2017 Chevrolet Volt: check engine light

Filed Oct 20, 2026 · Engine · 124,000 miles · OR

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.

Filed Oct 19, 2026 · Electrical · 125,000 miles · UT

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.

Filed Oct 1, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · WA

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)

Filed Sep 10, 2026 · Engine · FL

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.

Filed Aug 18, 2026 · Electrical · 95,000 miles · NC

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.

Filed Jul 21, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · WA

In March 2026, our 2017 Chevrolet Volt (89,300 miles) would not charge nor start, and had to be towed to an authorized Chevrolet dealership in Portland, Oregon. The dealership diagnosed an internal fault in the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) producing U26XX diagnostic trouble codes, per GM bulletin #18-NA-261, and replaced the BECM under GM Special Coverage N232432680 — GM's field remedy for a known BECM defect affecting 2016–2019 Volts that causes reduced power, no-start, or no-charge conditions (the subject of the federal safety agency investigation PE23022).The remedy failed immediately. On the day the vehicle was returned to us (March 26, 2026), the check engine light illuminated while driving home on public roads, and the vehicle failed to charge that same night — the identical condition it had before. It was towed back to the dealership. The dealership's second work order confirms in writing that the vehicle "will not start after previous repairs and is having the same issues," and attributes the failure to the high-voltage battery contactor. The dealership informed us the part is no longer produced and cannot be obtained, advising that the vehicle be scrapped. Safety concerns: (1) after the repair, the dealership returned the vehicle to us as fixed, and we drove it approximately 26 miles home on public highways in traffic, unaware the defect was still present — the check engine light illuminated during that drive. This defect is the subject of the federal safety agency investigation PE23022 into sudden loss of propulsion, we unknowingly operated a defective vehicle in conditions where that failure could have occurred at highway speed; (2) GM's official field remedy for this known defect (Special Coverage N232432680) failed within hours of being performed; and (3) the parts required to complete the remedy are reportedly discontinued, leaving a known safety defect permanently unrepairable. Supporting documents uploaded: dealer repair orders, and the GM warranty history of the N232432680 repair

Filed Mar 17, 2026 · Electrical · 84,000 miles · OK

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while parked. The check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repair would be at the owner's expense. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.

Filed Mar 16, 2026 · Engine · 92,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed or while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was unexpectedly illuminated. Additionally, there were several error codes provided through the Mobile App for engine-related failures. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

Filed Mar 2, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · WA

Three separate high-voltage battery section failures within one year, each causing complete loss of propulsion. Two occurred at freeway speeds on [XXX]. FAILURE 1 ([XXX]): Vehicle lost propulsion. Dealer diagnosed DTC P0AFA (low voltage), failed cell in Battery Section 3. Section 3 replaced under GM Special Coverage N232432680 (BECM, 15yr/150k). Vehicle out of service approximately six months awaiting GM authorization and parts. FAILURE 2 ([XXX]): Vehicle lost propulsion on [XXX] at night at freeway speeds. Required towing. Dealer diagnosed DTC P0AFA, Cell 85 at 1.85V in Battery Section 1 (different section). Section 1 replaced under same Special Coverage. Vehicle returned Jan 28, 2026. FAILURE 3 ([XXX], ~300 miles after Failure 2 repair): Vehicle again lost propulsion on the freeway with check engine light, then progressed to no-start condition. Towed to dealer. Diagnosed Feb 20, 2026: DTC P0AFA, Cell 57 at 1.5V in Battery Section 2 (GM minimum spec 2.5V). Third distinct section failure. Vehicle remains at dealer awaiting GM repair authorization as of filing date. SAFETY CONCERN: Loss of propulsion at freeway speeds is an immediate safety hazard. During the Nov 2025 event, the vehicle lost power on [XXX] at night in active traffic. The progressive failure pattern (three different sections failing sequentially in the same pack, identical DTC) suggests a systemic defect rather than isolated component failures. Prior section replacements have not resolved the underlying problem. Vehicle has been usable approximately 20 total days in the past 12 months. All repairs performed or pending under GM Special Coverage N232432680. GM Case [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 18, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · UT

I am reporting a series of safety concerns regarding my 2017 Chevy Volt, which have persisted despite multiple attempts to address them with the dealership. These issues pose significant risks to my safety and that of others on the road. On January 18th, 2024, I brought my vehicle to the dealer after experiencing reduced propulsion power while driving on the highway, coupled with the illumination of the check engine light. The mechanic performed a quick inspection and used a GM scan tool to diagnose the issue, revealing the code P1E00 for the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2, which was cleared without a thorough investigation. I was advised to return if the issue reoccurred. Despite the reset, the problem persisted, and on February 9th, 2024, I scheduled another appointment due to my Chevy Volt's High Voltage battery charging only to 65% capacity despite indicating a full charge. Subsequently, on February 11th, 2024, the check engine light illuminated again, and on February 12th, 2024, November 25th, 2025, January 11th, 2026, and February 12, 2026 while driving to work, both times I experienced a loss of propulsion power on the highway, placing my safety at risk and lost all power in a traveling lane of traffic. These ongoing issues with propulsion power and the high-voltage battery charging system are not only inconvenient but also potentially dangerous. Despite multiple visits to the dealership and attempts to diagnose and resolve the problem, it persists, indicating a systemic issue that requires immediate attention. The reduced propulsion power while driving on the highway, coupled with the illumination, I urge the federal safety agency to investigate this matter thoroughly to ensure the safety of Chevy Volt drivers and passengers. It is imperative that General Motors addresses these issues promptly and implements appropriate measures to prevent further incidents.

Filed Feb 2, 2026 · Fuel system, Transmission · 26,500 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 - 40 MPH, the message stating that the propulsion was reduced was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle, and the vehicle unintendedly decelerated. The contact arrived at the destination and parked the vehicle, and the message “Shift to Park” was displayed even though the gear shifter was in park(P). The message “Charging Unavailable” was displayed. The contact stated that while charging the vehicle, the mileage was reduced from 72 miles to approximately 29 miles during the winter months, and 42 miles during the summer months, while still indicating a FULL charge. The “Shift to Park” failure had occurred twice the previous year, and the vehicle was turned off and restarted to correct the failure. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the hybrid power train control module had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified on the website, and a case was filed; however, a representative was not reached. The failure mileage was approximately 26,500.

Filed Jan 15, 2026 · Fuel system, Transmission · TX

My car started having issues with the hybrid system, with fault alerts related to the drive motor control module, hybrid powertrain control module, and battery energy control module in the transmission, and the vehicle is available for inspection if needed. The engine light had been on for about a week, and I was waiting for availability at work to take it to a mechanic. While driving around 70 mph on the highway, a “Propulsion Power Reduced” message suddenly came on and the car started limiting its speed. As I kept driving, the power continued to drop, making it unsafe to stay at highway speeds and putting both me and other drivers at risk since the car couldn’t keep up with traffic and could slow down unexpectedly. I took it to an independent mechanic who confirmed the issue and warned me it was dangerous to drive because the speed would keep decreasing as power dropped. So far, only an independent mechanic has inspected it. After doing some research, I found this is a very common problem with 2016–2018 Chevy Volts, with many people reporting similar situations where their cars lost power or started jerking at high speeds and they had to pull over.