The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost power. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Propulsion Power Reduced" was displayed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.
The worst 2017 Chevrolet Volt problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical313
- Fuel system241
- Transmission221
- Engine189
- Acceleration32
- Brakes27
- Driver assistance22
- Steering16
- Airbags12
- Visibility4
- Seat belts3
- Body2
- Lights2
- Wheels2
- Locks1
- Seats1
- Suspension1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2017 Chevrolet Volt
Check engine light 146Loss of power 80Won't start 35Stalling 30Overheating 20Won't shift 18Adaptive cruise 16Fire or smoke 12Jerking 11Battery drain 9Power steering loss 8Key fob 7Airbag light 6Engine failure 6Door locks 5Steering lock-up 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2017 Chevrolet Volt mention
P1E00 15P0401 7U2603 6U2624 6U2619 5U2622 5U2623 5U2604 4U2606 4U2620 4U2621 4P0030 3
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Defect investigations
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE23022 to investigate allegations of a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The BECM is located within the high voltage electric vehicle (EV) battery pack and monitors the temperature, current, and voltage of the high voltage battery cell groups. GM stated that the root cause was identified as an internal failure leading to a loss of communication within the BECM and does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety. GM further stated that the failure cannot result in a complete stall, only a reduced power mode, no start condition, or a no charge condition. GM additionally stated that if these conditions occur, the driver will be warned via a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and/or a reduced-propulsion message in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Data received and analyzed by ODI from all sources indicates that nearly all related BECM failures caused conditions aligning with GM’s predicted outcomes. Despite the large number of warranty claims, nearly all failures were not safety-related, i.e., not a stall or reduced power mode. ODI isaware of a single minor crash and no injuries or deaths. In March 2024, GM issued Special Coverage N232432680, which was mailed to consumers, addressing BECM failures in certain MY 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. This special coverage provides an extension of the warranty coverage for the BECM from 8 years / 100,000 miles to 15 years / 150,000 miles for all 2016-2018 Chevrolet Volts. Additionally, GM stated that replacement components are sourced from a different supplier and not susceptible to the failure. In view of the Special Coverage issued by GM, the existing warranty coverage already in place, and the low number of safety-related occurrences, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE). The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
PE23022
Pedestrian alert sounds
the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP22005
Technical service bulletins for the 2017 Chevrolet Volt 1,171
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size...
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have...
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have...
2017 Chevrolet Volt fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4‑cyl Plug-in hybrid | FWD | 43 | 42 | 42 |
What 2017 Chevrolet Volt owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at 65-70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power or experienced reduced motive power. The "Reduced Propulsion" message displayed, and the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, upon parking, the "Shift to Park" message displayed, causing the vehicle to fail to turn off until the contact pressed and held the Engine Start/Stop button multiple times. A diagnostic trouble code for the battery energy control module (BECM) was retrieved. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The contact associated the failure with Special Coverage: N232432680 (Battery Energy Control Module Malfunction); however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under the special coverage. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by telephone and advised the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
My 2017 Chevrolet Volt, with 97,758 miles, experienced a failure that rendered the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle would not start or operate normally. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Chevrolet dealership for diagnosis. After several days, the dealership confirmed that the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) had failed. The dealership quoted approximately $2,500 for replacement, including parts and labor. This failure presents a serious potential safety concern because BECM malfunctions can result in loss of propulsion, reduced power, or an inability to restart the vehicle, potentially leaving drivers stranded in unsafe locations. General Motors has previously recognized BECM failures in certain Chevrolet Volt vehicles and established a special coverage adjustment for affected vehicles. However, despite my vehicle experiencing the same diagnosed component failure, GM informed me that my VIN was excluded from the coverage program. I contacted General Motors directly and opened a case. GM confirmed that my repair would be considered an out-of-pocket expense and advised me to report the failure to the federal safety agency. I believe this failure warrants investigation because vehicles experiencing the same defect should be evaluated regardless of whether their VINs are currently included in GM’s existing special coverage program. The failed BECM has been diagnosed by an authorized Chevrolet dealership. The vehicle’s current repair status and availability for further inspection can be confirmed with the servicing dealership.
I am reporting a suspected Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) failure in my 2017 Chevrolet Volt. My vehicle has experienced multiple symptoms consistent with the known BECM defect documented by General Motors, including intermittent failure to start, reduced propulsion power, and failure to operate on electric power despite the high-voltage battery being fully charged. When the vehicle did start, it would run using the gasoline engine instead of the fully charged battery. The vehicle also experienced reduced propulsion power, limiting acceleration and creating a serious safety concern, particularly when merging into traffic, crossing intersections, or driving at highway speeds. The intermittent starting failures also create a risk of becoming stranded. My vehicle has generated multiple diagnostic trouble codes associated with these malfunctions, which are available for review. These symptoms are consistent with those identified in GM Technical Service Bulletin 18-NA-261 and Special Coverage Program N232432680. GM established extended BECM warranty coverage of 15 years or 150,000 miles for eligible 2016–2018 Chevrolet Volts. However, despite my vehicle being a 2017 model and experiencing the same documented failures, my VIN is excluded from this coverage. the federal safety agency previously investigated this defect under PE23022 and closed its investigation following GM’s implementation of extended coverage. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate why my vehicle is excluded despite exhibiting the same known safety-related symptoms and whether GM’s coverage should be expanded to include similarly affected vehicles.
2017 Chevy Volt, lost propulsion and stalled on a highway in 3 separate instances. GM Case # XXX: The first instance, in late 2021, resulted in a BECM replacement. The following instances, XXX and SXXX, had the exact same symptoms: loss of propulsion on highway, shift to park, full charge but 0 range, check engine light. GM Case # XXX: In March the vehicle was towed to Haselwood Chevrolet in [XXX] and they told to check for BECM issues. The dealership refused to include the customer description of the failure on the highway, or acknowledge there was a possible BECM issue, since they said there was no BECM code. The failure presented as a classic intermittent BECM thermal failure. They failed to follow GM's diagnostic tree for an intermittent communication loss, as per GM Technical Service Bulletin PIP5812. Because of that diagnostics failure, I am now completely disabled, again, at [XXX],191 miles, 6 months later. This is a single, continuous warranty failure spanning from March through Sept 2026. GM Case # XXX: Due to previous misdiagnosis, I am awaiting GM’s pre-approval or referral for a rental car as covered by GM Special Coverage Program XXX, before having the car towed to Ruddell Chevrolet in [XXX]. I live a 2 hr round trip from [XXX] and am stranded without a loaner or rental. The tow truck is my way to the dealership to get a rental. If the BECM was recalled, these last two instances could have been prevented and I would not have had to fight tooth and nail with dealerships and GM for coverage, towing, and rental reimbursement, yet again. Please issue a recall on the Volt 2017 BECM and any BECM replaced before the soldering issue on these parts was corrected to prevent future dangerous failures and high levels of customer inconvenience and frustration. My 4 x JPEG and PNG attachments under 10MB failed to upload on this site. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I would like to file a formal complaint. 2017 Volt suffered an EVAP purge line hole due to the failure of the remedy applied under the federal safety agency Campaign ID 19V891000. Recall #N192273600 was completed on my vehicle in 2020 by installing a protective bumper. That bumper failed by shifting out of place, and the A/C line has now rubbed a hole completely through my EVAP purge pipe—the exact failure the recall was designed to prevent. I called GM and asked for a Goodwill Policy adjustment, and they refused as my dealer had already offered me a $500 reduction to the repair. The total cost of the repair is over $2700.
3rd failure of EGR valve (GM part 12691147, superseded by 19436521) on this vehicle. 10/10/2019 at 11,336 mi: Check Engine Light and Driver Information Center displayed "Loss of Propulsion" message; EGR valve diagnosed as cause and replaced by dealer under warranty at no cost. 11/2023 at approx. 30,000 mi: EGR valve failed again; dealer stated OEM part was no longer available from manufacturer due to supply shortage and installed a third-party replacement part; repair not covered, paid out of pocket. 8/26/2026 at 49,864 mi: EGR valve failed a third time; a used, refurbished part was sourced due to continued unavailability of a reliable new OEM part, with repair scheduled for 9/14/2026, again paid out of pocket. This is a known, recurring failure on 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volts, referenced in GM Technical Service Bulletin 19-NA-206. The failure does not present only as an emissions fault — it triggers a "Loss of Propulsion" driver warning, indicating a direct impact on the vehicle's ability to be safely driven. Sustained unavailability of the OEM part is forcing owners toward third-party or used/refurbished parts of unknown long-term reliability, at repeated cost to the owner, in order to keep the vehicle operable.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the "Propulsion Power Reduced" and "Shift to Park" messages were intermittently displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle lost automotive power and stalled, and the contact pulled over to the shoulder to avoid a crash. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact sustained emotional distress from the failure. The vehicle was towed back to the residence and then towed to a dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the battery energy control module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that he had experienced a recurring loss of propulsion that would occur shortly after vehicle startup, which was attributed to a failure with the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM). The failure caused the check engine, ABS, Stabili-Trak, and Forward Collision Avoidance warning lights to illuminate. The contact informed the local dealer of the failure and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer acknowledged that there was a Customer Satisfaction Program for the failure, but the vehicle was not included. The contact was referred by the manufacturer to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Chevrolet is denying that my car is included in Special Coverage Bulletin N232432680, because of where it was built. The car is now in Kentucky, which is not a CARB state. Was the reason for a vehicle not to be included in the bulletin because it would be included under CARB? It seems like a loophole they are using not to fix my car. Am I wrong?
Compare the 2017 Chevrolet Volt
Other model years
Questions about the 2017 Chevrolet Volt
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Volt reliable?
Owners have filed 703 complaints about the 2017 Chevrolet Volt, 4.1 times a typical Volt model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2017 Chevrolet Volt year score?
The 2017 Chevrolet Volt scores 24 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Volt: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Volt?
Electrical system, with 313 complaints, typically around 39,500 miles. Next is fuel system (241).
How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Volt have?
No recalls on record.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Chevrolet Volt get?
Official estimates for the 2017 Chevrolet Volt range from 42 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.5L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid, FWD) gets 43 city and 42 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2017 Chevrolet Volt?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history