2018 Chevrolet Volt: engine stalls while driving

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · UT

My 2018 Chevy Volt is experiencing the EXACT same symptoms as GM's Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) Warranty Extension Program N232432680 AND Program N202307990 AND TSB 19-NA-206. My vehicle falls within the guidlines of affected vehicles, yet GM will not honor their program specifications. My vehicle has stalled while driving on the highway, not started, reduced power, and will not charge or depletes a full charge within 30 minutes. I stalled while driving 75 mph on a freeway. My car also would not allow me to shift into park while returning home, then tells me to shift into park when I am trying to tleave for work. GM tells me that "Your VIN does not fall within the repair requirements, even though your vehicle exeriences everything taking place and meets the standard requirements." The dealership tells me that I have to take it up with GM. I have children I drive to school, I drive to work, and I do not think that something of this nature, with the EXACT SAME symptoms that GM claims is happening, with the EXACT SAME codes related to the issue, with very possible safety issues being experienced should be overlooked. This has been happening for months, and I have been trying to explain to GM and the service department at the dealership what is going on, they have proof of what is going on, but I do not qualify because of my VIN even though, as stated by GM, "This specific program extends coverage to 15 years or 150,000 miles regardless of whether your specific VIN shows an active safety recall."

Filed Sep 29, 2026 · AL

The vehicle operates normally in all-electric mode for its full range of approximately 48 miles. The failure occurs consistently at the exact moment the high-voltage battery depletes and the vehicle attempts its automatic transition from electric propulsion to the internal combustion engine. At the point of transition, an unexpected surging or sudden acceleration occurred, followed immediately by a propulsion power reduced warning and an engine not available message on the instrument panel. The gas engine completely failed to engage or deliver power. Because the battery was depleted, the vehicle suffered an immediate, severe loss of motive power and rapidly decelerated in active traffic despite full depression of the accelerator pedal. This sudden inability to maintain road speed during the powertrain handover left the vehicle stalled in traffic, creating an acute risk of a rear-end collision. The vehicle has not yet undergone formal inspection or scanning by a dealership or repair facility due to diagnostic fee barriers that should be covered by manufacturer safety protocols. The vehicle and its components remain in their failed, unmodified state and are available for inspection upon request. The failure condition involves a breakdown in hybrid powertrain handoff systems, consistent with documented defects in the battery energy control module (BECM) under GM Special Coverage Program N232432680, or critical failures in the engine management and exhaust gas recirculation circuits that prevent transition to gasoline power. General Motors must investigate and address the safety implications of plug-in hybrid vehicles abruptly losing all motive power when electric charge is exhausted.

Filed Aug 27, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

I was driving back from [XXX] on XXX, when I received a "propulsion power limited" message on my dash with a check engine light. I pulled off to a nearby gas station and tried to scan the code to figure out what was going on when I then received the message "Engine unavailable" and the car shut off. I checked the fuse box and found that the F03 Fuse had blown. I replaced the fuse and attempted to start the car again. It began normally, but then after driving 10 feet, I received the "engine unavailable" message again with a check engine light and the car no longer had power and I had to coast into a parking spot. I checked the fuse again and found it was blown. If I had not stopped in the gas station, I would have been stranded on the side of the highway, or worse yet, I would have stalled out on the highway and potentially got hit. I had my car towed to a dealership who eventually completed their inspection of the car on XXX and determined that the EGR Valve had failed (the servo motor burned out and blew the F03 Fuse). This is a well known issue on the 2nd Generation of Volts and it is likely faulty servo motors in the EGR valves. The Dealership even included in its financial assistance request to Chevy on my behalf that the EGR valve failure is a known issue. When asked if there was any preventative maintenance suggested to prevent the EGR valve from failing, the service technician indicated that there wasn't anything that I did as the end user to cause the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 29, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · PA

The vehicle (2018 Chevrolet Volt) is experiencing an intermittent failure of the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM). Diagnostic trouble code P1E5B was stored in the system. This is a well-documented defect in this vehicle population that frequently results in a sudden, unexpected loss of propulsion power while driving ("Propulsion Power Reduced" mode), posing a significant safety risk in high-speed traffic. ​Although a Chevrolet dealership confirmed the presence of the stored fault code, they refused to perform the repair under the extended warranty (Special Coverage N23243268) because the Check Engine Light was not actively illuminated at the exact time of inspection. The manufacturer requires the vehicle to be operated until the fault recurs, exposing the driver and others to the danger of stalling on highways or at busy intersections. The failed component remains in the vehicle and is available for inspection.

Filed Jun 21, 2024 · Electrical · 150,000 miles · RI

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Engine Not Available" was displayed and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not able to be restarted and was towed to a local dealer where a reset of the engine code was performed. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The contact was able to pull the vehicle to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was advised that the battery of the engine control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure with the Technical Service Bulletin: 18-NA-261 (Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illuminated and/or Intermittent No Start with Battery Circuit DTCs Set); however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Jun 4, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · NJ

While driving on the highway, the EGR valve in my car malfunctioned, initially causing my dashboard to read "Propulsion Power is Reduced". After continuing to drive the car, the dashboard read 'Engine not available, service soon', where it stalled and we had to restart the car. After restarting, the car went into EV mode with significantly reduced speed. Our safety was put at risk due to the initial stalling and subsequent reduced speed on the highway. The problem has been reproduced since the initial incident and our dealership confirmed the problem relating to the EGR valve which continues to blow fuses when the engine is over-exerted while using gas. The dealership said that this is covered under warranty however, there has been a 5-year back-order on the part and they are refusing to offer any loaner car or compensation for a rental car.

Filed Dec 9, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · NV

Car died while driving down road. Has engine codes to service high voltage system although It showed a full battery it only had 1 mile range and the gas motor wouldn't run.

Filed Dec 2, 2023 · Electrical, Fuel system · UT

While Driving my 2018 Chevy Volt from Payson Utah to Provo Utah going north on the I-15 Freeway the car Lost Power and came to a stop. Luckily I was in the outside lane and was able to coast to a stop on the shoulder and wait for a tow truck to take the car to the nearest dealer in Spanish Fork Utah. My safety could have been seriously affected if I had remained stalled on the freeway. The car would no longer start or Turn off. The display only showed that the car should be shifted to park even though I had already completed that request. The car has been inspected by the Dealer for GM. No one else that I know of has inspected the car. No Previous warnings or messages appeared before the incident occured.. The Dealer is Telling me the car’s battery energy control module needs to be replaced and that it could take months to get a part. This is way to long for a car to wait to get repaired if the manufacturer claims to still be making the part.

Filed Jan 29, 2020 · Acceleration, Brakes · 15 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

After fully charged my car, I pulled out of the parking garage and into an available parking stall at work on friday january 24th 2020 at approximately 1:50pm. I let my car cruise into the stall while my foot is covering the brakes. Halfway into the parking stall, the car accelerated on its own. I applied the brakes but did not help. It stopped only when it jumped the front concrete stall with 2 front wheels and hit the trees then rolled back. I then immediately shift the gear to park. The day was sunny and road condition was dry. I was fortunate that it hit the trees and not other cars if I were to take this out on the road. The attached pictures shows tire marks as I am trying to brake and the tire wears.

Filed Jun 24, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 12,125 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 chevrolet volt. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle jerked forward violently, slowed down to 45 MPH, and then stalled. Also, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact immediately powered off the engine in the middle of traffic. The vehicle was pushed over to the side of the road by the police and towed to maher chevrolet (located at 2901 34th st n, st petersburg, fl 33713). The dealer found several failure codes and the transmission fluid pump outlet seal, internal filter, and spacer plate were all replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 9-5251855943. The approximate failure mileage was 12,125.