Chevrolet Volt fire or smoke problems

Filed Jun 4, 2026 · Fuel system, Transmission · NY

Message on dash "Service High Voltage charging system" . Code cleared by inexperienced mechanic. Stalled on the side of the road with "Engine not available" , "Low propulsion" . My local Chevy dealership confirmed a high volt battery leak its now at risk for catching on fire

Filed Sep 1, 2023 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · MD · fire

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH the message "low brake fluid" suddenly displayed before multiple warning lights began to illuminate and the vehicle stalled. While the vehicle was coasting on the shoulder the contact discovered that the braking system had malfunctioned and the vehicle did not stop when pressing the brake pedal. After coasting to a stop the contact noticed smoke coming from the front end of the vehicle. Eventually, the flames engulfed the front end of the vehicle and the fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A fire report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.

Filed Jul 3, 2023 · Electrical · CA · fire

I arrived at the charging station and plugged the charging handle into the charge port. At this time an audible shorting sound was heard coming from inside the handle followed by a burst of flames and white smoke. This flame immediately went out and the smoke subsided slightly before building back up and darkening. By the time that the fire department arrived, the car's engine had caught fire resulting in a total loss. Additionally, the charging handle of the station had melted, alongside the side mirror of a neighboring vehicle. It appears that there was a failure to detect the initial fault or at least a lack of protections for shorts. The parts are no longer available upon inspection, unless you have contact with the EVSE manufacturer, ChargePoint. My safety was put directly at risk. The charging handle shorted in my hand. In the unlucky case that the short made contact with me, I likely would've died on the spot or been at risk of burns from the subsequent fire. Additionally, should I have been in the car, I noticed when trying to get pictures of the inside, that the doors had remained locked. The problem cannot be reproduced because the car is burnt. The car has been inspected by insurance representatives alongside the look over by firefighters and police officers on site during the fire. There were no issues inside the vehicle hinting to any problem. I had used the charging station next to this one consistently each day going into work with no problems. When I arrived, the car which is usually parked at this problem charger was in the spot I usually used, which caused me to use this problem charger. While the exact cause is somewhat unknown, the initial perception by fire fighters, police, and myself were that the fire was due to the EVSE handle shorting out. The evidence for this is the location of the fire damage external to the vehicle and the melted handle. Chargepoint disagrees but does not state an alternative possible cause.

Filed Feb 14, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · TX

EGR Valve in 2017 Volts is faulty/defective 1) Right from the time the car was brand new, smell of exhaust in Cabin when engine warms up 2) When EGR Completely failed a) Loss of Propulsion b) Strong burning smell in cabin - like plastic burning No such problems with new EGR installed Here are lots of other people's similar problems with the EGR Valve https://www.gm-volt.com/threads/2017-interesting-egr-valve-failure.328621/ https://www.gm-volt.com/threads/2017-egr-valve-walk-home-fuse-saga-update.339078/ https://www.gm-volt.com/threads/17-volt-w-68k-miles-p0401.338840/ https://www.gm-volt.com/threads/2017-premier-25k-reduced-propulsion-power-overheated.338864/ https://www.gm-volt.com/threads/2017-fuse-f3-blown-egr-valve-part-12691147-is-out-of-stock.339131/ https://www.gm-volt.com/threads/2017-egr-problem-at-25k-miles.334723/ https://www.gm-volt.com/threads/2017-engine-not-available-yikes.339067/ https://www.gm-volt.com/threads/egr-valve-being-replaced-2017-volt.340639/#post-5063406 https://www.gm-volt.com/threads/replacing-egr-value-yourself.341033/#post-5068080

Filed Feb 7, 2022 · Electrical · VT · fire

Went into a store to pick up a snack and the cashier noticed that my driver side door was on fire. The entire indoor panel was melted and burned. It looked like the fire started on the inside of the door panel where the wiring is. The car was turned off at the time of fire

Filed Sep 24, 2021 · MO · fire

Unknown what caused the fire per fire department. I drove to my bosses house and parked the car for about 15 minutes. I was about to leave in the car right before the fire started. At 12:05PM on 09/22/21 the car started smoking and fire appearing under the car. My safety and other by standers was put at risk by the thick black smoke and flying debris from the car. Thankfully I was not driving when the car caught fire. There were 4 different explosions two of which I believe were the two front tires and the gas tank. The Saint Louis County police and West County EMS & Fire protection both took a report but I do not have a copy of it. No warning signs or lights on the car when I parked it.

Filed Aug 31, 2021 · Electrical · 76,000 miles · MI · fire

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while the vehicle was standstill when the battery charger plug caught fire. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with his fire extinguisher. The fire department nor the police department was not contacted. The contact stated no one was injured or seek medical attention. The contact stated the vehicle was still drivable but unable to charge to drive. The contact called the local dealer and was made aware the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

Filed Jun 6, 2021 · Electrical · MD · fire

The charger that was supplied with the new car caught fire in the J Connector handle and melted (pictures attached). this happened in my garage and I discovered it within 3 hours after it happened due to a chemical smelling smoke haze in the garage, and a pile of ash on the floor under the J Connector. There was no other damage other than the connector and it took a few hours to air out the garage. I had plugged it in to be charged at 12 amps with the dash indicating "7 miles" of charge left. The dash indicated "9 miles" of charge available after the fire (full charge this time of year is approximately 58 miles). The fire went out on its own. The charger has been plugged in the same outlet for the last 3 years and there is almost no load on that circuit other than the car (exterior lighting that has 4 led bulbs of low lumens). After the fire my wife recalled that she thought the charger handle felt hot once the previous week when she unplugged it. This is a serious safety issue because it could have started a house fire and risked the health, lives, and safety of my family--5 of us and a dog, nevermind the damage to property and risk to first responders. I reported this to the dealer I bought the 2017 Volt from new, which is Fitzgerald Auto in Frederick, Maryland. They asked me to bring the charger and car out same day which I did. It took them 3 days to call me and inform me solely that the charger is not covered under warranty anymore because it has been more than 3 years and 36 thousand miles since I purchased the car, and they told me technically it is "an accessory" and not part of the car. They asked me to purchase another charger from them at more than $600 which I declined to do. I do not know if they informed Chevrolet/General Motors of the issue or sent the damaged charger in for analysis. They did not comment at all on the safety part of it.

Filed Sep 26, 2019 · Airbags, Seats · 86,000 miles · TN

My airbag light on the dash has been on for a very long time now and I just read an article the other day that thousands of complaints have been made over this same issue. I have a snap-on scanner for reading obd2 ports on a large amount of vehicles and when I plug mine up to my volt it tells me it is the sensor in the seat. I have already replaced this sensor once. The dealer tried to rob me in trying to charge me over 800.00 for this very simple repair. Needless to say it is out yet again and gm knows there are scores of problems with the volt but they wont properly address them. I had a 2017 volt that caught fire and burnt to the ground. What did they do about it? Not a [xxx] thing. I sincerely hope the feds make them do something to address this vehicle as lives are on the line. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 24, 2019 · Engine · 8,350 miles · CA

Car is consistently making a burning smell and the dealer is refusing to acknowledge it. I went there 2000 miles ago, they claimed it was a break in smell. The smell is still there and once again they are calling it a break in smell. I mean the car has 8400 miles. How long does it have to break in for? The federal safety agency, please step in and help us. Gm is creating this possible fire hazard and their franchises are not helping.