2017 Chevrolet Volt: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Dec 2, 2023 · Electrical · WI

On the morning of April 27, 2022, our 2017 Chevy Volt, with what I believe to be a fully charged high voltage battery (was plugged in to charge the entire previous night) and at least a quarter tank of gas, would not start either the electrical or gasoline drive train. The 12 volt battery showed low voltage, so I purchased and replaced the 12 volt battery. The Volt continued to not start in either gas or electric propulsion mode. Checked the OBD 11 codes, and they matched up with what was reported on line to be Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) failure. On May 3, 2022, the Volt was put on a flatbed and taken to Holz Motors in Milwaukee. They verified the BECM failure, ordered new BECM, and was told none were available. Put on waiting list for BECM, and the Volt was repaired 8 weeks later on June 28, 2022. Cost of repair was $2439.63. Volt had 110,875 miles on it and was out of warranty. Not happy to bear the full cost of replacement of the BECM, but felt fortunate that it failed while parked in my garage. There were NO symptoms leading up to failure, and the car was totally unable to move. Overnight voltage drop of the 12 volt battery (the one I replaced also went dead) meant that operation of door locks, etc would also soon have occurred. Outcome would have been much worse if this failure had occurred while driving.

Filed Jul 15, 2023 · TX

Door locks fail to lock or unlock on occasion. In certain scenarios this leaves the driver and passengers with a feeling of being unsafe.

Filed Apr 7, 2021 · Transmission · 32,000 miles · CA

Shift-to-park issue. After shifting to park, an alert says "action required - shift to park." the car will not turn off and the doors will not lock.

Filed May 14, 2020 · Electrical · 37,000 miles · CA

When I would put my car in park, the car would not turn off. It wouldn't happen all the time and I thought I wasn't putting my foot on the brake, or I thought maybe I did something else wrong. It was frustrating as I thought I was going crazy. Then one day 'I was so frustrated , I slammed the gear shift into park and it actually turned off. That was an 'ah ha' moment. Shortly after that I made an appointment to get my car checked for the problem. That's when I got upset'the guy says 'oh,it happens all the time to this model'. So then my husband says'shouldn't you pay for it if it's a known defect. The service engineer says it's not still on warranty and is not a recall. So we paid the $500.00 to get it fixed. But this should be a recall- it's a safety issue now that I know the car was not turned off many times'sometimes I only knew it wasn't off because my radio would play when I locked the door'and the door wouldn't lock. This such a safety issue on the highest level..I paid the money but truly it should have been fixed by gm because of the safety issue. So then the service guy says to call gm, even gave us the number which turned out to be general motors but you needed a customer code so that did no good (855‑462‑2737). So now I'm asking you guys to look into something the service dept at delillo chevrolet says 'we see this a lot'. The problem would happen when I thought the car was in park'it looked like it was in park but it wasn't. They called it: switch in shifter contacts not sending signal to body control module. So that's my story, as frustrating as it was. My car now shuts off on a regular basis. I just feel sorry for the next person who can't shut off their car!!!

Filed Apr 10, 2018 · Body, Electrical · 7,809 miles · IN

My wife has alzheimer's can't stand up or walk so can't put her in the back seat . Door opening is to small. We were on the interstate running 70 MPH and she pulls on the door handle twice and the door opens door. Did not know they were having the doors to open when the handle is pulled twice she almost fell but seat belt saved her. They need to put a child lock on this door also.