Here Are The Chevy Volt Years To Avoid

Published June 5, 2023
in Avoid

The Chevy Volt is a unique plug-in hybrid from the Chevrolet brand, designed to operate differently than a traditional gas engine. With eight years on the market, it’s critical to examine available options and make the most intelligent choice for your wallet. You might wonder - what are the Chevy Volt years to avoid?

If you want an enjoyable and affordable driving experience, it’s a good idea to stay away from the worst Volt years. It might be tricky to narrow your options, but that’s where we come in. Read on to learn more about the Chevy Volt years to avoid, the best year for your driving experience, the common issues with the Volt, and anything you should know.

Chevy Volt Years To Avoid

The Chevy Volt had many excellent years but also had some terrible ones. It might be tricky to pick out the worst ones yourself, which is where we step in. We’ve made a list of the Chevy Volts that land at the bottom of the pile when considering all available options.

Here are the worst years for the Chevy Volt:

2012 Chevy Volt
2013 Chevy Volt
2017 Chevy Volt

If you’re hunting for the Chevy Volt years to avoid, don’t pick up any of these three years for your next drive.

These years had the most customer complaints and the lowest ratings compared to the other available years. They will cost extensive money to maintain and are not worth the investment over time.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP

The CoPilot car shopping app is the smartest way to buy a car. Get a curated list of the best cars for sale in your area, as well as notifications if a similar vehicle is listed nearby at a lower price. CoPilot is the smartest way to shop for used cars.

What Was The Worst Year For The Chevy Volt?

There were several bad years for the Chevy Volt. However, one stands out as the worst. According to fourwheeltrends.com, the most terrible year for the Chevy Volt is the 2012 Chevy Volt. It was a popular choice but a poor selection for a vehicle overall.

A few of the most common troubles to appear in the 2012 model included:

Leaking lithium-ion batteries, which were prone to catching on fire
Trouble with the tire pressure monitoring system
Erratic and sudden faults in the system
Loss of power to the battery

These interrupted the driving and ownership experience of the person behind the wheel.

Most concerning in 2012 was the potential for the car to catch on fire. The NHTSA even analyzed to determine if a side collision in the Chevy Volt could start a fire from the force of the impact.

Best Chevy Volt Years

We’ve gone over the worst years for the Chevy Volt, but what about the best? What options should you pick to ensure you make the most of your investment? We’ve created a secondary list to further assist with the right choice.

Here are the best years for the Chevy Volt:

2011 Chevy Volt
2014 Chevy Volt
2015 Chevy Volt
2016 Chevy Volt
2018 Chevy Volt
2019 Chevy Volt

If you’re looking for the Chevy Volt years to avoid, go with one of these to ensure you’re making the right choice.

You can feel confident with any of these selections. They’ll provide a quality driving experience, offer excellent features, and won’t fall apart or cost you a fortune in time and money to repair.

How Many Miles Does A Chevy Volt Last?

It’s ideal to know the typical mileage of a vehicle before investing in it. The Chevy Volt might have quality options for you to choose from, but none of that matters if it won’t take you very far before you need a replacement vehicle.

According to motorandwheels.com, you can expect the Chevy Volt to last 200,000 to 300,000 miles with the proper care. It’s an excellent option that will go far if given some love. There are a few factors to consider here that will affect how long it lasts.

According to fueleconomy.gov, here are a few factors that will impact your mileage:

Allowing your vehicle to idle
Slamming on the gas
Driving on mountainous terrain
Avoiding regular maintenance

These will harm your mileage.

Care for your vehicle and keep it in the best shape for better mileage. The more you put into your car, the more you will get out of it.

THE 10 MOST RELIABLE AMERICAN CARS

Because the car buying experience is so stressful, it’s helpful to go into the dealership with information ahead of time. Therefore, we’ve curated a list of the 10 most reliable American cars so you can approach the process from a place of empowerment.

Common Issues With the Chevy Volt

As with any vehicle, there are some common faults across Chevy Volt years. It’s helpful to be aware of these before putting down your savings on one for yourself.

According to thedrive.com, here are a few of the most common troubles in the Chevy Volt:

Electrical issues
Loss of power steering
Transmission failure
Whining transmission

It tends to fall flat in a couple of places.

Despite these issues, the Volt is still a decent car. Prepare yourself to face these troubles ahead of time to prevent any surprises along the way.

How Reliable Is The Chevy Volt?

Another critical factor to consider when determining years to avoid is the reliability of the car. Is the Chevy Volt reliable in general, or should you avoid all years?

Overall, the Chevy Volt is a solid contender in reliability. According to repairpal.com, the Volt scores ⅘, putting it in an excellent position. It scores similarly in other competitive categories across various sites.

If you pick the best year for the Chevrolet Volt, you can feel confident in the overall reliability of the vehicle. It’s a dependable option.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TINT CAR WINDOWS?

Different tints block different levels of UV light and in the long run can prevent sun damage to your skin and eyes, but how much does it cost to tint car windows? We’ve got the answer.

Final Thoughts

If you want to avoid the worst years for the Chevy Volt, there are a couple to watch for on the market. Stay away from the 2012, 2013, and 2017 models if you want to make the most of your investment and avoid paying for extensive repairs during your time as the owner of this unique vehicle.

There are major issues with the Chevy Volt, such as battery leakages and potential fire dangers. However, if you pick the right year, all should be well with your driving experience. We recommend the 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, or 2019 models if you want to have an excellent driving experience with minimal trips to the repair shop.

Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You

The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.

Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.

The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.