unexpectedly. Sometimes displaying a "battery too cold plug into warm" message or a check engine light. Personally, this is the second time I've had a sensor fail. The entire module containing the failed sensor must be replaced. The battery is made up of three different sections called modules. When a sensor fails, the car will simply refuse to start despite being within a normal operating temperature range. I've had the message display when in motion. This time however, the message was accompanied by a check engine light, and a burning odor that resembles burning plastic while the engine is running. I have yet to experience reduced propulsion of any kind while driving.

Filed Aug 27, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 146,000 miles · SC

The car will shut itself off with very little time to get to the side of the road if that is even a possibility. When switching from battery power to the gas motor. Randomly. The car will die at any speed. First message is low propulsion power. Next message engine not available, service soon. Less than 4 minutes from 1st message to total shut down. Least amount of time between messages and shut down is 15 seconds. Car will decelerate (on highway where vehicles behind have no warning... No brake lights that car is rapidly losing speed). Never know when it will happen. Usually car will restart and run terrible.. After 20 minutes or so. After restart car runs bad low power. Check engine light is on. After 10 more minutes of driving. It straightens out. Usually. Dealership unable to find problem. Assorted codes in computer. Very dangerous when driving. Especially when it happens and it is 15 seconds to complete shut down. I have opened a case with chevrolet. No response as of yet. They were supposed to call within 2 days. I will upload an attempt at restart as it is the only one I have where I was safely in a parking lot when it happened. Usually I am not. And many roads in my area do not have a shoulder.

Filed Jul 13, 2019 · Fuel system · 133,621 miles · TX

My 2012 chevrolet volt shutdown while driving with a full tank of gas when the electric battery reached zero range. The car went into neutral on the freeway at 65mph and would not move under its own power. The car would not jump start or charge. The hpcm2 has disabled charging and caused a check engine light with all 4 batteries in low voltage lock out. This is the same problem as another recall which gm will not perform because the VIN was not included. The federal safety agency campaign number: 18v397000 I have a unsafe car that is now locked out until the recall is applied but the factory will not apply the recall.

Filed Jun 6, 2017 · Electrical · 45,000 miles · NC

I have had various electrical issues-november of 2012. First back up camera went blank, july 2014 check engine light high voltage; november 14 electrical issue; june 2015 unintentional running light on; july 2015 same issue; august 2015 check engine/aribag light on dealer checked and reset codes . August 2016 check airbag light on. Went in several times steve moore ordered part that would be $1,200 to fix. Light went off. When check airbag came back on took the car to a different dealer. City chevrolet said I needed a new 12 volt battery replaced battery within 48 hours of being at the dealer issue came back. Now the lcd screen is blank. The problems seems to be electrical in nature

Filed Mar 10, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 48,014 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet volt. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and completely lost power. The vehicle was towed. In addition, the check engine indicator illuminated without warning. The vehicle was diagnosed, but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,014.

Filed Nov 17, 2014 · Engine · 31,006 miles · TX

Driving using cruise control during commute at 60mph. Simultaneously experienced drastic power loss and check engine light. Onstar diagnostics reported an electrical propulsion system malfunction. Attempted to navigate to a safe parking area but eventually lost all propulsion and ended up in a traffic lane. Significant impact to control especially in highway traffic that nearly resulted in a collision.