Complete buying guide for the Chevrolet Volt: best years, worst years, common problems, recall history, and reliability trends across all model years.
The Chevrolet Volt spans 5 model years in the NHTSA database, with 1137 total consumer complaints and 6 safety recalls on record. That works out to an average of approximately 227 complaints per model year. This buying guide is designed to help you identify the best and worst model years, understand the most common problems owners report, and make a more informed purchasing decision backed by official NHTSA safety data rather than anecdotal reviews.
If you are shopping for a used Chevrolet Volt, the model years to prioritize are 2019, 2015, 2016, which have the fewest owner-reported complaints. The years to approach with more caution are 2017, 2018, 2016, which have significantly higher complaint volumes. The difference between the best and worst years can be dramatic — the worst year has 685 complaints compared to just 34 for the best year. This gap often correlates with specific manufacturing issues, design changes, or component suppliers used during those production years.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported problems with the Chevrolet Volt involve Transmission Defect, Power Train Issues, Electrical System Malfunction. These are the components and systems that owners have flagged most often in their NHTSA complaints. If you are inspecting a used Chevrolet Volt, have a mechanic pay special attention to these areas. Some issues may be covered under existing recalls or extended warranties, so check the recall history for your specific model year before purchasing.
These Chevrolet Volt model years have the fewest complaints and best reliability:
These model years have the most complaints and known issues:
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 34 | 2 | 5/100 |
| 2018 | 209 | 2 | 5/100 |
| 2017 | 685 | 0 | 55/100 |
| 2016 | 166 | 1 | 85/100 |
| 2015 | 43 | 1 | 5/100 |