What 34 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Volt

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while the vehicle was shifted to park(P), the message to “Shift to Park” remained displayed. The contact was unable to turn off the vehicle. The contact stated that for approximately 10 minutes, the gear shifter was shifted out of and back into park to be able to turn off the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 11680128

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the battery high-voltage disconnect relay. The vehicle was not repaired due to a lack of part availability. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the manufacturer confirmed that the part was on backorder. The failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11655912

When shifted into park, persistent error message that car was not in park. Unable to shut off the car despite numerous manipulations of shift. Few similar preceeding incidents were resolved by shift to drive then back to park. Goes to dealer tomorrow. Car running endlessly is dangerous. What if I could not stay with the car, or the car was on the local ferry. No one has inspected it yet. First time problem occured was in November 2024. Most recent more serious problem occured Friday. I am afraid to use the car since, and have not driven it since.

NHTSA ODI 11630944

Driver seat frame has a loud squeak during normal operation of vehicle. Driver seat is a critical safety item, and my concern is that the seat frame has a manufacturing defect.

NHTSA ODI 11629041

Two incidents related to the powertrain. 1) In December, 2023, the EV battery was drained and the car would not start based on the gas motor. The dealer fixed it in our recollection. 2) On [XXX], I was driving the car out of a Detroit Convention Center parking lot, going up the ramp when the car, with no warning, completely lost power and stopped. The message on the display said "Powertrain loss" or "Powertrain lost." I wish I had taken a photo of it, but I was panicked. Cars were backed up behind me on the ramp out of the parking garage, honking and having to back up. I tried turning the car off and on, googling the problem, and was about to call a tow truck when after 12-13 minutes, I was able to restart the car. I was scared that this could happen again on the freeway. When we could do it together, my husband and I took the car to Chevrolet Suburban of Ann Arbor, which says that they can find nothing wrong with the car, cannot replicate the problem, and that the car computer does not have any error code. They and GM are not willing to do anything to fix it. If they are really unable to find an error code, then something is wrong with the car computer too. I will not drive that car again until it is fixed - I consider it to be risking my life and others' lives to do so. We are spending a lot of money leasing a replacement vehicle as they will not even give us a loaner. The car is just sitting in their lot. And if we trade it in, will they resell it to someone else, potentially putting their lives at risk? - The vehicle is available for inspection at Chevrolet Suburban Ann Arbor. - My safety was at risk. So was that of other drivers around me. I could have been rear-ended. - The problem has not been reproduced/confirmed. - The vehicle and component have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police etc to our knowledge. - There was NO warning ahead of time and no symptoms prior to the problem. The warning message displayed simultaneously with the problem INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11595761

Mileage: 38523 Engine Not Available Service Soon Propulsion Power Is Reduced Fuel Range Low: 3/4 Tank full of gas [XXX] - I was driving Northbound on [XXX] South of Castlewood in Northern California. I was driving 70 mph when I suddenly received the error messages above on my dashboard screen. The vehicle immediately had power from 70 mph quickly going below 59 mph. The traffic was extremely high and I had to quickly use my hazard flashes and carefully maneuver to the right shoulder of the frwy. The vehicle lost power so quickly I could have easily been rear ended or in a serious vehicle accident. The dealer test drove the vehicle and stated they received the errors at 95 mph. The dealership is recommending I have the entire transmission replaced with the assembly and the 45,000 mile maintenance. No other warning lamps, messages or symptoms or failures occurred. First occurrence [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11592645

While driving home one evening, the power steering suddenly failed. A warning message displayed to service the power steering. It became very difficult to steer the car. I had to pull extremely hard on the wheel to be able to make turns. For the turn into my community, I had to make four attempts to get the car to clear the turn through the entrance gate, needing to back up repeatedly and retry. Fortunately I did make it home safely and shut the car down. I made an emergency repair appointment for the next day at a Chevrolet dealership. In the morning the power steering was back. The car was inspected at the dealership. They told me a software update was needed and they charged me $450 to do that.

NHTSA ODI 11559330

Vehicle lost propulsion and all power mid turn at approximately 45mph. Powe steering and assisted brakes were gone. Conditions were rainy, resulting in single car crash. Car did not restart. No codes present. Occurred again after repairs at 70mph on highway. Codes P0AC4 and P0C0E indicating Drive Motor Power Inverter B. Despite being under warranty, GM cannot repair, and has no replacement parts. GM has ignored messages requesting buyback per federal law.

NHTSA ODI 11558106

I am getting "shift to park" error when turning off vehicle. Vehicle does not shut off--problem is defect in the transmission and apparently this is fairly common defect yet there is no recall???

NHTSA ODI 11557660

Vehicle has developed an intermittent issue when placed in park. Displays a message "Attention Needed: Shift to Park" accompanied by audio alerts inside and outside of the vehicle. This is obviously unsafe as the vehicle cannot be parked and turned off reliably. GM Technical Bulletin 19-NA-206 issued in May 2021 (attached) specifically states that that this repair is covered for the Volt by the separate Voltec Component Warranty. GM refuses to honor the warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11544689

I purchased this vehicle from East Bay BMW in Pleasanton, CA on April 8, 2023. On August 28, 2023, to September 4, 2023, I began to receive messages on the dashboard stating shift to park. The shift lever was in park but was not registering this. I had to wiggle the shift lever to get the message to go away and be able to turn my vehicle off. On September 5, 2023, I had the same issue but this time no matter what I did the message would not go away and I was not able to turn my car off for 10 minutes. On September 5, 2023, I called the dealership and spoke with [XXX] -the Service Advisor who told me he would need to speak with his colleagues and get back to me. As of today September 5, 2023. I have no solution to this problem and cannot drive this vehicle for fear I won't be able to have it recognized when it is in park. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11542776

This is a Legitimately Serious Concern regarding GM Vehicles (including Chevrolet) and Dealer Service Compliance with "Safety Warnings" and Reliability Warnings as in Factory Service Manuals. Specifically "Single Use Fasteners" and "Do Not Use Air-Impact on Brake System Fasteners" and "TTY Fastener Dual Pass Torque-to-Yield Specifications" . . .  1.) Widespread Non Compliance with Single Use Brake Components (Fasteners, Seals, Bellows) - every set of Brake-Pads / Rotor Replacement should show corresponding Parts Billing.  2.) Shortcuts to Brake System Service by using Air-Wrench removal / installation using Torture-Sticks. 3.) Multiple Different Torque Specifications for each Component / Fastener (upper/lower/front/rear) likely also 'Shortcuts Taken by using Air-Wrench Torque-Sticks vs Precision Torque Wrench (Pass1=Torque, Pass2 = Rotation Degrees) Seriously these are all called out in the Factory Service Manuals. To inspect, without biasing discovery, but easily, a video (shop security cam) review would easily confirm NONCOMPLIANCE of Impact-Wrench Use on Brake Component Fasteners and TTY Fasteners Protocols and a Simple Review of Brake Rotors should show at least 2 NEW TTY Fasteners per each New Rotor used (check invoices for Rotor Replacement Services). This is NOT A Trivial Picky Customer Concern . . . It is a *Serious Safety Concern* . . . Check the Factory Service Manual, note that most likely inventory control doesn't show TTY Single use Fasteners / Rotor Replacement correlation . . . See Service Manual WARNING . . .  Consult your Liability Attorneys to estimate the Cost of Urgent Safety Recall for Dealer Serviced Rotors/Brakes.  . . . Compliance is not a Nice To Do Thing . . . Compliance is Mandatory Engineering Factory Service Manual Specifications. Period.  Do Not Neglect Action on this Factory Specifications Compliance Mandate as spelled out in detail in the Factory Service Manuals for most GM Vehicles serviced by Certified Dealer Service

NHTSA ODI 11532276

Started in late summer/fall of 2022 getting 'shift to park' error. The vehicle is in park and unable to turn off the vehicle when I get this error. I have noticed the error is more prone to come on when the parking break is also engaged or if it's on any sort of hill but I cannot pinpoint the cause of the annoying error. Sometimes I could spend 5 minutes or more getting the error to clear--usually am able to clear by doing a combination of moving/turning on/off the parking break, the shift and/or turning on/off the car and/or opening the door.

NHTSA ODI 11528326

2019 Chevy Volt gave a Shift to Park message when vehicle was already in Park. Could not turn off vehicle. Had to restart Volt, then take out of park, but back in park and message disappeared and was able to safely leave vehicle.This happened approximately 6 times in one outing. Also somehow the electric parking brake light came on the dash console but I had not applied the parking brake yet!! No symptoms, warning lamps, or messages before this happened. Have not made appointment yet to take to dealer to get repaired - hopefully under warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11504523

I was getting on the I15 freeway. After I entered, I set the cruise control and it immediately began to accelerate the vehicle to maximum speed. I was unable to turn it off and had to repeatedly push the brakes to keep the speed below 70 + mph. Smoke from the brakes began to fill the passenger compartment. I got off the freeway and when I slowed to about 20 mph, I heard a clunk under the dash and the cruise control turned off. I drove home the rest of the way without cruise control without incident. I am taking the car to a Chevy dealer today to investigate the cause.

NHTSA ODI 11491646

Car just stops when the battery control module stops working. Potential to leave us stranded in traffic. Confirmed as a defective part by the dealer.

NHTSA ODI 11487388

Intermittent shift to park message when in park. Unable to turn off vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11481237

Shift car issues. The car would not shut off because it doesn’t recognize that the gear is in parking.

NHTSA ODI 11480860

Intermittently, the car would not turn off, starting in about July, 2022. After shifting the car into park and pressing the On/Off switch, the car displayed a message like "Action required. Shift to park". It was impossible to know if the car really was not in park, and would roll into someone, and it was certainly unsafe to walk away and leave the car "on". A Chevy forum showed that this problem is COMMON and pointed me to GM TSB 19-NA-206 (https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10171895-9999.pdf). The TSB exactly describes the symptom I observed and lists one of the exact parts that the Huston Chevrolet service department replaced on 8/3/2022 - 84733196 N-Harness. The dealer, Chevrolet customer service, and GM customer service all told me that this repair was not covered under warranty, though the TSB says this on page 4: "Specific to the Volt model, repairs are covered under the Voltec (Electric and Hybrid Vehicle) Warranty." GM said that I would have received a letter if the TSB applies to my specific car. I paid Huston Chevrolet $446.79 to repair this problem, and believe the manufacturer should 1) reimburse me for the cost and 2) notify other owners about this common and dangerous manufacturing defect.

NHTSA ODI 11477609

About half the time, when I put the vehicle into park, a warning comes up telling me that the vehicle is not in park. I can make the problem go away by wiggling the shift lever. But it is a recurring problem, and it is getting worse.

NHTSA ODI 11476249

Vehicle displays error message "shift to park" while vehicle seems to be in park, resulting in a situation in which the vehicle will remain running and energized after driver thinks they have put the vehicle in park, turned it off, and exited.

NHTSA ODI 11475855

My shift control button gets stuck when I put the car into park. Shift control assembly needs to be replaced and installed harness as per doc#5403533.

NHTSA ODI 11470514

1. Intermittent instruction to put vehicle in PARK when trying to start or shut down when in PARK already. 2. Intermittent NO REMOTE DETECTED when remote is in the car

NHTSA ODI 11469129

I was in stop and go traffic; when the car in front of me stopped suddenly, I tried to brake. I was far enough back that I should have been able to stop in plenty of time. My brake pedal froze and would not depress (brake pump failure). There were no warning light prior. The car has less than 28,000 miles and relatively new tires.

NHTSA ODI 11468198

Was approaching an intersection with a stoplight that was red. Another car stopped at light. Applied brakes, but car slowed down only slightly, no matter how hard the brake pedal was applied. It was like braking on black ice, even though the cars wheels were still going around. Rear ended the car at the light. Suspect that computer was telling the car to try to charge the battery using the forward motion of the car instead of stopping the car. All air bags deployed. Injuries were limited to bruises, abrasions, and general body soreness. Vehicle currently in possession of Allstate Ins. Have requested that brake system be inspected, and computer info be downloaded. Car was totaled. No injuries in other vehicle. No previous problems, no warning lamps or messages prior to accident. Car had been well maintained, including all recalls, and received routine maintenance (oil change, tire rotation) about three months before the incident. Problem has not been reproduced, nor is it likely to be since the vehicle is undrivable.

NHTSA ODI 11464877